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Playwright Reports: The Definitive Guide

by Hannah Rivera | Mar 26, 2025 | Automation Testing, Blog, Latest Post | 16 comments

Reporting is a crucial aspect that helps QA engineers and developers analyze test execution, identify failures, and maintain software quality. If you are using Playwright Reports as your Automation Testing tool, your test automation reports will play a significant role in providing detailed insights into test performance, making debugging more efficient and test management seamless. Playwright has gained popularity among tech professionals due to its robust reporting capabilities and powerful debugging tools. It offers built-in reporters such as List, Line, Dot, HTML, JSON, and JUnit, allowing users to generate reports based on their specific needs. Additionally, Playwright supports third-party integrations like Allure, enabling more interactive and visually appealing test reports. With features like Playwright Trace Viewer, testers can analyze step-by-step execution details, making troubleshooting faster and more effective.

So in this blog, we will be exploring how you can leverage Playwright’s Reporting options to ensure a streamlined testing workflow, enhance debugging efficiency, and maintain high-quality software releases. Let’s start with the built-in reporting options in Playwright, and then move to the third party integrations.

Built-In Reporting Options in Playwright

There are numerous built-in Playwright reporting options to help teams analyze test results efficiently. These reporters vary in their level of detail, from minimal console outputs to detailed HTML and JSON reports. Below is a breakdown of each built-in reporting format along with sample outputs.

• List Reporter
• Line Reporter
• Dot Reporter
• HTML Reporter
• JSON Reporter
• JUnit Reporter

1. List Reporter

The List Reporter prints a line of output for each test, providing a clear and structured summary of test execution. It offers a readable format that helps quickly identify which tests have passed or failed. This makes it particularly useful for local debugging and development environments, allowing developers to analyze test results and troubleshoot issues efficiently

npx playwright test --reporter=list

Navigate to the config.spec.js file and update the reporter setting to switch it to the list format for better readability and detailed test run output.

Sample Output:

✓ test1.spec.js: Test A (Passed)

✗ test1.spec.js: Test B (Failed)

  → Expected value to be 'X', but received 'Y'

✓ test2.spec.js: Test C (Passed)

2. Line Reporter

The Line Reporter is a compact version of the List Reporter, displaying test execution results in a single line. Its minimal and concise output makes it ideal for large test suites, providing real-time updates without cluttering the terminal. This format is best suited for quick debugging and monitoring test execution progress efficiently.

npx playwright test --reporter=line

Navigate to the config.spec.js file and update the reporter setting to switch it to the line format for better readability and detailed test run output.

Sample Output:

✔ 2 | ✖ 1 | ⏳ Running…

3. Dot Reporter

The Dot Reporter provides a minimalistic output, using a single character for each test—dots (.) for passing tests and “F” for failures. Its compact and simple format reduces log verbosity, making it ideal for CI/CD environments. This approach helps track execution progress efficiently without cluttering terminal logs, ensuring a clean and streamlined testing experience.

npx playwright test --reporter=dot

Navigate to the config.spec.js file and update the reporter setting to switch it to the dot format for better readability and detailed test run output.

Sample Output:

....F.....

4. HTML Reporter

The HTML Reporter generates an interactive, web-based report that can be opened in a browser, providing a visually rich and easy-to-read summary of test execution. It includes detailed logs, screenshots, and test results, making analysis more intuitive. With built-in filtering and navigation features, it allows users to efficiently explore test outcomes. Additionally, its shareable format facilitates collaborative debugging across teams.

npx playwright test --reporter=html

By default, when test execution is complete, the HTML Reporter opens the index.html file in the default browser. The open property in the Playwright configuration allows you to modify this behavior, with options such as always, never, and on-failures (default). If set to never, the report will not open automatically.

To specify where the report should open, use the host attribute to define the target IP address—setting it to 0.0.0.0 opens the report on localhost. Additionally, the port property lets you specify the port number, with 9223 being the default.

You can also customize the HTML report’s output location in the Playwright configuration file by specifying the desired folder. For example, if you want to store the report in the html-report directory, you can set the output path accordingly.

Sample Output:

5. JSON Reporter

The JSON Reporter outputs test results in a machine-readable JSON format, making it ideal for data analysis, automation, and integration with dashboards or external analytics tools. It enables seamless test monitoring, log storage, and auditing, providing a structured way to track and analyze test execution.

npx playwright test --reporter=json

Navigate to the config.spec.js file and specify the output file, then you can write the JSON to a file.

Sample JSON Report Output:

{

  "status": "completed",

  "tests": [

    {

      "name": "Test A",

      "status": "passed",

      "duration": 120

    },

    {

      "name": "Test B",

      "status": "failed",

      "error": "Expected value to be 'X', but received 'Y'"

    }

  ]

}

You can generate and view the report in the terminal using this method.

6. JUnit Reporter

The JUnit Reporter generates XML reports that seamlessly integrate with CI/CD tools like Jenkins and GitLab CI for tracking test results. It provides structured test execution data for automated reporting, ensuring efficient monitoring and analysis. This makes it ideal for enterprise testing pipelines, enabling smooth integration and streamlined test management.

npx playwright test --reporter=junit

Navigate to the config.spec.js file and specify the output file, then you can write the XML to a file.

Sample JUnit XML Output:

<testsuite name="Playwright Tests">

  <testcase classname="test1.spec.js" name="Test A" time="0.12"/>

  <testcase classname="test1.spec.js" name="Test B">

    <failure message="Expected value to be 'X', but received 'Y'"/>

  </testcase>

</testsuite>

Playwright’s Third-Party Reports

Playwright allows integration with various third-party reporting tools to enhance test result visualization and analysis. These reports provide detailed insights, making debugging and test management more efficient. One such integration is with Allure Report, which offers a comprehensive, interactive, and visually rich test reporting solution. By integrating Allure with Playwright, users can generate detailed HTML-based reports that include test statuses, execution times, logs, screenshots, and graphical representations like pie charts and histograms, improving test analysis and team collaboration.

Allure for Playwright

To generate an Allure report, you need to install the Allure dependency in your project using the following command

npm install allure-playwright --save-dev

Allure Command Line Utility

To view the Allure report in a web browser, you must install the Allure command-line utility as a project dependency

npm install allure-commandline --save-dev

Command Line Execution

You can run Playwright with Allure reporting by specifying the Allure reporter in the configuration and executing the following command:

npx playwright test --reporter=line,allure-playwright

Playwright Config :

To run Playwright using a predefined configuration file, use the following command:

npx playwright test --config=playwright.allure.config.js

Upon successful execution, this will generate an “allure-results” folder. You then need to use the Allure command line to generate an HTML report:

npx allure generate ./allure-results

If the command executes successfully, it will create an “allure-report” folder. You can open the Allure report in a browser using:

npx allure open ./allure-report

Conclusion

Choosing the right Playwright report depends on your team’s needs. Dot, Line, and List Reporters are perfect for developers who need quick feedback and real-time updates during local testing. If your team needs a more visual approach, the HTML Reporter is great for analyzing results and sharing detailed reports with others. For teams working with CI/CD pipelines, JSON and JUnit Reporters are the best choice as they provide structured data that integrates smoothly with automation tools. If you need deeper insights and visual trends, third-party tools like Allure Report offer advanced analytics and better failure tracking.

Additionally, testing companies like Codoid can help enhance your test reporting by integrating Playwright with custom dashboards and analytics. Your team can improve debugging, collaboration, and software quality by picking the right report.

Frequently Asked Questions

Migrating Cypress to Playwright Made Easy

by Charlotte Johnson | Mar 21, 2025 | Automation Testing, Blog, Latest Post | 17 comments

Although Cypress is a widely used tool for end-to-end testing, many QA engineers find it limiting due to flaky tests, slow CI/CD execution, and complex command patterns. Its lack of full async/await support and limited parallel execution make testing frustrating and time-consuming. Additionally, Cypress’s unique command chaining can be confusing, and running tests in parallel often require workarounds, slowing down development. These challenges highlight the need for a faster, more reliable, and scalable testing solution—this is where Playwright emerges as a better alternative. Whether you’re looking for improved test speed, better browser support, or a more efficient workflow, migrating Cypress to Playwright will help you achieve a more effective testing strategy.

If you have not yet made the decision to migrate to Playwright, we will first cover the primary reasons why Playwright is better and then take a deep dive into the Migration strategy that you can use if you are convinced.

Why Playwright Emerges as a Superior Alternative to Cypress

When it comes to front-end testing, Cypress has long been a favorite among developers for its simplicity, powerful features, and strong community support. However, Playwright, a newer entrant developed by Microsoft, is quickly gaining traction as a superior alternative. But what makes Playwright stand out? Here are 6 aspects that we feel will make you want to migrate from Cypress to Playwright.

1. Cross-Browser Support

• Playwright supports Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit (Safari) natively, allowing you to test your application across all major browsers with minimal configuration.
• This is a significant advantage over Cypress, which primarily focuses on Chromium-based browsers and has limited support for Firefox and Safari

Why It Matters:

• Cross-browser compatibility is critical for ensuring your application works seamlessly for all users.
• With Playwright, you can test your app in a real Safari environment (via WebKit) without needing additional tools or workarounds.

2. Superior Performance and Parallel Execution

• Playwright is designed for speed and efficiency. It runs tests in parallel by default, leveraging multiple browser contexts to execute tests faster.
• Additionally, Playwright operates outside the browser’s event loop, which reduces flakiness and improves reliability.
• Cypress, while it supports parallel execution, requires additional setup such as integrating with the Cypress Dashboard Service or configuring CI/CD for parallel runs.

Why It Matters:

• For large test suites, faster execution times mean quicker feedback loops and more efficient CI/CD pipelines.
• Playwright’s parallel execution capabilities can significantly reduce the time required to run your tests, making it ideal for teams with extensive testing needs.

3. Modern and Intuitive API

• Playwright’s API is built with modern JavaScript in mind, using async/await to handle asynchronous operations.
• This makes the code more readable and easier to maintain compared to Cypress’s chaining syntax.
• Playwright also provides a rich set of built-in utilities, such as automatic waiting, network interception, and mobile emulation.

Why It Matters:

• A modern API reduces the learning curve for new team members and makes it easier to write complex test scenarios.
• Playwright’s automatic waiting eliminates the need for manual timeouts, resulting in more reliable tests.

4. Advanced Debugging Tools

Playwright comes with a suite of advanced debugging tools, including:

• Trace Viewer: A visual tool to go through test execution and inspect actions, network requests, and more.
• Playwright Inspector: An interactive tool for debugging tests in real time.
• Screenshots and Videos: Automatic capture of screenshots and videos for failed tests.

Cypress also provides screenshots and videos, but Playwright offers deeper debugging with tools.

Why It Matters:

Debugging flaky or failing tests can be time-consuming. Playwright’s debugging tools make it easier to diagnose and fix issues, reducing the time spent on troubleshooting.

5. Built-In Support for Modern Web Features

• Playwright is designed to handle modern web technologies like shadow DOM, service workers, and Progressive Web Apps (PWAs).
• It provides first-class support for these features, making it easier to test cutting-edge web applications.
• Cypress has limited or workaround-based support for features like shadow DOM and service workers, often requiring custom plugins or additional effort.

Why It Matters:

• As web applications become more complex, testing tools need to keep up. Playwright’s built-in support for modern web features ensures that you can test your app thoroughly without needing a workaround.

6. Native Mobile Emulation

• Playwright offers native mobile emulation, allowing you to test your application on a variety of mobile devices and screen sizes.
• This is particularly useful for ensuring your app is responsive and functions correctly on different devices.
• Cypress does not provide true mobile emulation. While it supports viewport resizing, it lacks built-in device emulation capabilities such as touch events or mobile-specific user-agent simulation.

Why It Matters:

• With the increasing use of mobile devices, testing your app’s responsiveness is no longer optional.
• Playwright’s mobile emulation capabilities make it easier to catch issues early and ensure a consistent user experience across devices.

Strategy for Migrating Cypress to Playwright

Before migrating Cypress to Playwright or any type of migration, having a clear strategy is key. Start by assessing your Cypress test suite’s complexity, and identifying custom commands, helper functions, and dependencies. If your tests are tightly linked, adjustments may be needed for a smoother transition. Also, check for third-party plugins and find Playwright alternatives if necessary.

Creating a realistic timeline will make the transition easier. Set clear goals, break the migration into smaller steps, and move test files or modules gradually. Ensure your team has enough time to learn Playwright’s API and best practices. Proper planning will minimize issues and maximize efficiency, making the switch seamless.

Sample Timeline

Migrating from Cypress to Playwright: Step-by-Step Process

Now that we have a timeline in place, let’s see what steps you need to follow to migrate from Cypress to Playwright. Although it can seem daunting, breaking the process into clear, actionable steps makes it manageable and less overwhelming.

Step 1: Evaluate Your Current Cypress Test Suite

Before starting the migration, it’s crucial to analyze existing Cypress tests to identify dependencies, custom commands, and third-party integrations. Categorizing tests based on their priority and complexity helps in deciding which ones to migrate first.

1. Inventory Your Tests:

• List all your Cypress tests, including their purpose and priority.
• Categorize tests as critical, high-priority, medium-priority, or low-priority.

Identify Dependencies:

• Note any Cypress-specific plugins, custom commands, or fixtures your tests rely on.
• Determine if Playwright has built-in alternatives or if you’ll need to implement custom solutions.

Assess Test Complexity:

• Identify simple tests (e.g., basic UI interactions) and complex tests (e.g., tests involving API calls, third-party integrations, or custom logic).

Step 2: Set Up Playwright in Your Project

Installing Playwright and configuring its test environment is the next step. Unlike Cypress, Playwright requires additional setup for managing multiple browsers, but this one-time effort results in greater flexibility for cross-browser testing.

1) Install Playwright:

Run the following command to install Playwright:

npm init playwright@latest

Run the install command and do the following to get started:

• You’ll be asked to pick TypeScript (default) or JavaScript as your test language.
• Name your tests folder (default is tests or e2e if tests already exists).
• Optionally, Playwright will offer to add a GitHub Actions workflow so you can easily run your tests in Continuous Integration (CI).
• Finally, it will install the necessary Playwright browsers (this is enabled by default).

2) Configure Playwright:

The playwright.config is where you can add configuration for Playwright including modifying which browsers you would like to run Playwright on

playwright.config.js
package.json
package-lock.json
tests/
  example.spec.js
tests-examples/
  demo-todo-app.spec.js

Step 3: Migrate Tests Incrementally

Instead of rewriting everything at once, tests should be migrated in phases. This involves replacing Cypress-specific commands with their Playwright equivalents and validating that each test runs successfully before proceeding further.

Update Basic Commands

Step 4: Convert a Cypress Test to Playwright

A direct one-to-one mapping of test cases is necessary to ensure a smooth transition. This step involves modifying test syntax, replacing assertions, and adapting test structures to Playwright’s async/await model.

Cypress Example

describe('Login Test', () => {

  it('should log in successfully', () => {

    cy.visit('https://example.com');
    cy.get('#username').type('user123');
    cy.get('#password').type('password123');
    cy.get('#login-btn').click();
    cy.url().should('include', '/dashboard');

  });
});

Playwright Equivalent

const { test, expect } = require('@playwright/test');

test('Login Test', async ({ page }) => {

  await page.goto('https://example.com');
  await page.fill('#username', 'user123');
  await page.fill('#password', 'password123');
  await page.click('#login-btn');
  await expect(page).toHaveURL(/dashboard/);

});

Step 5: Handle API Requests

Since Cypress and Playwright have different approaches to API testing, existing Cypress API requests need to be converted using Playwright’s API request methods, ensuring compatibility.

Cypress API Request

cy.request('GET', 'https://api.example.com/data')
  .then((response) => {
    expect(response.status).to.eq(200);
  });

Playwright API Request

const response = await page.request.get('https://api.example.com/data');
expect(response.status()).toBe(200);

Step 6: Replace Cypress Fixtures with Playwright

Cypress’s fixture mechanism is replaced with Playwright’s direct JSON data loading approach, ensuring smooth integration of test data within the Playwright environment.

Cypress uses fixtures like this:

cy.fixture('data.json').then((data) => {
  cy.get('#name').type(data.name);
});

In Playwright, use:

const data = require('./data.json');
await page.fill('#name', data.name);

Step 7: Parallel & Headless Testing

One of Playwright’s biggest advantages is native parallel execution. This step involves configuring Playwright to run tests faster and more efficiently across different browsers and environments.

Run Tests in Headed or Headless Mode

npx playwright test --headed

or

npx playwright test --headless

Run Tests in Multiple Browsers Modify playwright.config.js:

use: {
  browserName: 'chromium', // Change to 'firefox' or 'webkit'
}

Step 8: Debugging & Playwright Inspector

Debugging in Playwright is enhanced through built-in tools like Trace Viewer and Playwright Inspector, making it easier to troubleshoot failing tests compared to Cypress’s traditional debugging.

Debugging Tools:

Run tests with UI inspector:

npx playwright test --debug

Slow down execution:

use: { slowMo: 1000 }

Step 9: CI/CD Integration

Integrating Playwright with CI/CD ensures that automated tests are executed consistently in development pipelines. Since Playwright supports multiple browsers, teams can run tests across different environments with minimal configuration.

name: Playwright Tests
on: [push, pull_request]
jobs:
  test:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - name: Install dependencies
        run: npm install
      - name: Install Playwright Browsers
        run: npx playwright install --with-deps
      - name: Run tests
        run: npx playwright test

Each step in this migration process ensures a smooth and structured transition from Cypress to Playwright, minimizing risks and maintaining existing test coverage. Instead of migrating everything at once, an incremental approach helps teams adapt gradually without disrupting workflows.

By first evaluating the Cypress test suite, teams can identify complexities and dependencies, making migration more efficient. Setting up Playwright lays the groundwork, while migrating tests in phases helps catch and resolve issues early. Adapting API requests, fixtures, and debugging methods ensures a seamless shift without losing test functionality.

With parallel execution and headless testing, Playwright significantly improves test speed and scalability. Finally, integrating Playwright into CI/CD pipelines ensures automated testing remains stable and efficient across different environments. This approach allows teams to leverage Playwright’s advantages without disrupting development.

Conclusion:

Migrating from Cypress to Playwright enhances test automation efficiency with better performance, cross-browser compatibility, and advanced debugging tools. By carefully planning the migration, assessing test suite complexity, and following a step-by-step process, teams can ensure a smooth and successful transition. At Codoid, we specialize in automation testing and help teams seamlessly migrate to Playwright. Our expertise ensures optimized test execution, better coverage, and high-quality software testing, enabling organizations to stay ahead in the fast-evolving tech landscape

Frequently Asked Questions

Testbeats Integration with Playwright: A Comprehensive Guide

by Jacob | Mar 20, 2025 | Automation Testing, Blog, Latest Post | 9 comments

Testbeats is a powerful test reporting and analytics platform that enhances automation testing and test execution monitoring by providing detailed insights, real-time alerts, and seamless integration with automation frameworks. When integrated with Playwright, Testbeats simplifies test result publishing, ensures instant notifications via communication tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Google Chat, and offers structured reports for better decision-making. One of the key advantages of Testbeats is its ability to work seamlessly with CucumberJS, a behavior-driven development (BDD) framework that runs on Node.js using the Gherkin syntax. This makes it an ideal solution for teams looking to combine Playwright’s automation capabilities with structured and collaborative test execution. By using Testbeats, QA teams and developers can streamline their workflows, minimize debugging time, and enhance visibility into test outcomes, ultimately improving software reliability in agile and CI/CD environments.

This blog explores the key features of Testbeats, highlights its benefits, and demonstrates how it enhances Playwright test automation with real-time alerts, streamlined reporting, and comprehensive test analytics.

Key Features of Testbeats

• Automated Test Execution Tracking – Captures and organizes test execution data from multiple automation frameworks, ensuring a structured and systematic approach to test result management.
• Multi-Platform Integration – Seamlessly connects with various test automation frameworks, making it a versatile solution for teams using different testing tools.
• Customizable Notifications – Allows users to configure notifications based on test outcomes, ensuring relevant stakeholders receive updates as needed.
• Advanced Test Result Filtering – Enables filtering of test reports based on status, execution time, and test categories, simplifying test analysis.
• Historical Data and Trend Analysis – Maintains test execution history, helping teams track performance trends over time for better decision-making.
• Security & Role-Based Access Control – Provides secure access management, ensuring only authorized users can view or modify test results.
• Exportable Reports – Allows exporting test execution reports in various formats (CSV, JSON, PDF), making it easier to share insights across teams.

Highlights of Testbeats

1. Streamlined Test Reporting – Simplifies publishing and managing test results from various frameworks, enhancing collaboration and accessibility.

2. Real-Time Alerts – Sends instant notifications to Google Chat, Slack, and Microsoft Teams, keeping teams informed about test execution status.

3. Comprehensive Reporting – Provides in-depth test execution reports on the Testbeats portal, offering actionable insights and analytics.

4. Seamless CucumberJS Integration – Supports behavior-driven development (BDD) with CucumberJS, enabling efficient execution and structured test reporting.

By leveraging these features and highlights, Testbeats enhances automation workflows, improves test visibility, and ensures seamless communication within development and QA teams. Now, let’s dive into the integration setup and execution process

Guide to Testbeats Integrating with Playwright

Prerequisites

Before proceeding with the integration, ensure that you have the following essential components set up:

• Node.js installed (v14 or later)
• Playwright installed in your project
• A Testbeats account
• API Key from Testbeats

Step 1: Sign in to TestBeats

• Go to the TestBeats website and sign in with your credentials.
• Once signed in, create an organization.
• Navigate to Settings under the Profile section.
• In the Keys section, you will find your API Key — copy it for later use.

Step 2: Setting Up a Google Chat Webhook

Google Chat webhooks allow TestBeats to send test execution updates directly to a chat space.

Create a Webhook in Google Chat

• Open Google Chat on the web and select the chat space where you want to receive notifications.
• Click on the space name and select Manage Webhooks.
• Click Add Webhook and provide a name (e.g., “Test Execution Alerts”).
• Google Chat will generate a Webhook URL. Copy this URL for later use.

Step 3: Create a TestBeats Configuration File

In your Playwright Cucumber framework, create a configuration file named testbeats.config.json in the root directory.

Sample Configuration for Google Chat Webhook

{
"api_key": "your_api_key",
 "targets": [
        {
            "name": "chat",
            "inputs": {
                "url": "your_google_chat_webhook_url",
                "title": "Test Execution Report",
                "only_failures": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "extensions": [
        {
            "name": "quick-chart-test-summary"
        },
        {
            "name": "ci-info"
        }
    ],
    "results": [
        {
            "type": "cucumber",
            "files": ["reports/cucumber-report.json"]
        }
    ]
}

Key Configuration Details:

• “api_key” – Your TestBeats API Key.
• “url” – Paste the Google Chat webhook URL here.
• “only_failures” – If set to true, only failed tests trigger notifications.
• “files” – Path to your Cucumber JSON report.

Step 4: Running and Publishing Test Results

1. Run Tests in Playwright

Execute your test scenarios with:

npx cucumber-js --tags "@smoke"

After execution, a cucumber-report.json file will be generated in the reports folder.

2. Publish Test Results to TestBeats

Send results to TestBeats and Google Chat using:

npx testbeats@latest publish -c testbeats.config.json

Now, your Google Chat space will receive real-time notifications about test execution!

Step 5: Verify Test Reports in TestBeats

• Log in to TestBeats.
• Click on the “Projects” tab on the left.
• Select your project to view test execution details.
• Passed and failed tests will be displayed in the report.

Example Notification in Google Chat

After execution, a message like this will appear in your Google Chat space:

Conclusion:

Integrating Playwright with Testbeats makes test automation more efficient by providing real-time alerts, structured test tracking, and detailed analytics. This setup improves collaboration, simplifies debugging, and helps teams quickly identify issues. Automated notifications via Google Chat or other tools keep stakeholders updated on test results, making it ideal for agile and CI/CD workflows. Codoid, a leading software testing company, specializes in automation, performance, and AI-driven testing. With expertise in Playwright, Selenium, and Cypress, Codoid offers end-to-end testing solutions, including API, mobile, and cloud-based testing, ensuring high-quality digital experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions