Use page.screenshot() for an image at an exact point in a test, and configure Playwright Test’s use options when every test (or only failures and retries) should produce artifacts. Record videos with video in the test runner or recordVideo on a manually created browser context; close the context before reading or relying on the video file.
Choose the capture method first
| Goal | Recommended approach | Where it is configured |
|---|---|---|
| One diagnostic image at a known step | await page.screenshot({ path: 'screenshot.png' }) |
Inside the test |
| Images for every test | screenshot: 'on' |
Playwright Test use configuration |
| Images only when debugging failures | screenshot: 'only-on-failure' or 'on-first-failure' |
Playwright Test use configuration |
| Videos for selected runs | video: 'on', 'retain-on-failure' or a retry mode |
Playwright Test use configuration |
| Recording outside Playwright Test | recordVideo: { dir: 'videos/' } |
browser.newContext() |
| Visual regression | await expect(page).toHaveScreenshot() |
Test assertion and snapshot directory |
Screenshots, videos and traces are disabled by default in Playwright Test. The current option names and modes are documented in the use-options guide and the TestOptions API.
Capture a screenshot at an exact point
After navigating and performing the action you want to inspect, call page.screenshot(). The call captures the page in its current state, so put it after the state change you care about.
import { test } from '@playwright/test';
test('checkout confirmation', async ({ page }) => {
await page.goto('https://example.com/checkout');
await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Place order' }).click();
await page.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Order confirmed' }).waitFor();
await page.screenshot({ path: 'artifacts/confirmation.png', fullPage: true });
});path determines the output filename. fullPage: true extends the capture beyond the visible viewport; omit it for the viewport currently on screen. For test-specific output, use Playwright Test’s testInfo.outputPath() so parallel workers do not overwrite one another.
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import { test } from '@playwright/test';
test('unique artifact path', async ({ page }, testInfo) => {
await page.goto('https://example.com');
const file = testInfo.outputPath('state.png');
await page.screenshot({ path: file, fullPage: true });
});The file is normally placed under the test runner’s output area, commonly test-results, with a worker- and test-specific path.
Configure automatic screenshots in Playwright Test
Put a use block in playwright.config.ts. Automatic capture is useful when you want consistent evidence without adding a screenshot call to every test.
import { defineConfig } from '@playwright/test';
export default defineConfig({
use: {
screenshot: 'only-on-failure',
video: 'on-first-retry'
}
});Screenshot modes
'on'creates a screenshot for every test run.'only-on-failure'captures failed tests.'on-first-failure'captures on the first failure according to the TestOptions API.'off'disables automatic screenshots (the default).
Choose 'on' for a complete visual trail, but expect more files and storage. Failure-only modes reduce artifact volume while preserving evidence when a test breaks. A direct page.screenshot() call still runs regardless of the automatic setting.
Video modes
Set video to control which runs are recorded and retained. Supported choices include 'on', 'retain-on-failure', 'on-first-retry', 'on-all-retries', 'retain-on-first-failure' and 'retain-on-failure-and-retries'. The distinction matters: some modes record every run but keep only selected recordings, while others record only retries or failures. The official video guide describes the lifecycle and current behavior.
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import { defineConfig } from '@playwright/test';
export default defineConfig({
use: {
screenshot: 'on',
video: 'retain-on-failure'
}
});Video artifacts generally appear in the test output directory, typically test-results. Your reporter and project settings can affect the exact folder and filename.
Record video with a manually created browser context
If you are using Playwright Library rather than Playwright Test, enable recording when creating the context.
import { chromium } from 'playwright';
const browser = await chromium.launch();
const context = await browser.newContext({
recordVideo: { dir: 'videos/' },
viewport: { width: 1280, height: 720 }
});
const page = await context.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com');
await page.getByRole('link', { name: 'More information' }).click();
await context.close(); // finalizes the recording
await browser.close();Do not expect the final video path before the page or context closes. If you need the path after closing, retain the page object and call its video API after closure:
const video = page.video();
await context.close();
console.log(await video?.path());The exact encoding and path are managed by Playwright. Keep the recording directory writable in local runs and CI.
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Control video size and annotations
Set an explicit viewport when predictable dimensions matter. When no viewport is explicitly set, the documented default video size is 800×450. Otherwise Playwright scales the viewport to fit within 800×800. The video guide also supports visual action annotations and an overlay containing test information; annotation duration defaults to 500 milliseconds. These defaults and APIs can change between Playwright releases, so check the current video documentation when upgrading.
import { defineConfig } from '@playwright/test';
export default defineConfig({
use: {
viewport: { width: 1440, height: 900 },
video: 'on-first-retry'
}
});A fixed viewport makes comparisons and review easier, while a smaller viewport can reduce video size and runtime overhead. Decide based on whether the recording is a complete history or only failure evidence.
Use screenshots as visual-regression baselines
toHaveScreenshot() turns a screenshot into an assertion rather than a debugging artifact.
import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
test('landing page visual contract', async ({ page }) => {
await page.goto('https://example.com');
await expect(page).toHaveScreenshot('landing.png');
});On the first execution, Playwright creates the reference image. Later executions compare the current rendering with that baseline and fail when they differ. PNG is the default snapshot format; use a filename ending in .webp when you want WebP instead.
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Keep the comparison environment stable
Rendering can vary with the host operating system, browser version, browser settings, hardware, power source and headless mode. Generate and compare baselines in the same environment whenever possible. Pin browser versions in CI, use a fixed viewport, wait for application data and fonts to settle, and avoid updating baselines from a different machine without reviewing the diff. See the visual comparisons guide for the documented constraints.
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Wait for the state you intend to record
Prefer locator assertions and explicit readiness checks over arbitrary sleeps. For a screenshot after a network-driven component appears, wait for its locator or a testable state before calling the capture. A screenshot taken during an animation or before fonts load can become a misleading baseline.
Prevent artifact collisions
Parallel workers can run the same test simultaneously. Use testInfo.outputPath(), unique test names or separate project output folders rather than a shared filename such as latest.png.
Manage storage
Recording every run produces substantially more data than failure-only modes. Retain videos and full-page images only for the period your debugging or review process needs, and upload artifacts from CI intentionally. A screenshot mode and a video mode can be selected independently.
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Protect sensitive content
Screenshots and videos include everything visible in the browser: account names, order data, tokens rendered into pages and personal information. Use test accounts, hide sensitive selectors before capture, and restrict artifact permissions in CI.
Troubleshoot common failures
No screenshot appears
- Automatic capture is off: set
screenshotunderuse, or add an explicitpage.screenshot()call. - The test passed: failure-only modes intentionally keep no image for a passing run.
- The path is wrong: inspect the reporter’s output directory, commonly
test-results, and print the value returned bytestInfo.outputPath(). - The process cannot write: choose a writable directory and create required parent directories in your test setup.
Video file is missing or empty
- Context still open: call
await context.close(); recording is finalized on close. - Mode retained nothing: a retain-on-failure or retry mode may discard a successful first run by design.
- Wrong context: recording must be enabled on the context that owns the page.
Visual assertion fails on an unchanged page
- Confirm the same browser version, operating system, viewport and headless setting used to create the baseline.
- Wait for fonts, images, animations and asynchronous data before the assertion.
- Review the diff before updating the baseline; an environment change is not automatically an application change.
Full-page image is unexpectedly long or clipped
Full-page capture includes the document’s rendered height, which can expose lazy content and sticky elements repeatedly. Compare it with a viewport screenshot, and capture a specific element when only one component matters.
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When each approach fits
- Direct screenshot: best for a single checkpoint, a bug report or a deliberately named artifact.
- Automatic screenshot: best when every test or every failure needs consistent evidence.
- Automatic video: best for replaying interactions, especially failed retries; choose retention modes to control storage.
- Manual context recording: best for standalone scripts, crawlers or workflows that do not use Playwright Test.
- Visual assertion: best when a rendering change should fail the test and be reviewed as a diff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take both a screenshot and a video in one Playwright test?
Yes. Configure the desired screenshot and video modes under the same use block, or call page.screenshot() while the context has video recording enabled.
Where should I store screenshots in parallel CI jobs?
Use testInfo.outputPath() or another worker-specific path, then publish the test output directory as a CI artifact.
Is a Playwright video available before the test ends?
The finalized recording is available only after its page or browser context closes.
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