Getting Started with Playwright: A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Playwright is a powerful, reliable, and fast end-to-end testing framework developed by Microsoft. Its cross-browser support, robust API, and ability to automate modern web applications make it a popular choice among developers and QA professionals. In this guide, we'll walk you through the basics of Playwright, helping you get up and running with this fantastic tool.

Why Choose Playwright?

• Cross-Browser Support: Automate tests across Chromium, WebKit, and Firefox.
• Language Flexibility: Supports JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, C#, and Java.
• Powerful Features: Built-in support for mobile emulation, network mocking, and API testing.
• Parallel Execution: Run multiple tests concurrently for faster results.
• Auto-Waiting: The Playwright waits for elements to be ready before interacting with them, reducing flaky tests.

Prerequisites

To get started, ensure you have the following:

• Node.js installed (v12 or newer).
• A code editor (e.g., VS Code).
• Basic knowledge of JavaScript or TypeScript.

Step 1: Install Playwright

Run the following command in your terminal to install Playwright:

npm init playwright@latest

This will:

• Create a new Playwright project.
• Install necessary dependencies.
• Set up an example test structure

Step 2: Explore the Folder Structure

Once installed, you'll see a folder structure like this:

project-folder/
├── tests/            # Your test files
├── playwright.config.ts # Configuration file
├── package.json      # Project metadata

Step 3: Configuration Basics

The playwright.config.ts file is where you define global settings like:

• Browsers to test:

use: {
  browserName: 'chromium',
}

• Test timeout:

timeout: 30000, // 30 seconds

• Base URL:

baseURL: 'https://your-app-url.com',

Step 4: Writing Your First Test

Create a test file in the tests folder, for example, example.spec.ts:

import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';

test('verify page title', async ({ page }) => {
  await page.goto('https://playwright.dev');
  const title = await page.title();
  expect(title).toBe('Fast and reliable end-to-end testing for modern web apps | Playwright');
});

This test:

1. Navigates to the Playwright website.
2. Fetches the page title.
3. Asserts that the title matches the expected value.

Step 5: Run Your Tests

Run your tests using the following command:

npx playwright test

Output:

• You'll see a summary of test results in the terminal.
• Playwright generates a detailed HTML report you can view locally.

Step 6: Debugging Tests

Playwright provides tools to debug effectively:

• Run in UI Mode:

npx playwright test --ui

• Debug in Headed Mode:

npx playwright test --headed

• Pause on Failure: Add page.pause() to your tests to inspect the state during execution.

Step 7: Advanced Features

Once you're comfortable with the basics, explore advanced capabilities:

• Parallel Execution: Configure workers in the playwright.config.ts to run tests concurrently.
• Network Interception: Mock API responses using page.route().
• Mobile Emulation: Test mobile layouts by specifying device emulation settings.

Example:

await page.emulate({
  viewport: { width: 375, height: 667 },
  userAgent: '...'
});

Conclusion

Playwright simplifies the process of writing reliable end-to-end tests while offering extensive features for modern web applications. By following this guide, you've taken the first steps towards mastering Playwright. Happy testing!

Feel free to leave comments or ask questions if you encounter challenges.