Cross-Platform Testing: Compatible with various operating systems (Windows, Mac, Linux).
Cross-Programming Language Support: Allows writing tests in JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Java, and .NET.
Mobile Emulation: Tests can also run in mobile emulation for browsers.
Auto-Wait Mechanism: Reduces flaky tests.
Tracing: Provides detailed execution tracing with network information.
Inbuilt Reporting: Generates test execution reports.
Dynamic Waits: Adjusts waits based on element state.
Faster and Reliable: Compared to Selenium and Cypress.
Powerful Tooling: Features like code generation and inspector for better testing.
Limitations of Using Playwright
Less Community Support: Compared to Selenium, due to being a newer tool.
No Legacy Browser Support: Does not support older browsers like IE11.
Real Device Testing: Cannot test mobile apps on real devices directly.
Playwright Architecture
Components:
Client Component: Where tests are written.
Playwright Server: Communicates between client and browser engines.
Browser Engines: Chrome, Firefox, WebKit, etc.
Protocols Used:
WebSocket Protocol between client and Playwright server.
Chrome DevTools Protocol between Playwright server and browser engines.
Installation Requirements
Install Visual Studio Code and Node.js.
For installing Playwright, run commands in VS Code:
npm init playwright
The structure includes folders like tests for test cases.
Running Tests
Tests can be executed on multiple browsers using Playwright commands.
Tests can also be recorded and generate HTML reports.
Common Terminology in Playwright
Locator: Used to identify elements to interact with.
Test Specifications: Organize tests into specs and run specific tests.
Writing First Playwright Test
Example: Steps to create an automation test.
Summary
Playwright offers a robust framework for creating automated tests with cross-browser compatibility, dynamic waits, and detailed reporting capabilities.