Getting Started with Playwright: Installation, Setup, and Running Tests

1. Introduction

Overview of Playwright and its Benefits

1. What is Playwright?
2. A modern, open-source end-to-end testing framework developed by Microsoft. Supports Chromium, Firefox, WebKit, and Electron for cross-browser testing.
3. Key Benefits:
4. Single API for all browsers.
5. Auto-waiting for elements, network interception, and mobile emulation.
6. Built-in test runner, parallel execution, and CI/CD integration.
7. Supports TypeScript, JavaScript, Python, and .NET.

2. System Requirements

Hardware, Software, and Dependencies

1. Hardware:
2. Minimum: 4GB RAM, 2-core CPU.
3. Recommended: 8GB RAM, 4-core CPU (for parallel testing).
4. Software:
5. Node.js v14+ (required for JavaScript/TypeScript).
6. Python 3.7+ (for Python support).
7. .NET SDK (for .NET support).
8. Supported OS: Windows 10+, macOS 10.14+, Linux (Ubuntu 18.04+).

3. Installing Playwright

Step-by-Step Installation

1. Install Node.js:
2. Download from nodejs.org.
3. Initialize a Project:

1. Install Playwright:

1. Follow prompts to configure (e.g., TypeScript vs. JavaScript).
2. Verify Installation:

4. What’s Installed?

Breakdown of Components

1. Browsers: Chromium, Firefox, WebKit (installed in ~/cache/ms-playwright).
2. Tools:
3. playwright: Core library.
4. playwright/test: Test runner.
5. playwright-cli: Command-line tools.
6. Dependencies:
7. browser binaries, test runner, and device descriptors for mobile testing.

5. Running the Example Test

Executing the Default Test

1. Run Tests:

1. Terminal Output:
2. Passed/failed tests.
3. Links to HTML reports.
4. Screenshots on failure.

6. HTML Test Reports

Generating and Understanding Reports

1. Generate Report:

1. Navigate Results:
2. Test Suites: Grouped by files.
3. Status: Passed/Failed/Skipped.
4. Traces: Screenshots, network logs, and execution timelines.

7. Running the Example Test in UI Mode

Interactive Debugging

1. Launch UI Mode:

1. Features:
2. Live browser preview.
3. Edit tests while running.
4. Inspect elements and console logs.

8. Updating Playwright

Safely Updating Versions

1. Update Packages:

1. Reinstall Browsers:

1. Check Version:

Recap and Next Steps

1. Playwright simplifies cross-browser testing with a unified API.
2. Explore advanced features like custom reporters, CI/CD integration, and API testing.
3. Next Steps: Write custom tests, integrate with GitHub Actions, or explore Playwright’s mocking capabilities.

Important Commands Cheat Sheet