Introduction to Playwright and Environment Setup

Playwright Supported Browser

Learning Outcome

6

Execute browser automation using the architecture flow.

5

Understand the execution flow of a Playwright script.

4

Explain each architecture component.

3

Understand the role of Browser Context.

2

Explain how Playwright communicates with browsers.

1

Understand Playwright Architecture.

Recall / Revisit

01

02

03

04

What is Browser Automation?

What are the main components involved when automating a web application?

How do browsers execute the commands written in an automation script?

Why is it important to have separate browser sessions while testing multiple users simultaneously?

Why Do We Need a Better Automation Tool?  

Imagine thousand of automated tests running  every day

Key question to explore

Who sends browser commands?

Who receives browser responses?

How are multiple users tested simultaneously?

Why is Playwright faster than Selenium?

Next

To answer these questions, lets understand playwright architecture

One tap can trigger a complete delivery journey

Ordering food through a delivery app is simple for you - but component work together the scense 

You place the order

Delivery app receives request

Restaurant prepare food

Partner picks up the order

Food travels to you

Delivered to your door step

Food delivery flow → Playwright execution flow

Just as one order moves through several delivery steps, one Playwright request moves through connected architectural components.

Food delivery analogy

Customer

Food Order

Delivery App

Private Dining Table

Restaurant & Food Prep

Delivered Food

Playwright architecture

Automation Tester

Test Script

Playwright API

Browser Context (Isolated Session)

Browser Actions (Click Fill Navigate)

Test Result

One test request travels through the Playwright API, an isolated Browser Context, the browser, and back as a test result.

What is Playwright Architecture?

It defines how Playwright communicates with browsers to automate modern web applications.

↔

Direct browser communication

Playwright uses its own protocol to talk desctly to brownie engines.

X

No browser drivers required

No need to manage ChromeDrive Gecko Driver, or simile drivers.

WHY IT MATTERS

Fewer layers → faster, simpler automation

How a Playwright request flows

From the tester's script to browser action-and back as a response.

Tester

Test Script (Java/15/Python/C#)

Playwright API

Browser Context

Browser (Chromium/Firefox/WebKit)

Web Application

Response Returned

How Playwright executes an automation script

A predictable sequence creates a clean, isolated, and reliable test run.

01

Create Playwright Object

02

Launch Browser

02

Launch Browser

02

Launch Browser

03

Create Browser Context

02

Launch Browser

04

Create Page (Browser Tab)

02

Launch Browser

05

Navigate to Application

02

Launch Browser

06

Perform Actions

02

Launch Browser

07

Close Browser & Release Resources

Components of Playwright Architecture

Five key components work together to create a reliable browser-automation session.

Playwright Client

Playwright Server

Browser

Browser Context

Page

Together, these layers manage the full journey: test code browser session → page interaction.

Advantages of Playwright Architecture

Built-in design choices that make automation faster, more stable, and easier to scale. 

01

Driverless Architecture

02

Launch Browser

02

Fast Execution

02

Launch Browser

03

Auto Waiting

02

Launch Browser

04

Better Stability

02

Launch Browser

05

Cross-Brows or Support

02

Launch Browser

06

Multiple Browser Contexts

02

Launch Browser

07

Reliable Parallel Testing

02

Launch Browser

08

Cleaner Architecture

Browser Context

An isolated browser session-like an independent browser profile for every user or test.

With Browser Context

Context A → User A

BROWSER

Context B User B

No Session Conflict

BROWSER

User A Login

User B Login

Session Conflict

With Browser Context

User A Login

BROWSER

User B Login

Session Conflict

BROWSER

User A Login

User B Login

Session Conflict

Browser Context Benefits

Each context acts like a fresh, private browser profile without launching a new browser every time.

Separate Cookies

Separate Cache

Separate Login Sessions

Parallel Testing

No Session Conflict

Result: reliable multi-user testing with clean, independent sessions.

Summary

5

Tool selection depends on project requirements.

4

Playwright provides built-in Auto-Wait and parallel execution.

3

Both automate web applications.

2

Playwright is modern and feature-rich.

1

Selenium is mature and widely adopted.

Quiz

What is the main purpose of Browser Context?

A. Store screenshots

B. Manage isolated sessions

C. Generate reports

D. Execute SQL queries

Quiz-Answer

What is the main purpose of Browser Context?

A. Store screenshots

B. Manage isolated sessions

C. Generate reports

D. Execute SQL queries

Playwright Supported Browser

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Playwright Supported Browser

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