Cypress vs Playwright: What are the differences?
Introduction:
Cypress and Playwright are two popular automation testing tools used for web application testing. They both have their own unique features and capabilities that make them suitable for different use cases.
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Browser Support: In terms of browser support, Cypress is limited to testing in Chrome-based browsers only, such as Chrome, Edge, and Electron. On the other hand, Playwright supports cross-browser testing in multiple browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge.
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Programming Languages: Cypress uses JavaScript as its primary programming language for writing test scripts, whereas Playwright offers support for multiple programming languages like JavaScript, TypeScript, and Python. This allows developers to choose the language they are most comfortable with for test automation.
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Execution Speed: Cypress is known for its faster execution speed compared to Playwright. Cypress runs tests in the same browser where the application is being tested, which leads to quicker test execution times. Playwright, on the other hand, runs tests in parallel across multiple browsers, which can result in longer execution times.
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Community and Documentation: Cypress has a larger community and well-documented resources compared to Playwright. This makes it easier for developers to find solutions to common problems, troubleshoot issues, and stay updated with the latest features. Playwright, being a newer tool, has a smaller community but is growing steadily.
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Visual Testing: Playwright has built-in support for visual testing, allowing users to validate the visual aspects of web applications. This feature is not available in Cypress, which means developers have to rely on third-party tools or plugins for visual testing.
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Headless Mode: Playwright offers headless mode testing in all supported browsers, enabling users to run tests without a visible browser interface. While Cypress also supports headless testing, it requires additional configuration and setup to achieve the same functionality.
In Summary, the key differences between Cypress and Playwright lie in their browser support, programming languages, execution speed, community support, visual testing capabilities, and headless mode functionality.