The Battle for Browser Automation Supremacy: Playwright vs Puppeteer

A Brief History of Browser Automation

Browser automation has been around since 2004, with Selenium being the go-to tool for this category. However, Selenium has a reputation for being unreliable and resource-heavy. The introduction of headless browsers like PhantomJS improved the situation, but they had limitations when it came to testing complex websites.

The Game-Changer: Headless Chrome and Firefox

In 2017, Google announced headless Chrome, followed by Firefox’s headless mode later that year. This marked a significant shift in the browser automation landscape, making it possible to write efficient tests and scripts against the same browsers people actually use.

Puppeteer: The Pioneer

Google’s Chrome DevTools team developed Puppeteer, which has institutional support from the same company that makes the most widely used browser in the world. Puppeteer can drive either Chrome or Chromium, and by default, installing Puppeteer also downloads a compatible version of Chromium. This avoids the likelihood of browser updates breaking Puppeteer.

const puppeteer = require('puppeteer');

(async () => {
  const browser = await puppeteer.launch();
  const page = await browser.newPage();
  await page.goto('undefinedexample.com');
  await browser.close();
})();

Playwright: The New Kid on the Block

Microsoft released the first public version of Playwright in 2020. The top contributors to Puppeteer now work on Playwright, making it very similar to Puppeteer in many respects. However, Playwright’s biggest differentiating point is its cross-browser support, driving Chromium, WebKit, and Firefox.

const playwright = require('playwright');

(async () => {
  const browser = await playwright.chromium.launch();
  const page = await browser.newPage();
  await page.goto('undefinedexample.com');
  await browser.close();
})();

Choosing the Right Library

When deciding between Playwright and Puppeteer, consider three main factors: cross-browser support, long-term library support, and your particular use case for browser automation. If testing for iOS users is important, Playwright’s WebKit support makes it an attractive option. On the other hand, many teams may not see the value in testing multiple browsers.

• Cross-browser support: Do you need to test on multiple browsers?
• Long-term library support: Are you concerned about the library’s maintenance and updates?
• Use case: What specific use case do you have for browser automation?

The Future of Browser Automation

The competition between Playwright and Puppeteer is driving innovation in the browser automation space. As these libraries continue to evolve, they’ll make browser automation progressively easier and more reliable. Ultimately, the choice between Playwright and Puppeteer depends on your specific needs and priorities.