automationid

AutomationId is a stable identifier used to locate a user interface element in UI automation. It is designed to be independent of visual layout, language, or dynamic content, allowing automation tools to reliably find and interact with controls such as buttons, text fields, and lists.

In the Windows UI Automation framework, the AutomationId corresponds to the AutomationElement.AutomationId property. It is commonly set in the UI framework you are using, such as WPF, WinForms, or UWP. In XAML-based applications, it is typically assigned via the AutomationProperties.AutomationId attached property, for example on a button: AutomationProperties.AutomationId="SubmitButton". It can also be set programmatically, for instance by calling AutomationProperties.SetAutomationId(element, "SubmitButton").

AutomationId is widely used by automation frameworks and testing tools. For example, Appium-based Windows automation (WinAppDriver) can locate elements by their accessibility identifier, often mapped to the AutomationId value. When an AutomationId is present, automation clients can locate the target element more reliably than by visible text alone, especially in dynamic UIs.

Best practices include choosing stable, non-localizable IDs that remain constant across app updates, ensuring uniqueness within a relevant scope (such as a window or view), and avoiding dependence on layout or content changes. It is important to note that AutomationId is not always guaranteed to be unique across the entire UI and may not be present in all elements, so tests should handle fallback strategies when needed.