{
  "id": 4818876,
  "title": "The Robot Framework language",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/the-robot-framework-language",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-01T07:22:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Lobsters",
    "slug": "lobsters",
    "url": "https://docs.robotframework.org/docs/getting_started/how_to_write_rf"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Robot Framework is a robust and flexible automation framework that utilizes plain text syntax. It is designed to be user-friendly, making it accessible to both technical professionals and those without extensive programming experience. This guide will introduce the fundamental syntax of Robot Framework to help you begin your automation journey. In this guide, we will concentrate on testing, with a focus on Test Cases and Test Suites. These concepts also extend to the realm of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) tasks. When naming your files, feel free to choose any name you prefer, as long as it ends with a .robot extension. For instance: MyFirstTest.robot.\n\nA Robot Framework test suite comprises multiple test cases arranged within a single file. The fundamental structure of a test suite file comprises several sections. While there are additional sections available, the Test Cases section is essential for executing a test. The Settings section is where you specify the libraries, resource files, and other configurations required for your test suite. The libraries house the keywords (functions/steps) that Robot Framework employs to run tests. Each library provides documentation for the keywords it offers. To utilize these keywords, you must import the library first. The Test Cases or Tasks section is where you define individual test cases. Each test case/task is a sequence of keywords that determine the steps or actions performed by the test or task. There is no limit to the number of steps a test case can contain, but adhering to good practices and establishing conventions with colleagues is crucial for maintainable code. In the examples provided, you will notice that Robot Framework code is separated by spaces. To accurately distinguish elements, Robot Framework requires a minimum of two spaces. Examples in the guide demonstrate this spacing convention. Spacing and indentation play a vital role in Robot Framework, as they help differentiate keywords, arguments, test names, and keywords within tests. Remember, at least two spaces are necessary for Robot Framework to correctly interpret the code. For a deeper understanding of spacing conventions, consult the Style Guide.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}