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Gherkin vs. Cucumber — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on August 21, 2023
Gherkin is a domain-specific language for writing behavior specifications; Cucumber is a software tool that runs such specifications as tests.
Gherkin vs. Cucumber — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Gherkin and Cucumber

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Key Differences

Gherkin and Cucumber are both terms associated with Behavior Driven Development (BDD). Gherkin is the language that's used to write tests in plain language which makes it easier for non-technical stakeholders to understand. Cucumber, on the other hand, is a tool that executes those tests.
While Gherkin serves as a bridge between the technical and non-technical members of a team by allowing tests to be written in a comprehensible format, Cucumber allows those tests to be implemented and checked against the software. Both play crucial roles in BDD.
Gherkin scenarios are written using a set of specific keywords, including "Given", "When", "Then", and others. Cucumber interprets these keywords to execute tests, ensuring that the software behaves as expected.
Understanding the difference between Gherkin and Cucumber is essential for teams adopting BDD. Gherkin structures the specifications, and Cucumber brings them to life.

Comparison Chart

Type

Language
Tool
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Purpose

Write behavior specifications
Execute specifications as tests

Users

Business stakeholders, testers
Developers, testers

Syntax Elements

Given, When, Then, And, But, etc.
Step definitions, hooks

Relationship to BDD

Provides structure for specs
Enables execution of specs

Compare with Definitions

Gherkin

Gherkin is a plain-text language for writing behavior-driven development specifications.
The team used Gherkin to detail the user's journey through the application.

Cucumber

Cucumber is a tool for running automated tests written in plain language.
We implemented Cucumber to ensure our software met the defined requirements.

Gherkin

The small green fruit of a plant related to the cucumber, used for pickling.

Cucumber

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a widely-cultivated creeping vine plant in the Cucurbitaceae gourd family that bears usually cylindrical fruits, which are used as vegetables. Considered an annual plant, there are three main varieties of cucumber — slicing, pickling, and burpless/seedless — within which several cultivars have been created.

Gherkin

Gherkin serves as a bridge between technical and non-technical members of a project.
Thanks to Gherkin, even our marketing team understood the software tests.

Cucumber

Cucumber bridges the gap between software documentation and technical testing.
Using Cucumber, our documentation directly influences our test cases.

Gherkin

Gherkin uses specific keywords like Given, When, and Then to structure scenarios.
In Gherkin, 'Given' sets the context for the scenario we're testing.

Cucumber

Cucumber works with Gherkin-written specifications to execute behavior-driven tests.
Once the Gherkin scenarios were ready, Cucumber took over for test execution.

Gherkin

Gherkin allows teams to define software behavior without detailing how it's implemented.
With Gherkin, we focus on 'what' the software does, not 'how' it does it.

Cucumber

Cucumber allows for integration with various tools and platforms.
With Cucumber, we seamlessly integrated our testing suite with our CI/CD pipeline.

Gherkin

The trailing plant that bears gherkins.

Cucumber

The fruit of this plant, harvested when immature and eaten fresh or pickled.

Gherkin

Gherkin is tool-agnostic, although it's commonly associated with Cucumber.
While we use Gherkin with Cucumber, it can be paired with other tools.

Cucumber

Any of several related or similar plants, such as the bur cucumber or the squirting cucumber.

Gherkin

Small prickly cucumber

Cucumber

Cucumber supports multiple programming languages including Ruby, Java, and more.
We chose Cucumber because it supports our primary development language.

Gherkin

A small cucumber, especially one used for pickling.

Cucumber

A tendril-bearing, climbing or sprawling annual plant (Cucumis sativus) widely cultivated for its edible cylindrical fruit that has a green rind and crisp white flesh.

Gherkin

A pickle made from such a fruit.

Cucumber

A vine in the gourd family, Cucumis sativus.

Gherkin

A small cucumber, often pickled whole.

Cucumber

The edible fruit of this plant, having a green rind and crisp white flesh.

Gherkin

A kind of small, prickly cucumber, much used for pickles.

Cucumber

A person who is calm and self-possessed.

Gherkin

A vine (Cucumis anguria) native to Africa and widely cultivated especially in the West Indies, having prickly fruit often harvested when immature for pickling.

Cucumber

A creeping plant, and its fruit, of several species of the genus Cucumis, esp. Cucumis sativus, the unripe fruit of which is eaten either fresh or picked. Also, similar plants or fruits of several other genera.

Gherkin

The fruit of this plant.

Cucumber

A melon vine of the genus Cucumis; cultivated from earliest times for its cylindrical green fruit

Gherkin

(slang) The penis.

Cucumber

Cylindrical green fruit with thin green rind and white flesh eaten as a vegetable; related to melons

Gherkin

See Sea gherkin.

Gherkin

Any of various small cucumbers pickled whole

Common Curiosities

How are Gherkin and Cucumber related?

Gherkin is the language used to write specifications, and Cucumber is the tool that runs these specifications as tests.

Why would a team use Cucumber?

A team would use Cucumber to execute behavior-driven tests, ensuring that the software meets the defined behavior specifications.

Can you use Gherkin without Cucumber?

Yes, while Gherkin is often paired with Cucumber, it's a language that can be used with other testing tools as well.

Is Gherkin's syntax fixed or flexible?

Gherkin's syntax is fixed, with specific keywords like "Given", "When", "Then" used to structure behavior scenarios.

How does Cucumber understand Gherkin's plain-text scenarios?

Cucumber uses step definitions, which are code implementations of Gherkin's plain-text scenarios, to execute the tests.

How can Cucumber integrate with other software tools?

Cucumber offers plugins and integrations, allowing it to work with various continuous integration tools, web drivers, and other testing utilities.

What is the main purpose of Gherkin?

Gherkin's primary aim is to provide a clear, plain-text format for writing behavior-driven development specifications that both technical and non-technical stakeholders can understand.

Do all BDD projects use Gherkin and Cucumber?

No, while Gherkin and Cucumber are popular choices for BDD, there are other languages and tools available for behavior-driven development.

Are Gherkin and Cucumber specific to a particular programming language?

No, Gherkin is a language-agnostic way of writing specifications. Cucumber supports multiple programming languages, allowing for broad application across projects.

Why is Gherkin considered plain-text language?

Gherkin is deemed plain-text because it allows writing specifications in a human-readable format without requiring a technical syntax.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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