# playwright

A Cursor rule that sets the standard for Playwright end-to-end tests: official runner, resilient locators, no manual waits.

- rule · `type=rule` · Cursor · ★ 3579
- Author: sanjeed5
- License: CC0-1.0 · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/sanjeed5/awesome-cursor-rules-mdc/tree/HEAD/rules-mdc/playwright.mdc
- Updated: 2026-05-19
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/rules/playwright

## What it does

The rule ships as `playwright.mdc` and Cursor applies it to files matching `**/*.{js,ts}`. Eight sections, each with a bad and a good example: import from `@playwright/test` instead of the low-level `playwright` library, locate elements with `getByRole`, `getByLabel` and `getByTestId` rather than brittle CSS chains, and rely on auto-retrying `expect` instead of `page.waitForTimeout()`. Then Page Object Model, with selectors and actions moved into dedicated classes.

Two sections cover speed and isolation: reusing an authenticated session through `storageState` and `global-setup.ts`, aborting unneeded requests with `context.route`, mocking API responses with `page.route`. Another configures `playwright.config.ts` with traces, screenshots and video so CI failures are readable. The closing section on linters and formatters cuts off mid-sentence.

This assumes your tests are written in TypeScript. On plain JavaScript, or with a different runner, some examples need rewriting — they lean on the `Page` and `Locator` types. Installation is a single file under `.cursor/rules/`.

## Requirements
- Works with: Playwright

## Install

### Cursor (native platform)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/rules/playwright.mdc` — Frontmatter: description, globs, alwaysApply

### Claude Code

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.claude/rules/playwright.md` — The paths frontmatter field limits the files: move globs from the source into paths

### Codex

**AGENTS.md**
- Codex reads AGENTS.md: paste the rule text there

### GitHub Copilot

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/instructions/playwright.instructions.md` — The applyTo field sets which files it applies to: move globs from the source into applyTo

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/rules/playwright.md`

### Cline

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.clinerules/playwright.md`

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/sanjeed5/awesome-cursor-rules-mdc/tree/HEAD/rules-mdc/playwright.mdc

## When to use it
- strip `page.waitForTimeout()` and other manual pauses from tests
- swap brittle CSS selectors for role- and label-based locators
- move repeated login steps into a Page Object
- reuse an authenticated session across tests with `storageState`
- mock API responses so tests stop depending on the backend

## Example prompts
- Write a Playwright E2E test for the login page following `playwright.mdc`
- Rewrite this test: drop `waitForTimeout` and use `getByRole` locators
- Create a Page Object for the checkout page and wire it into the tests

## Source text · playwright.mdc · CC0-1.0

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 5d61c4f2836df128.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 5d61c4f2836df128
````text
---
description: Definitive guidelines for writing robust, maintainable, and high-quality end-to-end tests with Playwright in TypeScript.
globs: **/*.{js,ts}
---
# Playwright Best Practices

Playwright is the gold standard for reliable E2E testing. These rules ensure your tests are fast, stable, and easy to maintain, aligning with modern 2025 development standards for reliability, quality, and structure.

## 1. Always Use `@playwright/test`

Leverage the official test runner for built-in fixtures, isolation, and web-first assertions. Avoid the low-level `playwright` library for E2E tests.

❌ BAD: Using `playwright` directly
```typescript
import { chromium } from 'playwright';
// ... manual browser/context setup and teardown
const browser = await chromium.launch();
const page = await browser.newPage();
// ...
await browser.close();
```

✅ GOOD: Using `@playwright/test`
```typescript
import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
test('should navigate to home', async ({ page }) => {
  await page.goto('/');
  await expect(page).toHaveTitle(/Home/);
});
```

## 2. Prioritize Robust Locators

Use Playwright's built-in Locators API, favoring user-facing attributes over brittle CSS selectors. This drastically improves test stability.

❌ BAD: Fragile, implementation-dependent selectors
```typescript
await page.locator('div.container > ul > li:nth-child(2) > button').click();
```

✅ GOOD: Semantic, user-facing locators
```typescript
await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Add to Cart' }).click();
await page.getByLabel('Username').fill('testuser');
await page.getByTestId('product-item-123').click();
```

## 3. Embrace Web-First Assertions

Playwright's `expect` assertions automatically retry until conditions are met, eliminating manual waits and flakiness. Never use `page.waitForTimeout()`.

❌ BAD: Manual, flaky waits and generic assertions
```typescript
await page.waitForTimeout(2000); // 🚨 Flaky!
const title = await page.title();
assert.equal(title, 'My Page'); // 🚨 Not web-first
```

✅ GOOD: Reliable, auto-retrying assertions
```typescript
await expect(page).toHaveTitle(/My Page/);
await expect(page.getByText('Welcome')).toBeVisible();
await expect(page.getByRole('checkbox')).toBeChecked();
```

## 4. Implement the Page Object Model (POM)

Encapsulate selectors and actions within dedicated classes. This improves readability, reusability, and maintainability.

❌ BAD: Repeated selectors and logic across tests
```typescript
// test-login.spec.ts
await page.getByLabel('Username').fill('user');
await page.getByLabel('Password').fill('pass');
await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Login' }).click();

// test-profile.spec.ts
// ... same login steps repeated ...
```

✅ GOOD: Centralized Page Object
```typescript
// pages/LoginPage.ts
import { Page, Locator } from '@playwright/test';

export class LoginPage {
  readonly page: Page;
  readonly usernameInput: Locator;
  readonly passwordInput: Locator;
  readonly loginButton: Locator;

  constructor(page: Page) {
    this.page = page;
    this.usernameInput = page.getByLabel('Username');
    this.passwordInput = page.getByLabel('Password');
    this.loginButton = page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Login' });
  }

  async navigate() {
    await this.page.goto('/login');
  }

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

// tests/login.spec.ts
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 5d61c4f2836df128

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 5d61c4f2836df128 tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

First 3497 of 8326 bytes. © sanjeed5 · CC0-1.0 · https://github.com/sanjeed5/awesome-cursor-rules-mdc/tree/HEAD/rules-mdc/playwright.mdc

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