Below is the detailed comparison of Playwright and Selenium which are two popular open-source web automation tools.
Selenium
Selenium is one of the oldest and most widely used web automation frameworks. It supports multiple programming languages such as Java, Python, C#, Ruby, and JavaScript, and works across many browsers. Selenium operates using the WebDriver protocol, which communicates with browsers to perform actions like clicking, typing, or navigating.
It has a large community, strong ecosystem, and compatibility with many third-party tools like TestNG, JUnit, or Maven. However, Selenium often requires explicit waits to handle dynamic content, and test execution can sometimes be slower compared to modern frameworks.
Its biggest advantage is its maturity, stability, and wide industry adoption.
Playwright
Playwright is a relatively newer automation framework developed by Microsoft. It supports JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, Java, and .NET. Unlike Selenium, Playwright does not rely on WebDriver; it directly communicates with browsers using native DevTools protocols, which makes it faster and more reliable. Playwright provides built-in auto-waiting mechanisms, making it easier to handle dynamic web applications without adding many explicit waits.
It also has advanced features like intercepting network requests, handling multiple browser contexts, working with iframes, and supporting modern browsers including Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit.
Additionally, Playwright supports parallel execution and cross-browser testing out of the box. Its modern design makes it well-suited for today’s single-page applications.
| Feature | Playwright | Selenium |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Modern, browser automation through WebSocket protocol | Traditional, uses WebDriver protocol |
| Languages Supported | JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, C#, Java | Java, Python, C#, Ruby, JavaScript, Kotlin, etc. |
| Browsers Supported | Chromium, Firefox, WebKit (Safari engine) | Chrome, Firefox, Safari, IE, Edge |
| Cross-browser Testing | Yes (via single API) | Yes (via WebDriver, requires separate drivers) |
| Headless Mode | Built-in for all browsers | Supported but configuration-heavy |
| Mobile Emulation | Built-in (Android/iOS simulation) | Supported via Chrome DevTools or Appium |
| Multi-tab/Context Support | Excellent (isolated browser contexts) | Limited (each tab requires handling in a new driver instance) |
| Auto-wait for Elements | Yes (automatic waiting for DOM/state readiness) | Manual waits often needed (e.g., WebDriverWait) |
| Screenshots/Videos | Built-in support for screenshots, videos, and traces | Screenshots supported, video needs external integration |
| Debugging Tools | Built-in tracing, time-travel debugging | Basic logs, stack traces, external tools needed for deep debug |
| Execution Speed | Faster (uses WebSocket and optimized browser contexts) | Slower (uses HTTP/WebDriver protocol) |
| Parallel Execution | Built-in support (workers, test sharding) | Needs external config (e.g., Selenium Grid, TestNG parallel) |
| Ease of Setup | Easy, single binary for all supported browsers | Complex, needs drivers for each browser |
| CI/CD Integration | Good support (GitHub Actions, Jenkins, etc.) | Excellent support and maturity |
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