Playwright, a cross-browser framework, provides end-to-end automated testing of web applications using the same API and runs frequent tests to ensure your web application is running as expected. To help test your web development effectively, Playwright simulates a real-world event from a user’s perspective.
Why Should I Use Playwright?
What Is Playwright Used For?
Initially released in 2011, Microsoft’s Playwright is a browser automation framework reputable for its search engine support (Firefox, Safari, etc.) versus end-user browsers (web page applications). With this preference, Playwright breaks select search engine limitations, like speed and flexibility, to check your site functionality.
Playwright is recommended for anyone with coding experience and a website looking to assess browser compatibility. Playwright allows you to create new browser pages and keep multiple tabs open using browsing context, or the environment where relevant documents are presented to the user. Along with Playwright’s versatility, this framework lets you freely interact with elements on a webpage to make the most of your productivity. Playwright also creates unique URLs so you don’t have to spend valuable time doing so yourself.
Does Playwright Require JavaScript?
If you choose to use Playwright, keep in mind that JavaScript plays a key role in API usage. Developers must write JavaScript code to establish new browser pages and add or edit content on the page. Additionally, navigating URLs with JavaScript code may be tricky if you’re unfamiliar with the framework, which makes Playwright more suitable for experienced web developers. Before using this framework for your automation needs, it may be necessary to refresh your JavaScript code skills and spend some time getting accustomed to the system.
While JavaScript isn’t the only programming language with which Playwright operates it is the most popular programming language in web development. As a result, many developers already have experience with coding in JavaScript, so they use this language when setting up the framework. That said, Playwright is equally as efficient when working with different, higher-level programming languages, like Python or C#.
What Are the Benefits of Playwright?
- Innate syntax and functional flexibility
- Close relation to a brower’s contemporary structures
- Provides developer with user-like access
- Auto-wait function helps reduce risk of failed tests
Even though there are obvious benefits to using a major competitor like TestSigma, Playwright’s innate syntax and functional flexibility allows developers to interact with the browser directly and without limitations while spanning a variety of pages and domains. Playwright’s close relation to a browser’s contemporary structures give it access to out-of-process tests, thereby shedding any in-process test limitations that may present during operation. Thus, Playwright’s lack of restriction in its automation process allows it to operate faster than other browser automation frameworks.
Developers also boast about Playwright’s ability to give you user-like access to handle frames and browser events. While you’ll have access to run browser tests using Playwright’s modern architecture, the multi-tab, multi-page functionality of this framework permits the developer to make necessary changes for a better user experience.
Additionally, fans of this framework assert that the auto-wait function eliminates the risk of failed tests when assessing web compatibility with a browser. When an element is unable to perform an action but the framework proceeds with the action regardless of its availability, an artificial timeout and a failed test occurs. With its deep understanding of its inner workings, Playwright waits for all required elements to be ready before beginning a test, which eliminates wasting time on flaky tests.
Is Playwright Still Used?
Yes, there are nearly 1,000 companies that actively use Playwright to operate their websites successfully. One of these companies is Publix Supermarket, a beloved neighborhood grocery store located in the southeastern United States. Publix uses Playwright to manage its grocery website and ensure access is available to its users across all platforms and browsers. This famous grocery store chain makes use of Playwright by constantly running browser automation tests to check for proper functionality.
