Glossary

Every key term from the course, in alphabetical order. Each entry links to the lesson that introduces it. Filter by kind: concept for ideas, keyword for Robot Framework keywords, and command for what you type in a terminal.

__init__.robotconcept

Directory-suite initialization file: settings and setup/teardown for a whole folder of suites. Initialization files

--dryruncommand

Validate suites (keywords, args, imports) without executing them. Dry run

--listenercommand

Attach a listener to a run from the command line. A listener that writes a report

--mergecommand

Fold a rerun of failures back into an earlier result. Reprocessing with rebot

--outputdircommand

robot --outputdir results checks writes output.xml, log.html, and report.html into results/. Running and reading results

--parsercommand

Attach a parser so robot can read a custom format. A custom parser

--prerunmodifiercommand

Attach a modifier that edits tests before they run. A pre-run modifier

--rpacommand

Run in generic automation (RPA) mode. Tests and tasks

... (continuation)concept

Continues the previous line's value onto a new line. Syntax rules

[Arguments]concept

Declares a user keyword's arguments; ${x}=default makes one optional, @{rest} collects varargs. Keyword documentation and arguments

[Documentation]concept

A keyword's or test's documentation — surfaced in editors, log.html, and libdoc. Keyword documentation and arguments

[Setup] / [Teardown]concept

Per-test setup/teardown, declared inside a test case. Setups and teardowns

[Tags]concept

Label a test; filter runs with --include / --exclude and tag patterns. Tags, filtering, and SKIP

[Template]concept

Applies a template keyword to a single test case. Templates

[Timeout]concept

Cap how long a test (or keyword) may run before it is stopped and failed. Timeouts

@keywordconcept

Mark a method as a Robot Framework keyword. A class-based library with state

@library(scope=...)concept

Control instance lifetime: TEST, SUITE, or GLOBAL. A class-based library with state

* Settings *concept

Suite section for imports (Library/Resource), documentation, and setup/teardown. Suite files and sections

* Tasks *concept

RPA counterpart to *** Test Cases *** — automate a process. Tests and tasks

* Test Cases *concept

Suite section holding the test cases; each test is a sequence of keyword calls. Suite files and sections

${} @{} &{}concept

Scalar, list, and dictionary variable prefixes. Variables

${resp.json()}concept

Parse a JSON body and index into it: ${resp.json()}[price]. Status and JSON assertions

Apache License 2.0concept

Robot Framework's open-source license — free to use and extend. Test cases, keywords, and files

API smokeconcept

A fast, tagged health check — run it first to fail fast when the service is down. Speed as a strategy

API-driven setupconcept

Prepare state via the API (fast), verify via the UI/web (what the user sees). API and web, combined

auto-waiting vs Sleepconcept

Wait on what the page does (assertions), not a fixed duration. Waiting on the network

Browser libraryconcept

Playwright-backed web automation; needs rfbrowser init chromium once. Engine, context, page

built-in variablesconcept

Automatic values like ${TEST_NAME}, ${CURDIR}, ${OUTPUT_DIR}. Scopes, priorities, and built-in variables

cell separationconcept

Two or more spaces (or a tab) separate cells; a single space is literal text. Syntax rules

choosing a mechanismconcept

Library adds keywords · listener observes · modifier reshapes · visitor post-processes · parser reads formats. Extension Lab

CI-ready runconcept

Formatted + parallel + one report — a working pipeline step. A CI-ready run

close()concept

Listener hook that fires once at the end of the whole run. A listener that stores results in SQLite

Collectionsconcept

Standard library for list and dictionary operations. Collections

Create Filekeyword

Write content to a file (creating it). Reading and writing content

data verificationconcept

Assert on structured output — XML, CSV, JSON — not a UI. A data-verification mini-project

data-testid locatorconcept

Stable Browser-library selector: data-testid=login-submit. Locators and interactions

DateTimeconcept

Standard library for dates and durations. DateTime

dict lookupconcept

Map keys to values; check membership before indexing. Data and failures

Done whenconcept

The line that ends each task: what to verify in your workspace before you tick the task done. How this course works

DynamicCoreconcept

Base class that presents component keywords as one library. One library, many parts

embedded argumentsconcept

Argument values written into the keyword name, e.g. Number ${n} Is Positive. Calling styles

${...} in a keyword name become its arguments, written inline. Named keywords and Libdoc

end-to-end flowconcept

One user journey asserted from start to confirmation — tag it as your smoke test. A full user flow

exit code (rc)concept

0 = success, non-zero = failure; assert with Should Be Equal As Integers ${result.rc} …. Exit codes and streams

expected_statusconcept

Assert a non-2xx status is expected, e.g. GET url expected_status=404. POST and error contracts

extension packageconcept

A library (+Libdoc) plus a listener — a small internal RF extension. Extension Lab

File Should Existkeyword

Assert a file exists on disk (Directory Should Exist for folders). Files, directories, and environment

Fill Text / Clickkeyword

Type into a field / press a button or link. Locators and interactions

FOR ... IN RANGEconcept

Loop over a range or list; close with END. Variants: IN, IN RANGE, IN ENUMERATE, IN ZIP. IF, ELSE, and FOR

GETkeyword

${resp}= GET ${API_URL}/api/products — fetch a resource. Requests and GET

Get Element Attributekeyword

Read an attribute's value from an XML element. A data-verification mini-project

Get Element Countkeyword

Assert the number of elements matching a locator. Assertions and auto-waiting

Get Filekeyword

Read a file's content as a string. Reading and writing content

Get From Dictionarykeyword

Return the value for a key in a dictionary. Collections

Get Lines Containing Stringkeyword

Return the lines of a string that contain a substring. The String library

get_keyword_namesconcept

Dynamic API: the list of keyword names a library provides. The dynamic API underneath

get_variablesconcept

Function returning a dict of variables, computed at import time. A dynamic variable file

getter assertionsconcept

Get Text ... == value and friends auto-wait — no Sleep needed. Assertions and auto-waiting

Given/When/Thenconcept

BDD prefixes Robot Framework ignores, so keyword calls read as behavior sentences. Calling styles

Glossaryconcept

Every key term from the course in one place, filterable by kind, each linking to the lesson that introduces it. How this course works

hint ladderconcept

Staged hints on a build-task, revealed one at a time, with the full solution as the final rung — help is always available and you are never stuck. How this course works

IF / ELSE IF / ELSEconcept

Native branching, closed with END; inline IF cond Keyword for one-liners. IF, ELSE, and FOR

keywordconcept

A named action (from a library or your own) — the unit checks are built from. What Robot Framework is

keyword namingconcept

Readable action phrases in Title Case — keywords read as sentences. User keywords and RETURN

snake_case Python names read as Title Case keywords. Functions become keywords

keyword qualificationconcept

Prefix a keyword with its source to resolve conflicts: common.Greet. Import hierarchies and naming conflicts

labconcept

A chapter's prepared project, downloaded as a .zip: starting files plus pinned dependencies, set up with one command. Labs & choosing how you run

Libdocconcept

Generate HTML keyword docs from a library. Named keywords and Libdoc

Libraryconcept

Imports Python-backed keywords, e.g. Library Collections. Libraries and resources

Import a Python module so its functions become keywords. Functions become keywords

listener v3concept

Declare ROBOT_LISTENER_API_VERSION = 3; hook end_test, end_suite, close. A listener that writes a report

log.html vs report.htmlconcept

log.html = detailed steps; report.html = summary/verdict overview. Running and reading results

module libraryconcept

A .py file of functions imported as keywords. A module library that logs and fails

negative testingconcept

Assert the error a bad/blocked input produces — not just the happy path. Forms and validation

New Browser / New Context / New Pagekeyword

Browser library: launch the engine, open an isolated session, open a tab. Engine, context, page

OperatingSystemconcept

Standard library for files, directories, and environment variables. Files, directories, and environment

pabotcommand

Run suites/tests in parallel; produces a standard output.xml. Run in parallel with Pabot

parameterized variable fileconcept

Pass an argument on the Variables import to select values (e.g. an environment). A dynamic variable file

Parse XML / Get Element(s)keyword

Parse a document, then select one element or many by path. Parsing and querying XML

parser APIconcept

parse(source) → TestSuite; EXTENSION declares the file type. A custom parser

POSTkeyword

POST url json=${dict} — create a resource. POST and error contracts

Processconcept

Standard library for running external processes. Running a process

PythonLibCoreconcept

Compose multi-class libraries; the toolkit Browser is built on. One library, many parts

raise AssertionErrorconcept

How a Python keyword fails a test, carrying a message. Data and failures

rebotcommand

Reprocess a saved output.xml into new reports. A result visitor

Regenerate/combine reports from saved output.xml files. Reprocessing with rebot

RequestsLibraryconcept

HTTP keywords for Robot Framework: GET, POST, Status Should Be. Requests and GET

Resourceconcept

Imports keywords and variables from a shared .resource file, e.g. Resource ../resources/common.resource. Libraries and resources

ResultVisitorconcept

Walk finished results; build reports or metrics from output.xml. A result visitor

RETURNkeyword

Returns a value from a user keyword; can also end it early. User keywords and RETURN

robocop checkcommand

Lint Robot Framework files for style and correctness issues. Lint and format with Robocop

robocop formatcommand

Rewrite files to a consistent standard format. Lint and format with Robocop

Robot Frameworkconcept

Generic, open-source, keyword-driven automation framework for test automation, RPA, and synthetic monitoring. What Robot Framework is

robot:continue-on-failureconcept

Tag that keeps a test running past failures and reports them all. Continue on failure

robot.api.loggerconcept

Log from Python into log.html (logger.info/​debug/​warn). A module library that logs and fails

RobotCodeconcept

The recommended VS Code extension for Robot Framework — syntax, run, and debug support. Architecture and setup

Run Keyword And Continue On Failurekeyword

Continue past a single failing step. Continue on failure

Run Processkeyword

Run a command; the result has .rc, .stdout, .stderr. Running a process

Run withconcept

The uv / venv / poetry picker on lessons with commands; every command example adapts to it, and the choice sticks across pages. Labs & choosing how you run

run_keywordconcept

Dynamic API: run a named keyword with its arguments. The dynamic API underneath

Skipkeyword

Marks a test skipped (not pass, not fail); also --skiponfailure and [Tags] robot:skip. Tags, filtering, and SKIP

specification stylesconcept

Keyword-driven (default), behavior-driven (Given/When/Then), data-driven (templates). Choosing a specification style

sqlite3concept

Standard-library SQL database in a single file — no server. A listener that stores results in SQLite

Status Should Bekeyword

Assert an HTTP response's status code. Status and JSON assertions

stdout / stderrconcept

A process's normal output vs its error output. Exit codes and streams

stdout=<path>concept

Run Process argument that redirects output to a file. Combining file and process checks

Stringconcept

Standard library for text: split, match, replace, count lines. The String library

Subtract Date From Datekeyword

Difference between two dates, in seconds by default. DateTime

suite fileconcept

A .robot file (or a folder of them) holding test cases and the keywords/settings they use. Test cases, keywords, and files

Suite Setup / Teardownconcept

Run once before/after the whole suite; teardown runs even after failures. Setups and teardowns

SuiteVisitorconcept

Walk the running model; a pre-run modifier subclasses it. A pre-run modifier

Test Templateconcept

Runs one keyword per test row — data-driven style, set in Settings. Templates

Test Timeoutconcept

Settings-section timeout applied to every test in the suite. Timeouts

TRY / EXCEPTconcept

Catch and handle a failing keyword; optional ELSE and FINALLY. Close with END. WHILE, BREAK, and TRY/EXCEPT

type hintsconcept

Annotations like price: float drive Robot Framework's argument conversion. Type hints convert arguments

uvcommand

Fast Python package manager: uv add <pkg> records a dependency; uv run <cmd> runs inside the project environment. Architecture and setup

VARkeyword

RF 7+ inline variable creation with optional scope (local/TEST/SUITE/GLOBAL). Variables

variable file vs * Variables *concept

A variable file holds real Python (lists, dicts, computed) and is reusable across suites. A static variable file

variable priorityconcept

CLI --variable > Variables section; scopes: local < TEST < SUITE < GLOBAL. Scopes, priorities, and built-in variables

Variables (import)concept

Import a Python file so its values become RF variables. A static variable file

Wait For Elements Statekeyword

Wait for an element to reach a state (visible/hidden/detached) before continuing. Robust interactions

web smoke testconcept

A fast, tagged check that the app is up and the core journey works. A tagged smoke suite

WHILE / BREAK / CONTINUEconcept

Condition-driven loop with early exit (BREAK) and skip (CONTINUE); close with END. WHILE, BREAK, and TRY/EXCEPT

XMLconcept

Standard library to parse and query XML with element paths. Parsing and querying XML