Microsoft Playwright is a new, open-source, JavaScript-based, cross-browser automation library for end-to-end testing. Learn more in this article. As a web developer, it can be tough to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of web development. You always have to ensure all website functions are working across all devices.
That is where Microsoft Playwright comes in.
Learn more about Microsoft Playwright’s role in web development and automation testing by reading the rest of this article.
Table of Contents
Microsoft Playwright API: A Cross-Browser Web Automation Tool
The Playwright is a cross-browser web automation tool designed to make your life as a web developer easier. With Microsoft Playwright, you can write end-to-end tests without worrying about browser compatibility.
That said, it will work on any machine with up-to-date JavaScript. Likewise, you can initiate a test run across Chromium, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and WebKit.
Besides that, the Playwright library provides API for easy automation.
End-to-End Test With Playwright
Playwright's end-to-end tests run in real browsers. That said, you can test the real browser input pipeline and proprietary browser APIs like:
- Intersection Observer
- Clipboard
Modern web apps rely a lot on these capabilities. Likewise, it is vital to test them to ensure they work as expected in your users’ browsers.
The Playwright supports users with complete control over their inputs via its Input API. It includes synthesizing all types of inputs, including:
- Mouse
- Keyboard
- Touch
- Gamepad
- Clipboard events from the same JavaScript codebase
What Can You Do With Playwright?
Are you thinking of using Playwright? Here are some of Playwright’s various functions for end-to-end testing.
Configure Test Retry Strategy
Microsoft Playwright can help you tell if a particular failure was due to flaky tests. It will log information about each instance.
So, you can dig into how many times a particular failed test happened on each occasion.
READ ALSO: 11 Thrifty Reasons Why Mobile Automation Testing Is Needed
Browser Context
The Playwright creates a new browser context for all independent tests. With browser context, you can test scenarios across many pages.
It also creates a new profile with your preferences and bookmarks. That said, it allows you the freedom to explore different topics.
The testability feature also allows developers and testers creativity in their end-to-end tests.
Web-First Assertions
Designed for web applications, Playwright assertions are a new way to create and deploy dynamic web content. Checks are also automatically retried until they meet the necessary conditions.
Playwright Tracing
Cut errors by configuring test retry strategy and capturing execution trace videos.
One-Time Login
The authentication state of the context can save and reuse all tests to make them faster. This shortcut bypasses repetitive log-in operations.
Each Playwright test is still in full test isolation from the other modules, so they can run without affecting one another's results.
Produce Trusted Events
You can interact with dynamic controls and produce trusted events using Playwright. The tool uses your browser's input pipeline.
Test Frames
With the power of selectors, Playwright can pierce through shadows and enter frames.
Auto-Wait Feature
With the Playwright auto wait, you can explore without worrying about timeouts. The Playwright can wait for elements to be actionable before performing actions.
This tool also has a rich set of introspection events. You can collect data without navigating testing actions with flaky tests.
Trace Viewer
Get all the information you need to investigate a test failure with Playwright trace. It includes a test execution screencast, DOM screenshot, and source file.
The benefits don't stop there, though! It also lets developers view database responses without changing any code.
Playwright Inspector
Inspect the page and generate selectors with Playwright Inspector.
Check the click points in your browser's console to see what happens when users click them. Also, explore execution logs to know the behavior of the different elements on the screen.
Codegen
Codegen is a tool that lets you generate tests by recording your actions. It’s easy to use for any web developer. You can also save them in any language.
Multiple Tabs, Origins, and Users
The most efficient way to test your site is by creating multiple tabs, origins, and users. With this feature, you can create scenarios for testing on your website.
Likewise, it helps to pinpoint any issues with user navigation.
READ ALSO: Test Automation: Features, Benefits, And Challenges Of Automated Testing
Microsoft Playwright: FAQs
Is Playwright better than Selenium?
Both Playwright and Selenium are popular tools for browser automation, but they have some key differences:
- Playwright is faster and more lightweight, especially for headless browser testing.
- Selenium has a larger community and a more established ecosystem of libraries and plugins.
Choosing between them depends on your specific needs. If speed and ease of use are priorities, Playwright might be a good choice. If you need a more comprehensive range of existing tools and community support, Selenium could be better.
Is Microsoft Playwright free?
Yes, Microsoft Playwright is an open-source project freely available under the permissive Apache 2.0 license. This means you can use it for free in any personal or commercial project.
Is Playwright a tool or framework?
Playwright is considered a framework rather than just a tool. It provides a higher-level API for interacting with browsers compared to lower-level tools. This makes it easier to write and maintain automated tests.
What coding language does the Playwright use?
Playwright itself is written in TypeScript, but it provides bindings for various popular programming languages like Python, Node.js (.js), Java, and .NET. This allows you to use Playwright with the language you're already comfortable with.
Does the Playwright need coding?
Yes, Playwright requires writing code to automate browser interactions. You'll need to use the provided libraries in your chosen language to write scripts that instruct Playwright how to interact with web pages.
Is Playwright suitable for UI testing?
Yes, Playwright is very well-suited for UI testing. It allows you to automate various user interactions with web pages, simulate different scenarios, and check for expected results. This helps ensure that your web application functions as intended from a user's perspective.
Final Thoughts On Microsoft Playwright
The web browser is an essential and integral part of the internet experience. Modern browsers' architecture can be complex because they run on different processes.
But the Playwright solves this problem by running tests out-of-process. Now, using test runners frees the Playwright from typical limitations.
It also has modularity and extensibility, so test automation is made much easier with Playwright.
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