Playwright testing is one of the most popular and demanding test automation methods used these days. There are several reasons why people have started using the Playwright testing methods more than the other API methods available on the internet. The primary reason is that these tests are much more flexible than the others. The technology in this field is advancing, due to which many techniques and tools are available for the same. This even confused the users regarding which technique would be the best for them. If you have landed here, you’ll be able to look at the best techniques and tools to debug and even maintain the Playwright Tests.
What is Playwright?
Playwright is a test automation method that allows cross-browser compatibility at a greater level. This platform uses the Node js files to ensure that the same API is used for cross-browser functions. It makes this process much faster than the other platforms of API testing, which are available on the internet. Along with that, the cross-browser automation process which takes place through Playwright is reliable and also fast, due to which people have started using it more than the other API testing methods.
Microsoft has developed the Playwright testing platform to ensure that testing is done in a compatible and faster way than before. They have been successful in providing these services, and also the functionality of Playwright is awesome. The best part about the Playwright testing platform is that it uses many coding softwares like Java, Python, JavaScript, C#, and even NodeJS. NodeJS is used by very few platforms related to API testing, due to which Playwright is now among the most used test automation methods. It even comes with Javascript and Typescript, and users can choose which suits them the most.
Why is Playwright the best Automation Testing method?
One common question is occurring in the readers’ minds: “What makes Playwright test automation methods one of the best made to date?” It has not been long since Playwright was launched, but the developers provided such features to the users through which it became the most popular in the field. The best part of this platform is that users can use it in many different languages. This means the platform has almost no limitations, and people from any region can start using the same right now. Along with that, the developers of Playwright have made it easier for people to migrate from Selenium to their platform.
They could easily migrate themselves through Java, Python, and C# scripting. This platform was released in early 2020, and now it is one of the most popular test automation methods available on the internet. The platform has many tools for the Developers through which they would be able to write their tests easily and also in a stable manner. This platform also has the power to control the browser, and it does not depend on any other transition which would be controlling the same.
Techniques to use Playwright Tests
Although the technology of Playwright testing methods is still new to the market, there are some techniques that users can use to ensure that they take the most benefits from the Playwright testing methods. These techniques will help users greatly by making End-to-end testing easier and more compatible for them in all possible ways. Along with that, the users would also be able to write better End-to-end tests with the help of these techniques and tips. It should be noted that some tools of the Playwright testing platform are also discussed over here, which the users should not ignore.
With these tools and techniques, users could perform their tests in the best way possible and utilize most of the platform. These techniques and tools of the platform are as follows-
1. Making use of the User-facing Attributes
The most important thing the users should do to ensure that they can get the maximum benefits through the Playwright tests is to use the attributes which are user-facing. For beginners who do not know about the user-facing attributes, they should know that these attributes are accessibility roles, labels, and text contents. And using them means that their test scripts should have these attributes as much as possible. These are not similar to the ID and Class attributes which means that they won’t frequently be changing compared to them. The users would be able to easily access the tests if more user-facing attributes were used while making the same. This would ensure that the test is user-friendly.
2. Locators
There are two types of attributes that users can use when they would have to change the pages; Locators and Selectors. It depends on the user which one they want to use, but it is recommended to use Locators and keep the selectors aside. There are a couple of reasons which tell us why Locators would be much better than Selectors regarding Playwright testing methods. There are chances that users would experience breakage when the web page changes if the Selectors are used, and the Locators help a lot by preventing the same from happening. Although these breakages might occur a few times, they will go unnoticed. The main reason behind the same is that the Locators have a lower level of strictness than the Selectors. There would be three possible outcomes when Locators are used in the test automation process. Either the test will succeed, or it will break loudly. The last condition is where many selectors match with one Locator. In this case, the Locator will report the problem, and the test will break.
3. Page Object Model (POM)
The next technique through which the users would be able to maximize the potential of the Playwright testing platform is by using the POM, also known as Page Object Models. These tools are mostly ignored by the users, but they can be the most useful attributes compared to the others. There are a number of things that a Page Object Model will do during the test automation process. It will help the users by avoiding duplications in the tests (if any). Along with that, they also improve the maintainability of the automated tests and also make the tests user-friendly and interactive. Through this, the users could make creative tests in just a few minutes. Although the users would have to use raw mechanics more in the Page Object Model, this process is much better and more natural than the others. But it is recommended to use the Page Object Models only when there is a need for abstraction. This will ensure that the Page Object Models are used most efficiently and effectively.
4. Using the Double Quotes
Double Quotes should be used a lot while creating the scripts for the test automation process. This would be helpful to the users when multiple elements have been attached to the same string. Therefore, when the users use double quotes for different elements, it would ensure that the coding remains case-sensitive and all the elements are displayed in the test similar to how the user wants it to be. So, when the users make use of double quotes, it would only display the element they want to be displayed at that particular place in the test.
5. Selectors to be Avoided
There are a few times when the users are recommended to avoid using selectors when creating a code for the test automation process. This is mostly recommended when Xpath or CSS is used, as they are tied during the implementation process. Therefore, this would break the DOM, and the test would ultimately break.
6. Debugging Tool
It is unclear whether the coding performed by the user goes well, and it might even fail at a particular point. Now if you are experienced in the field of coding, then you might be aware of the process of Debugging and how long it probably takes to find out the process. But the best part about the Playwright testing platform is that the developers have made Debugging even easier for the users to know where the fault occurred in their coding. The users just need to have an exact idea of the test’s debugging point, and they just have to put a breakpoint simultaneously. After that, they could examine the codings using the Debug tool, which is present in the platform. The users would also be able to look at the real-time attributes used in the browsers, which will help them get an exact idea of where the coding went wrong.
7. Trace Viewer Tool
If we have a look at some of the cool features which are present in the Playwright platform, then the Trace Viewer Tool is one of them. With the help of this tool, the users would be able to have a copy of the tests when they have failed. This ensures that the test codings remain with the user even when the test has failed, and the users would be able to analyse the same to know where the error had occurred. The file, which will be stored in the Playwright report folder, will tell the user all the details regarding the tests, like how they were executed and where the test encountered an error. There is also a trace image feature located in the file through which the users can have a greater idea regarding the place where the attributes or codings showed errors.
Final Thoughts!
Playwright has made test automation services much easier and more compatible with users. This platform comes in with a good amount of features that cannot be found in any other platform available on the internet. The developers of this platform are working to improve it daily, and it is slowly about to become the most used test automation method. The best part about using this platform is that it can be utilised at its best by beginners, and experienced users in the field of coding and test automation can also make the best out of it. It takes less time compared to the others, and the users would not have to spend much time finding out the errors or debugs that occurred during the test codings and scripting.
