How do I resolve issues with accessing elements using getByTestId in Playwright?

Answer

Troubleshooting getByTestId in Playwright

First, ensure the test id you're using matches the data-testid attribute of the element. By default, Playwright uses data-testid, but you can configure it using selectors.setTestIdAttribute():

import { selectors } from '@playwright/test';

selectors.setTestIdAttribute('data-custom-testid');

If you still face issues, try using getByText instead. This method locates elements containing a given text substring or exact string. You can also use regular expressions to match text content. Keep in mind that getByText normalizes whitespace and ignores leading/trailing whitespace.

For debugging, install the VS Code extension and run tests in debug mode. This allows you to set breakpoints and live debug your test.

import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';

test('example test', async ({ page }) => {
  await page.goto('https://ray.run/');
  const element = await page.locator('text=Example');
  expect(element).toBeVisible();
});

For CI failures, use Playwright's trace viewer instead of videos and screenshots. The trace viewer provides a full trace of your tests as a local Progressive Web App (PWA), allowing you to view network requests and inspect DOM snapshots for each action using dev tools.

In summary, to resolve issues with getByTestId, verify your test id attribute configuration, consider using getByText, and follow best practices for debugging, such as using the VS Code extension or Playwright trace viewer.