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SOFTWARE AUTOMATION & TESTING

Automate Web Testing with Playwright and Java – Full Guide

By Lavish Jain

Aug 29, 2025 2 Min Read 1782 Views

(Last Updated)

Automated UI testing has become a defining factor in software quality, shaping the delivery of robust web applications. For years, Selenium dominated browser automation, but the landscape is shifting as Playwright emerges as a preferred choice due to its rich cross-browser support, speedy execution, and powerful built-in waiting mechanism that tackles flakiness head-on. 

The Playwright framework, created by Microsoft, stands out for its reliable end-to-end testing across Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit browsers. Java teams looking to enhance their automation practices can integrate Playwright with their familiar tools, tapping into the strengths of both platforms. 

This guide takes you through the process of setting up Playwright with Java and provides an in-depth look at creating a working login automation script for a real-world application, giving you practical steps you can immediately apply.

Table of contents

  1. What is Playwright?
    •  Key Features:
  2. Why Java with Playwright?
  3. Setting Up Playwright with Java
    • Prerequisites:
    • Step 1: Create a Maven Project
    • pom.xml:
    • Step 2: Install Browsers
  4. Automating Login Test Case
    • Test Scenario:
    • Java Code using Playwright + JUnit:
  5. Running the Test
  6. Conclusion

What is Playwright?

Playwright is an open-source test automation framework developed by Microsoft. It enables reliable end-to-end testing for modern web apps across Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit browsers. With built-in support for multiple languages, including Java, Playwright is ideal for enterprise-grade automation testing.

 Key Features:

Top Features of Playwright
  • Cross-browser automation (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)
  • Headless and headed execution
  • Auto-waiting for elements
  • Mobile emulation and geolocation testing
  • Easy integration with CI tools

 Why Java with Playwright?

Java is widely used in enterprise applications. Playwright’s Java bindings allow QA teams and developers to:

  • Reuse existing Java-based frameworks (JUnit/TestNG)
  • Write faster, more stable tests compared to Selenium
  • Avoid flaky scripts with built-in auto-waiting

 Setting Up Playwright with Java

Prerequisites:

  • Java 11 or later
  • Maven
  • Any Java IDE (IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse, VS Code)

 Step 1: Create a Maven Project

pom.xml:

<project>
  <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
  <groupId>com.playwrightdemo</groupId>
  <artifactId>playwright-java-demo</artifactId>
  <version>1.0-SNAPSHOT</version>

  <dependencies>
    <dependency>
      <groupId>com.microsoft.playwright</groupId>
      <artifactId>playwright</artifactId>
      <version>1.44.0</version>
    </dependency>
    <dependency>
      <groupId>org.junit.jupiter</groupId>
      <artifactId>junit-jupiter</artifactId>
      <version>5.8.2</version>
    </dependency>
  </dependencies>
</project>

Step 2: Install Browsers

After the dependency is installed, run:

mvn exec:java -e -Dexec.mainClass=com.microsoft.playwright.CLI -Dexec.args=”install”

 Automating Login Test Case

Let’s automate a login flow on an OrangeHRM website:

https://opensource-demo.orangehrmlive.com/

 Test Scenario:

  1. Launch the browser
  2. Navigate to the login page
  3. Enter username and password
  4. Click Login
  5. Verify that the dashboard loads successfully
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Java Code using Playwright + JUnit:

import com.microsoft.playwright.*;
import org.junit.jupiter.api.*;

public class LoginTest {
    static Playwright playwright;
    static Browser browser;
    Page page;

    @BeforeAll
    static void setup() {
        playwright = Playwright.create();
        browser = playwright.chromium().launch(new BrowserType.LaunchOptions().setHeadless(false));
    }

    @BeforeEach
    void createPage() {
        page = browser.newPage();
    }

    @Test
    void loginToOrangeHRM() {
        page.navigate(“https://opensource-demo.orangehrmlive.com/”);

        // Enter credentials
        page.locator(“input[name=’username’]”).fill(“Admin”);
        page.locator(“input[name=’password’]”).fill(“admin123”);

        // Click login button
        page.locator(“button[type=’submit’]”).click();

        // Assertion: Verify dashboard is displayed
        Locator dashboardTitle = page.locator(“h6:has-text(‘Dashboard’)”);
        Assertions.assertTrue(dashboardTitle.isVisible(), “Login failed or dashboard not loaded”);
    }

    @AfterEach
    void closePage() {
        page.close();
    }

    @AfterAll
    static void teardown() {
        browser.close();
        playwright.close();
    }
}

Running the Test

To run the test using Maven:

mvn test

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Conclusion

Using Playwright with Java opens up new possibilities for teams invested in Java ecosystems and looking for more robust and stable UI automation. The experience of developing scripts becomes smoother when auto-waiting eliminates common hurdles in flaky test execution. The process not only delivers faster feedback but also strengthens the overall confidence in release cycles. Teams that choose Playwright with Java position themselves for greater test reliability and smoother integration with continuous delivery systems, shaping a more resilient approach to quality assurance in their projects.

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Table of contents Table of contents
Table of contents Articles
Close button
  1. What is Playwright?
    •  Key Features:
  2. Why Java with Playwright?
  3. Setting Up Playwright with Java
    • Prerequisites:
    • Step 1: Create a Maven Project
    • pom.xml:
    • Step 2: Install Browsers
  4. Automating Login Test Case
    • Test Scenario:
    • Java Code using Playwright + JUnit:
  5. Running the Test
  6. Conclusion