Use Cucumber.js to run Gherkin scenarios and match their steps to JavaScript or TypeScript functions; use Playwright inside those functions to control the browser. Cucumber does not automate browsers itself, and this setup is support code that connects two separate tools—not a Playwright Test setting.
How Cucumber and Playwright fit together
The execution path is: .feature scenario → Cucumber step definition → Playwright browser, context, and page actions → an assertion. Keep the feature file focused on behavior a reader can understand. Put browser operations in step definitions and, as the project grows, small helper functions or page objects.
Cucumber’s own browser automation guide says it is not a browser automation tool, but works with browser automation tools such as Playwright. Cucumber.js runs scenarios and matches steps; Playwright performs the browser work. Cucumber browser automation · Cucumber.js step definitions
Set up a JavaScript project
The following is a minimal implementation pattern, not an official combined starter template. It uses Node.js, Cucumber.js, and Playwright’s library package. Check the current installation guidance for runtime and package requirements rather than pinning versions from an old example.
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Create a project if you do not already have one:
npm init -y. -
Install the test runner and browser automation library:
npm install --save-dev @cucumber/cucumber playwright. -
Install a browser binary supported by Playwright:
npx playwright install chromium. Install other browsers if your tests need them. See Playwright installation and Playwright browsers. -
Create the feature and support-code files shown below. Run Cucumber with explicit paths:
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Playwright’s supported languages include JavaScript and TypeScript. The example here is JavaScript; TypeScript projects need an appropriate way to load TypeScript support code, configured for the project’s Node.js and Cucumber.js versions. Playwright supported languages
Write a feature and connect its steps
Example directory layout:
features/home.feature— readable Gherkin scenario.features/support/world.js— scenario-specific state.features/support/hooks.js— browser setup and cleanup.features/step_definitions/home.js— matching step functions.
features/home.feature:
Feature: Home page
Scenario: Open the home page
Given I open the home page
Then the page title should contain "Example Domain"features/support/world.js:
const { setWorldConstructor } = require('@cucumber/cucumber');
class CustomWorld {
constructor() {
this.browser = undefined;
this.context = undefined;
this.page = undefined;
}
}
setWorldConstructor(CustomWorld);features/support/hooks.js:
const { Before, After } = require('@cucumber/cucumber');
const { chromium } = require('playwright');
Before(async function () {
this.browser = await chromium.launch({ headless: true });
this.context = await this.browser.newContext();
this.page = await this.context.newPage();
});
After(async function () {
if (this.context) await this.context.close();
if (this.browser) await this.browser.close();
});features/step_definitions/home.js:
const { Given, Then } = require('@cucumber/cucumber');
const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
Given('I open the home page', async function () {
await this.page.goto('https://example.com');
});
Then('the page title should contain {string}', async function (expected) {
const title = await this.page.title();
assert.ok(title.includes(expected), `Expected title to contain "${expected}", got "${title}"`);
});The example’s hooks create a browser, isolated context, and page for each scenario, then close them. This is a practical lifecycle choice, not a lifecycle Cucumber mandates. Each step is asynchronous and awaits Playwright work, so rejected operations and failed assertions are reported as scenario failures rather than being left running in the background. Cucumber.js supports promise-based asynchronous step definitions and both Cucumber Expressions and regular expressions. Step definition documentation
Share a Playwright page between Cucumber steps
Cucumber-JS creates an isolated World for each scenario. Put the scenario’s browser-related state on that World—as the example does with this.page—so multiple steps in the same scenario can use the same page without sharing it accidentally with other scenarios. Cucumber state
Use regular function expressions for steps and hooks that read or write this. Arrow functions capture their surrounding this and do not receive Cucumber’s World as their function context. If a step does not need World state, it can use an arrow function; when it does, use async function () { ... }.
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Choose hooks and browser lifetimes deliberately
Use scenario-level Before and After hooks to acquire and release resources that belong to one scenario. Cucumber runs Before hooks in definition order and After hooks in reverse order. Tag expressions can limit a hook to selected scenarios, which is useful when only some scenarios require special setup. Cucumber.js hooks
Launching a browser per scenario is simple and provides strong isolation, but adds startup and teardown work. A different design can keep a browser process alive longer while still creating a fresh context and page per scenario. Whichever lifecycle you choose, close contexts and browsers reliably, and do not share mutable page state between scenarios unless that behavior is intentional.
Run tagged scenarios and plan for parallel execution
To run only scenarios tagged @smoke, for example, use npx cucumber-js features --require features/support/**/*.js --tags @smoke. A tagged hook can be restricted similarly:
Before({ tags: '@needs-auth' }, async function () {
// Set up scenario-specific authenticated state here.
});When Cucumber.js runs scenarios in parallel, they execute in workers. Its BeforeAll and AfterAll hooks run once per worker by default—not once for the entire test run. Design server startup, ports, accounts, files, and other shared resources with that scope in mind. Avoid assuming that a process-level resource initialized in one worker is available in another. The Cucumber.js hooks documentation on GitHub’s main branch may describe features that are not in every installed release; check the documentation matching your installed version before relying on version-sensitive hook options. Cucumber.js hooks and parallel execution
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Choose Cucumber.js or Playwright Test
These are alternative runner choices, not two layers that automatically share a test suite. Playwright recommends its own test runner for Node.js. Choose Cucumber.js when executable Gherkin and a BDD workflow are important to the people who write, review, or use the scenarios; then own the integration code for hooks, state, and execution. Choose Playwright Test when its runner and integrated tooling suit the team and Gherkin is not a requirement. Playwright language guidance · Cucumber browser automation
| Decision | Cucumber.js with Playwright | Playwright Test |
|---|---|---|
| Scenario format | Gherkin feature files with matching step definitions | Playwright test files |
| Who runs the scenarios? | Cucumber.js | Playwright’s own runner |
| Who automates the browser? | Playwright library called from support code | Playwright test APIs |
| Integration work | You manage the connection, World state, hooks, and resource lifetimes | Use the Playwright runner and its documented test workflow |
Troubleshoot common failures
-
Cucumber says a step is undefined. The step text does not match a loaded definition, or Cucumber did not discover the support file. Confirm the feature and support paths in the command and that the expression matches the step text. Cucumber expressions and regular expressions are both supported.
-
this.pageis undefined. The setup hook may not have run, the hook may have failed, or the step uses an arrow function and therefore cannot access the World. Use a regular function, check the hook’s tag filter, and ensure the hook assigns the page before the step runs. -
Playwright cannot launch a browser. Install the browser binary for the Playwright package in the project with
npx playwright install chromium, or install the browser(s) your test uses. Consult Playwright browser installation if the environment needs additional setup.Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.Best Value
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-
A scenario hangs or fails during navigation. Make sure the step awaits
page.goto()and that navigation targets a reachable URL. Inspect the actual Playwright error and application readiness conditions; do not hide a rejected promise by starting browser work without awaiting it. -
Scenarios interfere when run in parallel. Check for shared accounts, fixed ports, shared files, or reused browser contexts. Give each scenario isolated browser state and make worker-scoped resources safe for multiple workers.
-
Cleanup runs in an unexpected order. Cucumber executes
Beforehooks in definition order andAfterhooks in reverse. Review hook ordering and make cleanup tolerate partially completed setup.
Or skip the browser setup
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use TypeScript for Cucumber.js and Playwright?
Yes. Playwright supports TypeScript, but configure Cucumber.js to load your TypeScript support code for the versions and runtime in your project.
Does Playwright Test run Cucumber feature files directly?
No. In this integration, Cucumber.js runs the Gherkin scenarios and Playwright is called from the step definitions.
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