Playwright Page Object Model: A Detailed Tutorial

Automated testing ensures that web applications function correctly across different environments. However, as test suites expand, maintaining structured and scalable test scripts becomes challenging. Autify, a leading low-code test automation platform, simplifies this process by integrating Microsoft's Playwright. By incorporating the Page Object Model (POM) with Playwright in Autify, testers can create more efficient and maintainable test scripts. This guide explains how to implement POM in Autify, making test automation more reliable and easier to manage.

What Is Playwright?

Playwright is an open-source automation framework developed by Microsoft that allows testers to run end-to-end tests across multiple browsers, including Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit. It supports various programming languages such as JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, C#, and Java, providing flexibility for different development teams. Playwright enables developers to automate user interactions, handle network requests, and test complex workflows. It also includes built-in features like auto-waiting, which prevents flaky tests by ensuring that actions occur only when elements are ready. These capabilities make Playwright a powerful tool for web application testing.

Understanding the Page Object Model (POM)

The Page Object Model (POM) is a design pattern that improves test organization by separating UI interactions from test logic. Instead of writing test scripts that directly interact with web elements, testers define page objects—classes that represent individual pages or components of an application. Each page object contains locators and actions for interacting with that specific page. By structuring test scripts this way, teams reduce code duplication and make updates easier when UI changes occur.

For example, a login page object encapsulates the login functionality, keeping the test script clean and reusable.

class LoginPage {
    constructor(page) {
        this.page = page;
        this.usernameInput = page.locator('#username');
        this.passwordInput = page.locator('#password');
        this.loginButton = page.locator('#login');
    }

    async login(username, password) {
        await this.usernameInput.fill(username);
        await this.passwordInput.fill(password);
        await this.loginButton.click();
    }
}

This approach ensures that changes to the login process require modifications only in the LoginPage class, not in multiple test scripts.

Why Use Playwright with POM in Autify?

Easier Maintenance

POM reduces maintenance efforts by centralizing UI interactions within page objects. When a UI element changes, only the corresponding page object needs an update, preventing modifications across multiple test files.

Better Reusability

Page objects can be used across multiple test cases, eliminating redundant code. This makes test scripts shorter, cleaner, and easier to manage.

Improved Readability

Separating UI interactions from test logic allows testers and developers to quickly understand what a test is verifying. A well-structured test framework improves collaboration and speeds up test creation.

A well-structured test framework improves collaboration and speeds up test creation.

Scalability

As applications grow, managing tests becomes more complex. POM structures test scripts in a way that allows them to scale efficiently without becoming disorganized.

Faster Debugging

With UI interactions encapsulated in page objects, identifying and fixing test failures becomes simpler. When a test fails, testers can focus on the relevant page object instead of searching through multiple test scripts.

Implementing Playwright Page Object Model in Autify

1. Setting Up Playwright in Autify

Autify provides a Custom Script Feature that enables users to write Playwright-based test scripts for advanced scenarios. To begin, navigate to the Autify dashboard and create a new test. Select Custom Script to enable Playwright scripting. If running tests locally, install the required dependencies to ensure Playwright and other necessary libraries are available.

2. Creating Page Objects

To implement POM, define a separate class for each page or component. This structure keeps tests organized and easy to maintain.

class LoginPage {
    constructor(page) {
        this.page = page;
        this.usernameInput = page.locator('#username');
        this.passwordInput = page.locator('#password');
        this.loginButton = page.locator('#login');
    }

    async login(username, password) {
        await this.usernameInput.fill(username);
        await this.passwordInput.fill(password);
        await this.loginButton.click();
    }
}

3. Writing Test Scripts Using Page Objects

Instead of repeating UI interactions in multiple test scripts, testers can call the page object methods to keep tests clean and reusable.

const { test } = require('@playwright/test');
const { LoginPage } = require('./page-objects/LoginPage');

test('User can log in', async ({ page }) => {
    const loginPage = new LoginPage(page);
    await loginPage.login('user@example.com', 'password123');
});

By using this approach, the test script remains focused on verifying behavior while the page object handles UI interactions.

Debugging and Troubleshooting Playwright POM Issues

Using Playwright Inspector

Playwright provides an interactive debugging tool called Playwright Inspector, which allows testers to step through test execution and inspect elements in real time. By adding page.pause() in scripts, testers can pause execution and analyze UI interactions.

await page.pause(); // Opens Playwright Inspector  

Implementing Logging

Logging key actions within page objects helps track test execution and identify failures. Adding console.log() statements provides useful insights when debugging.

Handling Timing Issues

Flaky tests often result from elements not being fully loaded before interaction. While Playwright automatically waits for elements, explicit waits can improve stability.

await page.waitForSelector('#elementID'); 

Capturing Screenshots and Videos

Playwright can record test sessions by capturing screenshots and videos. These recordings help testers analyze failures by providing visual evidence of what went wrong.

Best Practices for Playwright POM in Autify

Implementing the Page Object Model (POM) in Playwright within Autify’s low-code environment improves test automation by making it more scalable, maintainable, and reusable. However, to maximize the benefits of this approach, it's essential to follow best practices that enhance test efficiency and reduce maintenance overhead.

Keep Page Objects Modular

Each page object should represent a single page, component, or feature of the application. A well-structured test automation framework maintains separation of concerns, ensuring that a single page object is responsible for handling interactions related to only one section of the application.

For example, a LoginPage class should only contain methods related to logging in, such as filling out credentials and clicking the login button. Similarly, a DashboardPage class should handle interactions within the dashboard.

Why Is This Important?

• A modular approach ensures that changes to one part of the application do not impact unrelated tests.
• If a UI element changes, only the relevant page object needs updating instead of modifying multiple test scripts.
• Test scripts become easier to read and understand when page objects encapsulate only relevant functionality.

Example of a Modular Page Object

class LoginPage {
    constructor(page) {
        this.page = page;
        this.usernameInput = page.locator('#username');
        this.passwordInput = page.locator('#password');
        this.loginButton = page.locator('#login');
    }

    async login(username, password) {
        await this.usernameInput.fill(username);
        await this.passwordInput.fill(password);
        await this.loginButton.click();
    }
}

By keeping the login-related functionality separate, this page object remains focused and reusable across multiple test cases.

Use Consistent Locators

Locators play a crucial role in test stability. A poorly chosen locator can lead to flaky tests that fail when minor UI changes occur. Instead of hardcoding locators directly in test scripts, define them as class properties within the corresponding page objects.

A poorly chosen locator can lead to flaky tests that fail when minor UI changes occur.

Best Practices for Locators

Using the right locator strategy is critical for creating stable and maintainable Playwright tests. Playwright recommends using getBy methods as the preferred approach, which aligns with how users and assistive technologies interact with a page.

Recommended Locator Strategy

1. getByRole() – Use ARIA roles for buttons, links, checkboxes, and more.
2. getByLabel() – Target form controls by their associated labels.
3. getByPlaceholder() – Identify input fields with placeholder text.
4. getByText() – Match non-interactive elements by visible text.
5. getByAltText() – Select images using the alt attribute.
6. getByTitle() – Match elements using the title attribute.
7. getByTestId() – Use data-testid only as a fallback if other methods are unavailable.

Example of a Well-Structured Page Object with Locators

class RegistrationPage {
    constructor(page) {
        this.page = page;
        this.emailInput = page.getByPlaceholder('Email');
        this.passwordInput = page.getByLabel('Password');
        this.submitButton = page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Submit' });
    }

    async register(email, password) {
        await this.emailInput.fill(email);
        await this.passwordInput.fill(password);
        await this.submitButton.click();
    }
}

Using getBy methods ensures that locators are resilient to UI changes and better aligned with accessibility standards. This approach reduces test maintenance and improves test reliability.

For more details, refer to the Playwright Locator Guide.

Separate Assertions from Page Objects

A page object should only handle UI interactions, while test scripts should manage assertions. This separation of concerns makes test scripts more flexible, allowing different scenarios to be tested using the same page object methods.

Why Is This Important?

• It keeps page objects focused and reusable.
• Tests remain clearer, as assertions are kept within the test logic rather than inside UI interaction methods.
• Page objects can be used for multiple test scenarios, where assertions might vary.

Example of Separating Assertions from Page Objects

Bad practice (assertions inside page objects):

class DashboardPage {
    constructor(page) {
        this.page = page;
        this.welcomeMessage = page.locator('#welcome-message');
    }

    async isUserLoggedIn() {
        return await this.welcomeMessage.isVisible();
    }
}

Best practice (assertions in test scripts):

const { test, expect } = require('@playwright/test');
const { DashboardPage } = require('./page-objects/DashboardPage');

test('Verify user is logged in', async ({ page }) => {
    const dashboardPage = new DashboardPage(page);
    expect(await dashboardPage.welcomeMessage.isVisible()).toBeTruthy();
});

By keeping assertions in test scripts, the DashboardPage object remains general purpose, allowing it to be used across multiple tests without modification.

Optimize Test Execution with Parallelism

Playwright supports parallel test execution, which significantly reduces test runtime and enhances efficiency. However, to take full advantage of parallel execution, test scripts must be structured correctly to avoid race conditions or shared dependencies that could cause failures.

Best Practices for Running Tests in Parallel

• Use isolated test data so that multiple tests do not interfere with each other.
• Avoid relying on shared state, such as global variables that can be modified by parallel tests.
• Leverage Playwright’s built-in parallel execution by structuring tests to run independently.

Configuring Parallel Execution in Playwright

Playwright allows parallel test execution using the shard and workers options.

// playwright.config.js
module.exports = {
    workers: 4,  // Runs tests in 4 parallel threads
    use: {
        headless: true,
    },
};

By ensuring tests do not depend on shared state, parallel execution can be fully leveraged to speed up test automation.

Use Configuration Files for Environment Variables

Hardcoding environment-specific data, such as URLs, credentials, or API keys, makes test scripts inflexible and difficult to maintain. Instead, store these values in configuration files or environment variables.

Why Is This Important?

• Allows tests to run in different environments (development, staging, production) without modification.
• Improves security by keeping sensitive data out of test scripts.
• Enhances maintainability by centralizing configuration settings.

Example of Using a Configuration File for Environment-Specific Data

// config.js
module.exports = {
    baseURL: 'https://staging.example.com',
    credentials: {
        username: 'testuser',
        password: 'securepassword123'
    }
};

Using the configuration in test scripts:

const config = require('../config');

test('Login Test', async ({ page }) => {
    await page.goto(config.baseURL);
    const loginPage = new LoginPage(page);
    await loginPage.login(config.credentials.username, config.credentials.password);
});

By centralizing environment-specific data, test scripts become more portable and adaptable across multiple environments.

Conclusion

The Page Object Model (POM) is an effective way to improve test automation by making test scripts more maintainable, reusable, and scalable. By structuring UI interactions within page objects, teams can manage their test automation in Autify more efficiently.

This guide covered the fundamentals of Playwright, the advantages of using POM, and a step-by-step implementation process. It also explored debugging techniques and best practices to ensure stability and maintainability in test automation. By applying these techniques, teams can develop a robust Playwright test framework in Autify, reducing test maintenance efforts while increasing reliability.