Use when writing Playwright tests, fixing flaky tests, debugging failures, implementing Page Object Model, configuring CI/CD, optimizing performance, mocking APIs, handling authentication or OAuth, testing accessibility (axe-core), file uploads/downloads, date/time mocking, WebSockets, geolocation, permissions, multi-tab/popup flows, mobile/responsive layouts, touch gestures, GraphQL, error handling, offline mode, multi-user collaboration, third-party services (payments, email verification), ...
Scanned 9/22/2026
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---
name: playwright-best-practices
description: Use when writing Playwright tests, fixing flaky tests, debugging failures, implementing Page Object Model, configuring CI/CD, optimizing performance, mocking APIs, handling authentication or OAuth, testing accessibility (axe-core), file uploads/downloads, date/time mocking, WebSockets, geolocation, permissions, multi-tab/popup flows, mobile/responsive layouts, touch gestures, GraphQL, error handling, offline mode, multi-user collaboration, third-party services (payments, email verification), console error monitoring, global setup/teardown, test annotations (skip, fixme, slow), test tags (@smoke, @fast, @critical, filtering with --grep), project dependencies, security testing (XSS, CSRF, auth), performance budgets (Web Vitals, Lighthouse), iframes, component testing, canvas/WebGL, service workers/PWA, test coverage, i18n/localization, Electron apps, or browser extension testing. Covers E2E, component, API, visual, accessibility, security, Electron, and extension testing.
license: MIT
metadata:
author: currents.dev
version: "1.2"
---
# Playwright Best Practices
This skill provides comprehensive guidance for all aspects of Playwright test development, from writing new tests to debugging and maintaining existing test suites.
## Activity-Based Reference Guide
Consult these references based on what you're doing:
### Writing New Tests
**When to use**: Creating new test files, writing test cases, implementing test scenarios
| Activity | Reference Files |
| ----------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Writing E2E tests** | [test-suite-structure.md](core/test-suite-structure.md), [locators.md](core/locators.md), [assertions-waiting.md](core/assertions-waiting.md) |
| **Writing component tests** | [component-testing.md](testing-patterns/component-testing.md), [test-suite-structure.md](core/test-suite-structure.md) |
| **Writing API tests** | [api-testing.md](testing-patterns/api-testing.md), [test-suite-structure.md](core/test-suite-structure.md) |
| **Writing GraphQL tests** | [graphql-testing.md](testing-patterns/graphql-testing.md), [api-testing.md](testing-patterns/api-testing.md) |
| **Writing visual regression tests** | [visual-regression.md](testing-patterns/visual-regression.md), [canvas-webgl.md](testing-patterns/canvas-webgl.md) |
| **Structuring test code with POM** | [page-object-model.md](core/page-object-model.md), [test-suite-structure.md](core/test-suite-structure.md) |
| **Setting up test data/fixtures** | [fixtures-hooks.md](core/fixtures-hooks.md), [test-data.md](core/test-data.md) |
| **Handling authentication** | [authentication.md](advanced/authentication.md), [authentication-flows.md](advanced/authentication-flows.md) |
| **Testing date/time features** | [clock-mocking.md](advanced/clock-mocking.md) |
| **Testing file upload/download** | [file-operations.md](testing-patterns/file-operations.md), [file-upload-download.md](testing-patterns/file-upload-download.md) |
| **Testing forms/validation** | [forms-validation.md](testing-patterns/forms-validation.md) |
| **Testing drag and drop** | [drag-drop.md](testing-patterns/drag-drop.md) |
| **Testing accessibility** | [accessibility.md](testing-patterns/accessibility.md) |
| **Testing security (XSS, CSRF)** | [security-testing.md](testing-patterns/security-testing.md) |
| **Using test annotations** | [annotations.md](core/annotations.md) |
| **Using test tags** | [test-tags.md](core/test-tags.md) |
| **Testing iframes** | [iframes.md](browser-apis/iframes.md) |
| **Testing canvas/WebGL** | [canvas-webgl.md](testing-patterns/canvas-webgl.md) |
| **Internationalization (i18n)** | [i18n.md](testing-patterns/i18n.md) |
| **Testing Electron apps** | [electron.md](testing-patterns/electron.md) |
| **Testing browser extensions** | [browser-extensions.md](testing-patterns/browser-extensions.md) |
### Mobile & Responsive Testing
**When to use**: Testing mobile devices, touch interactions, responsive layouts
| Activity | Reference Files |
| ------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Device emulation** | [mobile-testing.md](advanced/mobile-testing.md) |
| **Touch gestures (swipe, tap)** | [mobile-testing.md](advanced/mobile-testing.md) |
| **Viewport/breakpoint testing** | [mobile-testing.md](advanced/mobile-testing.md) |
| **Mobile-specific UI** | [mobile-testing.md](advanced/mobile-testing.md), [locators.md](core/locators.md) |
### Real-Time & Browser APIs
**When to use**: Testing WebSockets, geolocation, permissions, multi-tab flows
| Activity | Reference Files |
| ------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **WebSocket/real-time testing** | [websockets.md](browser-apis/websockets.md) |
| **Geolocation mocking** | [browser-apis.md](browser-apis/browser-apis.md) |
| **Permission handling** | [browser-apis.md](browser-apis/browser-apis.md) |
| **Clipboard testing** | [browser-apis.md](browser-apis/browser-apis.md) |
| **Camera/microphone mocking** | [browser-apis.md](browser-apis/browser-apis.md) |
| **Multi-tab/popup flows** | [multi-context.md](advanced/multi-context.md) |
| **OAuth popup handling** | [third-party.md](advanced/third-party.md), [multi-context.md](advanced/multi-context.md) |
### Debugging & Troubleshooting
**When to use**: Test failures, element not found, timeouts, unexpected behavior
| Activity | Reference Files |
| ------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Debugging test failures** | [debugging.md](debugging/debugging.md), [assertions-waiting.md](core/assertions-waiting.md) |
| **Fixing flaky tests** | [flaky-tests.md](debugging/flaky-tests.md), [debugging.md](debugging/debugging.md), [assertions-waiting.md](core/assertions-waiting.md) |
| **Debugging flaky parallel runs** | [flaky-tests.md](debugging/flaky-tests.md), [performance.md](infrastructure-ci-cd/performance.md), [fixtures-hooks.md](core/fixtures-hooks.md) |
| **Ensuring test isolation / avoiding state leak** | [flaky-tests.md](debugging/flaky-tests.md), [fixtures-hooks.md](core/fixtures-hooks.md), [performance.md](infrastructure-ci-cd/performance.md) |
| **Fixing selector issues** | [locators.md](core/locators.md), [debugging.md](debugging/debugging.md) |
| **Investigating timeout issues** | [assertions-waiting.md](core/assertions-waiting.md), [debugging.md](debugging/debugging.md) |
| **Using trace viewer** | [debugging.md](debugging/debugging.md) |
| **Debugging race conditions** | [flaky-tests.md](debugging/flaky-tests.md), [debugging.md](debugging/debugging.md), [assertions-waiting.md](core/assertions-waiting.md) |
| **Debugging console/JS errors** | [console-errors.md](debugging/console-errors.md), [debugging.md](debugging/debugging.md) |
### Error & Edge Case Testing
**When to use**: Testing error states, offline mode, network failures, validation
| Activity | Reference Files |
| ------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Error boundary testing** | [error-testing.md](debugging/error-testing.md) |
| **Network failure simulation** | [error-testing.md](debugging/error-testing.md), [network-advanced.md](advanced/network-advanced.md) |
| **Offline mode testing** | [error-testing.md](debugging/error-testing.md), [service-workers.md](browser-apis/service-workers.md) |
| **Service worker testing** | [service-workers.md](browser-apis/service-workers.md) |
| **Loading state testing** | [error-testing.md](debugging/error-testing.md) |
| **Form validation testing** | [error-testing.md](debugging/error-testing.md) |
### Multi-User & Collaboration Testing
**When to use**: Testing features involving multiple users, roles, or real-time collaboration
| Activity | Reference Files |
| ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Multiple users in one test** | [multi-user.md](advanced/multi-user.md) |
| **Real-time collaboration** | [multi-user.md](advanced/multi-user.md), [websockets.md](browser-apis/websockets.md) |
| **Role-based access testing** | [multi-user.md](advanced/multi-user.md) |
| **Concurrent action testing** | [multi-user.md](advanced/multi-user.md) |
### Architecture Decisions
**When to use**: Choosing test patterns, deciding between approaches, planning test architecture
| Activity | Reference Files |
| ---------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| **POM vs fixtures decision** | [pom-vs-fixtures.md](architecture/pom-vs-fixtures.md) |
| **Test type selection** | [test-architecture.md](architecture/test-architecture.md) |
| **Mock vs real services** | [when-to-mock.md](architecture/when-to-mock.md) |
| **Test suite structure** | [test-suite-structure.md](core/test-suite-structure.md) |
### Framework-Specific Testing
**When to use**: Testing React, Angular, Vue, or Next.js applications
| Activity | Reference Files |
| ------------------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| **Testing React apps** | [react.md](frameworks/react.md) |
| **Testing Angular apps** | [angular.md](frameworks/angular.md) |
| **Testing Vue/Nuxt apps** | [vue.md](frameworks/vue.md) |
| **Testing Next.js apps** | [nextjs.md](frameworks/nextjs.md) |
### Refactoring & Maintenance
**When to use**: Improving existing tests, code review, reducing duplication
| Activity | Reference Files |
| ------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Refactoring to Page Object Model** | [page-object-model.md](core/page-object-model.md), [test-suite-structure.md](core/test-suite-structure.md) |
| **Improving test organization** | [test-suite-structure.md](core/test-suite-structure.md), [page-object-model.md](core/page-object-model.md) |
| **Extracting common setup/teardown** | [fixtures-hooks.md](core/fixtures-hooks.md) |
| **Replacing brittle selectors** | [locators.md](core/locators.md) |
| **Removing explicit waits** | [assertions-waiting.md](core/assertions-waiting.md) |
| **Creating test data factories** | [test-data.md](core/test-data.md) |
| **Configuration setup** | [configuration.md](core/configuration.md) |
### Infrastructure & Configuration
**When to use**: Setting up projects, configuring CI/CD, optimizing performance
| Activity | Reference Files |
| --------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Configuring Playwright project** | [configuration.md](core/configuration.md), [projects-dependencies.md](core/projects-dependencies.md) |
| **Setting up CI/CD pipelines** | [ci-cd.md](infrastructure-ci-cd/ci-cd.md), [github-actions.md](infrastructure-ci-cd/github-actions.md) |
| **GitHub Actions setup** | [github-actions.md](infrastructure-ci-cd/github-actions.md) |
| **GitLab CI setup** | [gitlab.md](infrastructure-ci-cd/gitlab.md) |
| **Other CI providers** | [other-providers.md](infrastructure-ci-cd/other-providers.md) |
| **Docker/container setup** | [docker.md](infrastructure-ci-cd/docker.md) |
| **Global setup & teardown** | [global-setup.md](core/global-setup.md) |
| **Project dependencies** | [projects-dependencies.md](core/projects-dependencies.md) |
| **Optimizing test performance** | [performance.md](infrastructure-ci-cd/performance.md), [test-suite-structure.md](core/test-suite-structure.md) |
| **Configuring parallel execution** | [parallel-sharding.md](infrastructure-ci-cd/parallel-sharding.md), [performance.md](infrastructure-ci-cd/performance.md) |
| **Isolating test data between workers** | [fixtures-hooks.md](core/fixtures-hooks.md), [performance.md](infrastructure-ci-cd/performance.md) |
| **Test coverage** | [test-coverage.md](infrastructure-ci-cd/test-coverage.md) |
| **Test reporting/artifacts** | [reporting.md](infrastructure-ci-cd/reporting.md) |
### Advanced Patterns
**When to use**: Complex scenarios, API mocking, network interception
| Activity | Reference Files |
| ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Mocking API responses** | [test-suite-structure.md](core/test-suite-structure.md), [network-advanced.md](advanced/network-advanced.md) |
| **Network interception** | [network-advanced.md](advanced/network-advanced.md), [assertions-waiting.md](core/assertions-waiting.md) |
| **GraphQL mocking** | [network-advanced.md](advanced/network-advanced.md) |
| **HAR recording/playback** | [network-advanced.md](advanced/network-advanced.md) |
| **Custom fixtures** | [fixtures-hooks.md](core/fixtures-hooks.md) |
| **Advanced waiting strategies** | [assertions-waiting.md](core/assertions-waiting.md) |
| **OAuth/SSO mocking** | [third-party.md](advanced/third-party.md), [multi-context.md](advanced/multi-context.md) |
| **Payment gateway mocking** | [third-party.md](advanced/third-party.md) |
| **Email/SMS verification mocking** | [third-party.md](advanced/third-party.md) |
| **Failing on console errors** | [console-errors.md](debugging/console-errors.md) |
| **Security testing (XSS, CSRF)** | [security-testing.md](testing-patterns/security-testing.md) |
| **Performance budgets & Web Vitals** | [performance-testing.md](testing-patterns/performance-testing.md) |
| **Lighthouse integration** | [performance-testing.md](testing-patterns/performance-testing.md) |
| **Test annotations (skip, fixme)** | [annotations.md](core/annotations.md) |
| **Test tags (@smoke, @fast)** | [test-tags.md](core/test-tags.md) |
| **Test steps for reporting** | [annotations.md](core/annotations.md) |
## Quick Decision Tree
```
What are you doing?
│
├─ Writing a new test?
│ ├─ E2E test → core/test-suite-structure.md, core/locators.md, core/assertions-waiting.md
│ ├─ Component test → testing-patterns/component-testing.md
│ ├─ API test → testing-patterns/api-testing.md, core/test-suite-structure.md
│ ├─ GraphQL test → testing-patterns/graphql-testing.md
│ ├─ Visual regression → testing-patterns/visual-regression.md
│ ├─ Visual/canvas test → testing-patterns/canvas-webgl.md, core/test-suite-structure.md
│ ├─ Accessibility test → testing-patterns/accessibility.md
│ ├─ Mobile/responsive test → advanced/mobile-testing.md
│ ├─ i18n/locale test → testing-patterns/i18n.md
│ ├─ Electron app test → testing-patterns/electron.md
│ ├─ Browser extension test → testing-patterns/browser-extensions.md
│ ├─ Multi-user test → advanced/multi-user.md
│ ├─ Form validation test → testing-patterns/forms-validation.md
│ └─ Drag and drop test → testing-patterns/drag-drop.md
│
├─ Testing specific features?
│ ├─ File upload/download → testing-patterns/file-operations.md, testing-patterns/file-upload-download.md
│ ├─ Date/time dependent → advanced/clock-mocking.md
│ ├─ WebSocket/real-time → browser-apis/websockets.md
│ ├─ Geolocation/permissions → browser-apis/browser-apis.md
│ ├─ OAuth/SSO mocking → advanced/third-party.md, advanced/multi-context.md
│ ├─ Payments/email/SMS → advanced/third-party.md
│ ├─ iFrames → browser-apis/iframes.md
│ ├─ Canvas/WebGL/charts → testing-patterns/canvas-webgl.md
│ ├─ Service workers/PWA → browser-apis/service-workers.md
│ ├─ i18n/localization → testing-patterns/i18n.md
│ ├─ Security (XSS, CSRF) → testing-patterns/security-testing.md
│ └─ Performance/Web Vitals → testing-patterns/performance-testing.md
│
├─ Architecture decisions?
│ ├─ POM vs fixtures → architecture/pom-vs-fixtures.md
│ ├─ Test type selection → architecture/test-architecture.md
│ ├─ Mock vs real services → architecture/when-to-mock.md
│ └─ Test suite structure → core/test-suite-structure.md
│
├─ Framework-specific testing?
│ ├─ React app → frameworks/react.md
│ ├─ Angular app → frameworks/angular.md
│ ├─ Vue/Nuxt app → frameworks/vue.md
│ └─ Next.js app → frameworks/nextjs.md
│
├─ Authentication testing?
│ ├─ Basic auth patterns → advanced/authentication.md
│ └─ Complex flows (MFA, reset) → advanced/authentication-flows.md
│
├─ Test is failing/flaky?
│ ├─ Flaky test investigation → debugging/flaky-tests.md
│ ├─ Element not found → core/locators.md, debugging/debugging.md
│ ├─ Timeout issues → core/assertions-waiting.md, debugging/debugging.md
│ ├─ Race conditions → debugging/flaky-tests.md, debugging/debugging.md
│ ├─ Flaky only with multiple workers → debugging/flaky-tests.md, infrastructure-ci-cd/performance.md
│ ├─ State leak / isolation → debugging/flaky-tests.md, core/fixtures-hooks.md
│ ├─ Console/JS errors → debugging/console-errors.md, debugging/debugging.md
│ └─ General debugging → debugging/debugging.md
│
├─ Testing error scenarios?
│ ├─ Network failures → debugging/error-testing.md, advanced/network-advanced.md
│ ├─ Offline (unexpected) → debugging/error-testing.md
│ ├─ Offline-first/PWA → browser-apis/service-workers.md
│ ├─ Error boundaries → debugging/error-testing.md
│ └─ Form validation → testing-patterns/forms-validation.md, debugging/error-testing.md
│
├─ Refactoring existing code?
│ ├─ Implementing POM → core/page-object-model.md
│ ├─ Improving selectors → core/locators.md
│ ├─ Extracting fixtures → core/fixtures-hooks.md
│ ├─ Creating data factories → core/test-data.md
│ └─ Configuration setup → core/configuration.md
│
├─ Setting up infrastructure?
│ ├─ CI/CD → infrastructure-ci-cd/ci-cd.md
│ ├─ GitHub Actions → infrastructure-ci-cd/github-actions.md
│ ├─ GitLab CI → infrastructure-ci-cd/gitlab.md
│ ├─ Other CI providers → infrastructure-ci-cd/other-providers.md
│ ├─ Docker/containers → infrastructure-ci-cd/docker.md
│ ├─ Sharding/parallel → infrastructure-ci-cd/parallel-sharding.md
│ ├─ Reporting/artifacts → infrastructure-ci-cd/reporting.md
│ ├─ Global setup/teardown → core/global-setup.md
│ ├─ Project dependencies → core/projects-dependencies.md
│ ├─ Test performance → infrastructure-ci-cd/performance.md
│ ├─ Test coverage → infrastructure-ci-cd/test-coverage.md
│ └─ Project config → core/configuration.md, core/projects-dependencies.md
│
├─ Organizing tests?
│ ├─ Skip/fixme/slow tests → core/annotations.md
│ ├─ Test tags (@smoke, @fast) → core/test-tags.md
│ ├─ Filtering tests (--grep) → core/test-tags.md
│ ├─ Test steps → core/annotations.md
│ └─ Conditional execution → core/annotations.md
│
└─ Running subset of tests?
├─ By tag (@smoke, @critical) → core/test-tags.md
├─ Exclude slow/flaky tests → core/test-tags.md
├─ PR vs nightly tests → core/test-tags.md, infrastructure-ci-cd/ci-cd.md
└─ Project-specific filtering → core/test-tags.md, core/configuration.md
```
## Test Validation Loop
After writing or modifying tests:
1. **Run tests**: `npx playwright test --reporter=list`
2. **If tests fail**:
- Review error output and trace (`npx playwright show-trace`)
- Fix locators, waits, or assertions
- Re-run tests
3. **Only proceed when all tests pass**
4. **Run multiple times** for critical tests: `npx playwright test --repeat-each=5`
Is this your skill, or is something wrong with this listing? Request removal or report an issue. Author removals are honored within 72 hours.
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