Pytest vs Playwright vs Cypress

What are Pytest, Playwright, and Cypress?

Choosing the right testing framework depends on your project's needs. Pytest is a Python-based testing framework for unit and functional testing. Playwright (with TypeScript) is a modern end-to-end (E2E) testing tool for web applications, supporting multiple browsers. Cypress is a JavaScript-based E2E testing framework designed for simplicity and speed. Below, we explore their key differences and provide examples of visiting Google.com and validating its title.

1. What are the key differences between Pytest, Playwright, and Cypress?

Here's a comparison of the three frameworks:

2. How do you test visiting Google.com with Pytest?

Pytest requires an external library like selenium for browser automation. Below is an example using Selenium to visit Google.com and validate the title.

# test_google.py
from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.service import Service
from webdriver_manager.chrome import ChromeDriverManager
def test_google_title():
    driver = webdriver.Chrome(service=Service(ChromeDriverManager().install()))
    driver.get("https://www.google.com")
    assert driver.title == "Google"
    driver.quit()
                    

Note: Run with pytest test_google.py. Ensure selenium and webdriver_manager are installed.

3. How do you test visiting Google.com with Playwright and TypeScript?

Playwright supports TypeScript natively and provides robust browser automation. Below is an example.

// tests/google.spec.ts
import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
test('Google title test', async ({ page }) => {
  await page.goto('https://www.google.com');
  await expect(page).toHaveTitle('Google');
});
                    

Note: Run with npx playwright test. Requires Playwright setup with TypeScript configuration.

4. How do you test visiting Google.com with Cypress?

Cypress is designed for simplicity and runs directly in the browser. Below is an example.

// cypress/e2e/google.cy.js
describe('Google Title Test', () => {
  it('should have the correct title', () => {
    cy.visit('https://www.google.com');
    cy.title().should('eq', 'Google');
  });
});
                    

Note: Run with npx cypress run or open the Cypress Test Runner. Requires Cypress installation.

5. Which framework should you choose?

• Pytest: Ideal for Python developers testing APIs, unit tests, or integrating with Selenium for browser testing.
• Playwright: Best for cross-browser E2E testing with TypeScript, offering modern features and parallel execution.
• Cypress: Great for JavaScript developers seeking a simple, fast E2E testing tool with an intuitive interface.

Consider your team's expertise, project requirements, and browser support needs when choosing.