Master Test Automation with Selenium and Playwright

vinayak harsha
Sep 21, 2025
5 min read

In today's fast-paced software development world, ensuring the quality of applications is more important than ever. Test automation has become a crucial part of the development process. Among the many tools available, Selenium and Playwright stand out as powerful options for automating web applications. This blog post will guide you through mastering test automation using these two frameworks, helping you enhance your testing skills and improve your workflow.

Understanding Test Automation

Test automation is the process of using software tools to execute tests on applications automatically. This approach saves time and reduces human error. By automating repetitive tasks, developers can focus on more complex issues, leading to better software quality.

Why Use Selenium?

Selenium is one of the most popular test automation frameworks. It supports multiple programming languages, including Java, Python, and C#. This flexibility allows teams to use the language they are most comfortable with.

Some key features of Selenium include:

Cross-browser compatibility: Selenium supports all major browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
Integration with other tools: It can easily integrate with tools like TestNG, JUnit, and Cucumber for better test management.
Large community support: With a vast community, finding resources and troubleshooting issues is easier.

Why Use Playwright?

Playwright is a newer framework that has gained popularity for its modern features. It was developed by Microsoft and offers several advantages over Selenium.

Key features of Playwright include:

Multi-browser support: Playwright supports Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit, allowing for comprehensive testing across different environments.
Auto-waiting: Playwright automatically waits for elements to be ready before performing actions, reducing the chances of flaky tests.
Network interception: This feature allows you to mock network requests, making it easier to test various scenarios.

Setting Up Your Environment

Before diving into test automation, you need to set up your environment. Here’s how to get started with both Selenium and Playwright.

Setting Up Selenium

Install Java or Python: Depending on your preferred programming language, install the necessary environment.
Download Selenium WebDriver: Visit the Selenium website to download the WebDriver for your browser.
Set up your IDE: Use an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) like IntelliJ IDEA for Java or PyCharm for Python.
Add Selenium dependencies: If you are using Maven for Java, add the following dependency to your `pom.xml`:

```xml
<dependency>
<groupId>org.seleniumhq.selenium</groupId>
<artifactId>selenium-java</artifactId>
<version>3.141.59</version>
</dependency>
```

For Python, you can install Selenium using pip:

```bash
pip install selenium
```

Setting Up Playwright

Install Node.js: Playwright requires Node.js. Download and install it from the Node.js website.
Create a new project: Use the terminal to create a new directory and initialize a new Node.js project:

```bash
mkdir playwright-test
cd playwright-test
npm init -y
```
Install Playwright: Run the following command to install Playwright:

```bash
npm install playwright
```
Install browser binaries: Playwright can install the necessary browser binaries automatically. Run:

```bash
npx playwright install
```

Writing Your First Test

Now that your environment is set up, it’s time to write your first test.

Writing a Test with Selenium

Here’s a simple example of a Selenium test in Python that opens a website and checks the title:

```python

from selenium import webdriver

Set up the WebDriver

driver = webdriver.Chrome()

Open a website

driver.get("https://www.example.com")

Check the title

assert "Example Domain" in driver.title

Close the browser

driver.quit()

```

Writing a Test with Playwright

Here’s how to write a similar test using Playwright in JavaScript:

```javascript

const { chromium } = require('playwright');

(async () => {

// Launch the browser

const browser = await chromium.launch();

const page = await browser.newPage();

// Open a website

await page.goto('https://www.example.com');

// Check the title

const title = await page.title();

console.assert(title.includes('Example Domain'));

// Close the browser

await browser.close();

})();

```

Best Practices for Test Automation

To make the most of your test automation efforts, consider the following best practices:

Keep Tests Independent

Each test should be able to run independently. This means that the outcome of one test should not affect another. This practice helps in identifying issues quickly.

Use Page Object Model

The Page Object Model (POM) is a design pattern that enhances test maintenance. It involves creating a separate class for each page of your application. This way, if the UI changes, you only need to update the page class, not every test.

Implement Continuous Integration

Integrating your tests into a Continuous Integration (CI) pipeline ensures that tests run automatically whenever code changes are made. This practice helps catch issues early in the development process.

Regularly Review and Refactor Tests

Just like your application code, your test code should be reviewed and refactored regularly. This practice helps maintain clarity and efficiency in your test suite.

Advanced Features of Selenium and Playwright

Both Selenium and Playwright offer advanced features that can enhance your testing capabilities.

Selenium Advanced Features

Selenium Grid: This feature allows you to run tests on multiple machines and browsers simultaneously, speeding up the testing process.
Headless Mode: Running tests in headless mode means that the browser operates without a graphical user interface. This can speed up tests and is useful for CI environments.

Playwright Advanced Features

Tracing: Playwright can record traces of your tests, allowing you to analyze what happened during a test run. This feature is invaluable for debugging.
Browser Contexts: Playwright allows you to create multiple browser contexts in a single instance. This feature is useful for testing scenarios that require different user sessions.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with the best tools, issues can arise during test automation. Here are some common problems and their solutions.

Selenium Issues

Element Not Found: This error often occurs when the element is not yet visible. Use explicit waits to ensure the element is ready before interacting with it.
Browser Compatibility: Ensure that you are using the correct WebDriver version for your browser. Mismatched versions can lead to unexpected behavior.

Playwright Issues

Timeout Errors: Playwright has built-in timeouts for actions. If you encounter timeout errors, consider increasing the timeout duration or using auto-waiting features.
Network Issues: If your tests rely on network requests, ensure that your network is stable. Use Playwright's network interception features to mock requests if necessary.

Real-World Examples

To illustrate the power of Selenium and Playwright, let’s look at some real-world scenarios where these tools shine.

Example 1: E-commerce Website Testing with Selenium

Imagine you are testing an e-commerce website. You need to ensure that users can add items to their cart and complete a purchase. Using Selenium, you can automate the following steps:

Navigate to the product page.
Click the "Add to Cart" button.
Go to the cart page.
Verify that the item is in the cart.

Example 2: Performance Testing with Playwright

For a web application that requires high performance, you can use Playwright to simulate multiple users accessing the site simultaneously. This testing can help identify bottlenecks and improve the user experience.

The Future of Test Automation

As technology evolves, so does test automation. New tools and frameworks are constantly emerging, making it essential for testers to stay updated. Both Selenium and Playwright are continuously improving, with new features being added regularly.

Embracing New Technologies

To stay ahead, consider exploring other automation tools and frameworks. Technologies like Cypress and TestCafe are gaining traction and may offer features that suit your needs better.

Continuous Learning

The world of test automation is always changing. Engage with the community, attend workshops, and read up on the latest trends. Continuous learning will help you adapt and improve your skills.

Wrapping Up Your Automation Journey

Mastering test automation with Selenium and Playwright can significantly enhance your testing capabilities. By understanding the strengths of each framework and following best practices, you can create a robust test suite that ensures the quality of your applications.

As you embark on your automation journey, remember to keep learning and adapting. The tools may change, but the goal remains the same: delivering high-quality software that meets user expectations.