Playwright Automation Testing Notes
# Playwright Automation Testing Notes
## **1. Introduction to Automation Testing**
### **What is Automation Testing?**
Automation testing uses tools and scripts to execute test cases. Unlike manual
testing, where a person interacts with the software, automation testing relies on
predefined instructions to perform the same actions. This saves time, ensures
consistency, and is especially useful for repetitive or complex scenarios.
### **Why Playwright?**
Playwright is a modern end-to-end testing tool that stands out for its features:
- **Multi-Browser Support**: It can run tests on Chromium (Google
Chrome/Edge), Firefox, and WebKit (Safari).
- **Fast and Reliable**: Built-in auto-wait ensures actions are performed only
when the application is ready.
- **Cross-Platform**: Playwright tests can be executed on Windows, macOS,
and Linux.
- **Modern Features**: Includes API mocking, mobile device emulation, and
more, making it suitable for testing modern web applications.
---
## **2. Setting Up Playwright**
### **Prerequisites**
- **Node.js**: Playwright requires Node.js to run. Install it from the [official
Node.js website](https://nodejs.org/).
- **Basic Knowledge of JavaScript/TypeScript**: Familiarity with these
programming languages is essential.
### **Installation Steps**
1. **Initialize a Node.js Project**: This creates a `package.json` file to manage
dependencies.
```bash
npm init -y
```
2. **Install Playwright**: This downloads the Playwright library and necessary
browser binaries.
```bash
npm install @playwright/test
```
3. **Run the Test Generator**: Playwright provides a code generator to create
test scripts interactively.
```bash
npx playwright codegen
```
### **Project Structure**
A typical Playwright project looks like this:
```
project-folder/
|-- tests/
| |-- example.test.js # Contains test scripts
|-- playwright.config.js # Global configurations
|-- package.json # Dependency manager
|-- node_modules/ # Installed modules
```
---
