Playwright vs Selenium — Comparison & Which one to choose

Selenium and Playwright are two popular tools for web automation testing, each with its own strengths and use cases. Here’s a detailed comparison to help you decide which one might be best for your needs:

1. Language Support

• Selenium: Programming languages supported by selenium test automation services include Java, C#, Python, Ruby, JavaScript, and Kotlin.
• Playwright: Offers bindings for Python, Java, and C#, but mostly supports JavaScript and TypeScript.

2. Browser Support

• Selenium: Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and other popular browsers are all supported by Selenium Companies.
• Playwright: Works with Firefox, WebKit (Safari), and Chromium (Chrome, Edge). Playwright installs testing-ready copies of various browsers on its own systems.

3. Installation and Setup

• Selenium: Needs the separate download of browser drivers (such as GeckoDriver and ChromeDriver). Setup may involve several steps.
• Playwright: To make the setup procedure easier, bundles browsers with the installation.

4. Architecture

• Selenium: Makes use of the WebDriver protocol, which necessitates drivers to facilitate communication between the client and browser.
• Playwright: Uses a single API to connect directly with the browser, perhaps leading to speedier execution and more dependability.

5. Speed and Performance

• Selenium: Because of the WebDriver protocol overhead and independent browser drivers, it may operate more slowly.
• Playwright: Faster in general because of bundled browser optimisations and direct browser connection.

6. Features and Capabilities

. Selenium:

• A long-standing, stable, and mature metal.
• Accommodates a large variety of browsers and settings.
• Big community, lots of resources.

. Playwright:

• Contemporary features like multiple browser contexts, network interception, and auto-waiting for items
• Improved assistance with sophisticated interaction modern web applications.
• Headless mode, video recording, and tracing are all supported natively.

7. Community and Support

• Selenium: A sizable and vibrant community with a wealth of tutorials, support threads, and documentation.
• Playwright: Microsoft-backed, community that is expanding and receiving more support. GitHub repository is active and has good documentation.

8. Use Cases

. Selenium: Ideal for tasks requiring:

• Support for many different languages and browsers.
• Reliability and interoperability with older systems.
• Large-scale initiatives that demand strong community integration and support.

. Playwright: Ideal for initiatives requiring

• Contemporary features for web automation.
• High dependability and performance.
• Browser configuration and administration made simpler.
• Features for managing intricate interactions with web applications.

9. Ease of Use

• Selenium: Because of its complicated setup and requirement for separate drivers, it may have a more difficult learning curve.
• Playwright: It is more approachable for teams with less automation experience or for new projects due to its simpler setup and intuitive API architecture.

Conclusion: Which One to Choose?

Choose Selenium if:

• Comprehensive cross-browser testing, encompassing browsers such as Safari and Internet Explorer, is necessary for your project.
• Support for multiple programming languages is required.
  You like a tool with lots of resources and a well-established community.

Choose Playwright if:

• Working with contemporary online applications necessitates managing intricate interactions.
• Reliability, performance, and speed are your top priorities.
• You desire a more straightforward

setup process with bundled browsers and modern playwright automation testing features.

• You require integrated features like video recording, network interception, and auto-waiting.

Final Decision

The decision between Playwright and Selenium is based on the priorities and particular needs of your project:

• For Legacy Systems and Wide Browser Compatibility: Because of Selenium’s maturity, reliability, and wide browser compatibility — which includes support for venerable browsers like Internet Explorer — it is a superior option.
• For Modern Web Applications: Playwright testing companies can manage modern web applications more effectively thanks to its comprehensive features, effortless setup process, and improved speed.

Combining the two programmes can often be advantageous as well, taking advantage of Playwright’s functionality and contemporary features and Selenium’s wide compatibility. Selecting the ideal tool for your automated testing endeavours will depend on how well your project meets its unique requirements.