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Put a conditional test.skip(callback, description) inside the test.describe() block. The callback can count matches for the selector; when the count is zero, Playwright skips every test in that group and records the supplied reason.
This is different from calling test.skip() inside one test: the in-test call aborts only that running test, while the describe-level callback expresses a precondition for the whole group.
Use the group-level conditional skip
The documented Playwright Test API supports one conditional skip declaration for a test.describe() group. A locator count is appropriate when the requirement is that the selector exist in the DOM.
import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
const selector = '[data-testid="optional-panel"]';
test.describe('optional panel tests', () => {
test.skip(
async ({ page }) => (await page.locator(selector).count()) === 0,
`Required selector is missing: ${selector}`,
);
test('shows panel content', async ({ page }) => {
await expect(page.locator(selector)).toBeVisible();
});
});When the callback returns true, the tests declared in that group are reported as skipped rather than failed. The description appears with the result, making it clear that the panel was absent instead of broken.
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The callback runs with the test fixtures, including page. Make sure the page is in the intended state before checking the locator. If the panel is rendered only after navigation, authentication, or an API response, perform that setup before the condition is evaluated; otherwise a temporary loading state can look like a genuinely missing selector.
Existence and visibility are different conditions
Choose the predicate that matches what the tests actually require. A selector can match a hidden element, so existence and visibility are not interchangeable.
Skip when no element matches
Use locator.count() === 0 when the group applies only to pages that contain the element, regardless of whether it is currently visible.
test.describe('optional panel tests', () => {
test.skip(
async ({ page }) => (await page.locator(selector).count()) === 0,
`Required selector is missing: ${selector}`,
);
// tests that require the panel to exist
});Skip when the element is not visible
Use locator.isVisible() when the group requires a visible control or panel. Negate the result so the callback returns true for the skip case.
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test.skip(
async ({ page }) => !(await page.locator(selector).isVisible()),
'The panel is not visible',
);
test('shows panel content', async ({ page }) => {
await expect(page.locator(selector)).toBeVisible();
});
});isVisible() checks the current rendered state. It does not wait for an element to become visible. If visibility is expected after an action, do that action first or use an explicit wait that reflects your application’s state before evaluating the skip condition.
| Requirement | Condition | What a true result means |
|---|---|---|
| The selector must match an element | (await page.locator(selector).count()) === 0 |
No matching element exists, so skip the group |
| The matching element must be visible | !(await page.locator(selector).isVisible()) |
The element is not visible, so skip the group |
Make the check reliable
Reach the correct page state first
A zero count is meaningful only after navigation and prerequisite setup. Put shared setup in a fixture or a beforeEach that runs before the condition’s page inspection, or navigate in the test setup used by the group. The exact arrangement depends on your project’s fixtures and authentication flow.
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Use a stable selector
Prefer a contract such as data-testid when the element is optional by design. A CSS class used only for styling can change without changing the feature, causing unnecessary skips. Keep the selector in one constant so the condition, assertions, and skip message cannot drift apart.
Describe the reason
Pass a description as the second argument. For a dynamic selector, include it in a template string; for a feature switch or environment requirement, name that requirement instead. A useful reason distinguishes an intentional skip from an infrastructure failure when reviewing CI output.
Keep the group boundary intentional
Only tests that truly share the selector prerequisite should be inside the describe block. If one test can run without the panel, leave it outside or give it a separate group. A broad group-level condition can hide tests that should have exposed a regression.
Group skip versus skipping one test
Scope is the key difference:
- Group declaration:
test.skip(callback, description)insidetest.describe()applies the condition to the tests in that group. - Individual test: calling
test.skip()from inside a running test aborts that test immediately after the call. - TestInfo API:
testInfo.skip(condition, description)is an API for conditionally skipping the currently running test, not the documented describe-group declaration pattern.
Do not put a group precondition inside the first test and expect later tests to inherit it. Each test has its own execution, and an in-test skip does not declare a condition for sibling tests.
Complete patterns for common cases
Optional feature panel
import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
const panel = '[data-testid="optional-panel"]';
test.describe('optional panel', () => {
test.skip(
async ({ page }) => (await page.locator(panel).count()) === 0,
`Required selector is missing: ${panel}`,
);
test('contains a heading', async ({ page }) => {
await expect(page.locator(panel).getByRole('heading')).toBeVisible();
});
test('can be opened', async ({ page }) => {
await page.locator(panel).click();
});
});Environment-dependent UI
If a feature appears only for a tenant, role, locale, or deployment, encode that fact in the description and ensure the fixture has selected that context before the callback checks the page.
test.describe('reports for tenants with analytics', () => {
test.skip(
async ({ page }) => (await page.locator('[data-testid="analytics-report"]').count()) === 0,
'Analytics report is not enabled for this tenant',
);
test('renders the report', async ({ page }) => {
await expect(page.locator('[data-testid="analytics-report"]')).toBeVisible();
});
});Common failures and fixes
The group skips unexpectedly
Cause: the callback runs before navigation, login, or feature setup, so the selector is not present yet.
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Fix: move the page-state preparation into the fixture or setup used before the condition, and verify the URL and authentication state at that point. Do not replace a real setup problem with a skip.
A hidden element passes the existence check
Cause: count() reports matching DOM nodes even when CSS hides them.
Fix: use isVisible() when visibility is the requirement, or keep the existence check and let the test assert the intended visibility if hidden markup should count as present.
The selector matches several elements
Cause: a loose selector can satisfy the existence check while the test interacts with an unintended node.
Fix: tighten the locator, use a role or test ID, and assert the expected count where uniqueness matters. The skip condition should answer only whether the feature is available; test assertions should validate its correctness.
The skip reason is unclear in CI
Cause: no description, or a generic message such as “not found.”
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Fix: provide a description that names the selector or feature and states the requirement. Playwright recommends a description for conditional skips.
The project rejects the overload
Cause: the installed Playwright version may not support the callback overload used by current documentation.
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Fix: check the API documentation for the version installed in your project before adopting the group callback form. The available reference does not establish the release in which that overload was introduced; do not assume every older dependency has it.
A test is skipped but should fail
Cause: the feature is mandatory in this environment, but the group was treated as optional.
Fix: remove the conditional skip and assert the selector directly. Skipping is appropriate only when absence is an accepted, documented condition.
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Run the normal Playwright command for your project, for example npx playwright test. In the report, the affected tests should have a skipped status and the description supplied to test.skip. If no test in the group runs, inspect the callback’s condition and the page state rather than adding retries; retries do not change a selector that is genuinely absent.
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Official API references
- Playwright Test API documents conditional skips for a file or
test.describe()group. - Playwright annotations shows group-level conditional annotation patterns.
- Locator API documents
count()andisVisible(). - Page API documents page fixtures and page operations used in setup.
- TestInfo API documents per-test conditional skipping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I skip a describe block before any test starts?
Yes. Declare the conditional `test.skip(callback, description)` inside that `test.describe()` callback; Playwright evaluates it as the group’s condition.
Should I use `locator.count()` or `locator.isVisible()`?
Use `count()` for DOM existence and `isVisible()` when the required condition is current visibility.
Is a skipped group the same as a failed test?
No. A conditional skip records that the prerequisite was not met; it does not validate the feature. Use an assertion instead when the feature is mandatory.
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