Cypress vs Playwright: Which Testing Tool Should You Use?

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I’m a director, and I’m about to film a short movie, scene by scene, with two different crews: Cypress and Playwright. Each crew has its own unique style, just like our JavaScript testing tools.

With Cypress, I feel like I’m working with a team that’s incredibly focused on getting every scene right in real-time. As I shoot each scene, my Cypress crew is like a close-knit group, constantly giving me instant feedback. They have this amazing ability to show me the playback immediately, so I know right away if the lighting is off or if an actor missed their cue. It’s all about being in the moment, capturing every detail as it unfolds, which makes me feel like I’m in the director’s chair, totally immersed in what’s happening right now.

Now, when I switch over to the Playwright crew, it feels like I’m working with a team that’s more like a well-oiled machine. They’re incredibly versatile, almost as if they can film multiple scenes simultaneously across different sets.

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Cypress in Action:

I’m testing a web application’s login feature. With Cypress, I script my test to focus on the user experience, much like capturing a scene with all its intricate details.

describe('Login Feature', () => {
  it('should allow a user to login', () => {
    // Visit the login page
    cy.visit('https://example.com/login');

    // Enter username and password
    cy.get('input[name="username"]').type('myUser');
    cy.get('input[name="password"]').type('myPassword');

    // Submit the form
    cy.get('button[type="submit"]').click();

    // Verify successful login
    cy.url().should('include', '/dashboard');
    cy.get('.welcome-message').should('contain', 'Welcome, myUser!');
  });
});

In this Cypress script, everything is happening in real-time, with feedback coming back as each action is performed, much like reviewing each film scene immediately.

Playwright in Action:

Now, let’s switch gears to Playwright, where I have the flexibility and power to run tests across multiple browsers.

const { chromium, firefox, webkit } = require('playwright');

(async () => {
  for (const browserType of [chromium, firefox, webkit]) {
    const browser = await browserType.launch();
    const context = await browser.newContext();
    const page = await context.newPage();

    // Navigate to the login page
    await page.goto('https://example.com/login');

    // Enter username and password
    await page.fill('input[name="username"]', 'myUser');
    await page.fill('input[name="password"]', 'myPassword');

    // Submit the form
    await page.click('button[type="submit"]');

    // Verify successful login
    await page.waitForSelector('.welcome-message');
    const url = page.url();
    if (url.includes('/dashboard')) {
      console.log(`Test passed in ${browserType.name()}`);
    }

    await browser.close();
  }
})();

Playwright allows me to test across different browsers, ensuring my application performs consistently, just like coordinating multiple film locations.

Key Takeaways:

1. Cypress Focus: Cypress is ideal for real-time, detailed testing of user interactions within a single browser environment. It’s like capturing every nuance of a scene as it unfolds.
2. Playwright Versatility: Playwright excels in cross-browser testing, offering a broader view of how an application performs in different environments. It’s like managing a multi-location film shoot with precision.
3. Choosing Your Tool: Use Cypress when you need immediate feedback and detailed control within a single environment. Opt for Playwright when your testing requires broader coverage across multiple browsers.