In an Applitools Eyes Playwright test, pass the date element’s locator in ignoreRegions to stop visual comparison inside that element. Keep the ignored area as small as possible: anything inside it, including a real visual defect, is hidden from the visual comparison. If the date should remain visible and only its changing value is expected, consider Dynamic matching instead.
Mask one changing date in a Playwright test
Use a stable locator for the date in your application. The selector below is illustrative; replace .date-value with a selector that identifies the date element in your page.
await eyes.check('Homepage', {
fully: true,
matchLevel: 'Strict',
ignoreRegions: [page.locator('.date-value')],
});In this example, Eyes still compares the rest of the checkpoint at Strict match level, but does not compare the pixels within the date element’s ignored region. The Playwright integration documents ignoreRegions with a locator; this syntax is specific to that integration. Check the documentation for your SDK before adapting it to Selenium, Java, or another integration: Applitools documentation.
Choose a stable, narrow locator
- Target the element containing the date rather than a broad parent such as a card, header, or whole page.
- Prefer a selector tied to a stable attribute or application structure over one based on text that changes with the date.
- Check the locator in the test so it resolves to the intended element. A locator that matches too much can mask nearby labels, spacing, borders, icons, or other content you meant to verify.
Choose between Ignore, Dynamic, Layout, and Strict
Masking is only one way to handle dates that vary between visual runs. Choose based on what the visual test needs to protect:
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| Approach | What the comparison checks | Best fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narrow Ignore region | Content outside the ignored bounds | The date’s value and local appearance are both irrelevant to this visual assertion | A genuine defect wholly inside the region is invisible to the visual comparison |
| Dynamic region or Dynamic Match Level | Other visual content while allowing recognized dynamic patterns to vary; behavior depends on the product and SDK | The date should remain represented in the interface, but its value changes | Pattern recognition may not cover every format or locale; confirm support and behavior in your test |
| Layout Match Level | Element structure and relative positioning | Many pieces of text or graphics may vary, but page structure is the target | Content differences across the checked area can be missed |
| Strict | Text, graphics, colors, and positioning, subject to Eyes’ matching behavior | The date is stable or its change should trigger a visual difference | An expected date change can produce a diff |
Use Ignore when the date is irrelevant visually
An ignored region suppresses differences in its bounds. This is the most direct choice when neither the changing characters nor the date element’s appearance matters to the checkpoint. Keep the mask tight so surrounding UI remains covered.
Use Dynamic when the date should still be visible
Applitools describes Dynamic regions and Dynamic Match Level as ways to tolerate predictable content patterns such as dates while still comparing other visual details. Product notes dated June 8, 2026 say Dynamic Match Level became the default for new Eyes tests. That statement does not establish that existing tests are switched automatically; verify the setting in the test you are running.
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Those notes also describe custom regex patterns. Do not assume that every date format, locale, or application-specific string will be recognized. Confirm the current SDK’s support and test the behavior with the formats your application produces.
Use Layout only when broader content tolerance is intended
Layout emphasizes relative positioning and structure while ignoring content differences. It may suit a page with many changing strings, but it is a broader relaxation than masking one date and can conceal meaningful text changes elsewhere. Applitools documents Strict, Ignore Colors, and Layout in its match-level overview; match-level names and availability can vary by product and SDK interface.
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Keep Strict when the date should be stable
If the date should not change between runs, leaving it under Strict comparison can help reveal an unexpected change. Applitools also documents Exact pixel-to-pixel comparison as unusually sensitive and not recommended for ordinary verification; consult the settings for your integration before choosing a match level.
Apply the change without weakening the test unnecessarily
- Find the date element. Identify the smallest DOM element that contains the changing value and confirm it has a reliable locator.
- Decide what the checkpoint must catch. If the whole date region is irrelevant, use a narrow Ignore region. If the date should remain visible, check whether Dynamic matching supports its format. If many contents vary and structure is the goal, consider Layout.
- Update the checkpoint configuration. For Playwright, pass the locator in
ignoreRegionsas shown above. Use the current SDK documentation for other integrations. - Review the resulting visual diff. Confirm that the date no longer creates an unwanted difference and that nearby content remains compared.
- Retain a functional assertion when the value matters. If correctness depends on the date—for example, it must equal a value derived from test input—assert that value separately. A visual tolerance setting does not prove the date is semantically correct.
Troubleshooting date masks
The date still causes a visual difference
- Confirm that the locator resolves to the date element in the checkpoint and that the ignore option is configured for the integration and API version in use.
- Check whether the changing pixels extend beyond the selected element—for example, into a parent whose dimensions change. Expand the region only enough to cover the actual variability.
- If using Dynamic matching, verify the current setting and confirm that the date format is recognized. For custom formats, check whether the SDK supports a suitable regex pattern.
Nearby content is no longer checked
The ignored bounds are too broad. Narrow the locator to the date element or use Dynamic matching if only the changing text should be tolerated while other local appearance remains relevant.
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The date is missing or wrong, but the visual test passes
An Ignore region cannot report a difference inside itself, and Dynamic matching may tolerate value changes. Add a functional assertion for the expected date whenever the actual value is part of the application’s correctness requirements.
A shift elsewhere on the page remains a problem
Ignore Vertical Shifts is a separate setting for shifts caused by changed content elsewhere; it does not decide how the date element itself is compared. Applitools says Layout automatically ignores vertical shifts. Review the appropriate setting for your test rather than broadening the date mask to address an unrelated shift: Ignore Vertical Shifts documentation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does ignoring a date prove that the application displays the correct date?
No. Keep a functional assertion when the value itself is part of correctness; visual tolerance only changes what the visual comparison checks.
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