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Use Playwright Test’s snapshotPathTemplate setting. Point it at one root directory, then keep {testFilePath} and {arg} in the template so every baseline remains traceable to its test and screenshot name:
import { defineConfig } from '@playwright/test';
export default defineConfig({
testDir: './tests',
snapshotPathTemplate: '{testDir}/__screenshots__/{testFilePath}/{arg}{ext}',
});This stores all visual-regression references below tests/__screenshots__, while preserving each test file’s path and each assertion’s name. Add {/projectName} when browser projects need separate baselines.
Configure one snapshot root
snapshotPathTemplate controls where Playwright Test writes and reads screenshot references created by toHaveScreenshot(). It was added in Playwright 1.28. Relative template paths are resolved from the directory containing your Playwright configuration file.
Recommended layout
Create or edit playwright.config.ts:
import { defineConfig } from '@playwright/test';
export default defineConfig({
testDir: './tests',
snapshotPathTemplate: '{testDir}/__screenshots__/{testFilePath}/{arg}{ext}',
});With a project rooted at /repo, a test at tests/account/profile.spec.ts, and an assertion named profile-page.png, Playwright places the reference under a path equivalent to:
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/repo/tests/__screenshots__/account/profile.spec.ts/profile-page.pngThe exact filename extension is supplied by {ext}. The default screenshot format is PNG; an explicit WebP name is also supported and remains lossless according to Playwright’s visual-comparison guidance.
Why retain the test-file path?
A single flat directory such as tests/__screenshots__/{arg}{ext} is easy to write but causes collisions when two test files both use home.png. Keeping {testFilePath} makes ownership visible and lets teams reuse short, meaningful assertion names safely.
Understand the template tokens
The template is a path pattern. Playwright substitutes tokens when it resolves a snapshot filename.
| Token | What it represents | Why you might use it |
|---|---|---|
{arg} |
The screenshot argument, such as landing from toHaveScreenshot('landing.png') |
Preserves the name chosen in the test. |
{ext} |
The resulting image extension | Lets the same template support PNG or WebP. |
{testDir} |
The configured test directory | Places the shared root alongside your tests. |
{testFilePath} |
The test file’s path relative to the test directory | Prevents name collisions and shows ownership. |
{testFileDir} |
The directory containing the test file | Useful when you want a layout close to each test. |
{testFileBaseName} |
The test filename without its extension | Creates a compact, file-oriented hierarchy. |
{testFileName} |
The test filename including its extension | Retains the original filename in a path. |
{testName} |
The test’s title | Can make paths descriptive, but titles containing path separators need care. |
{platform} |
The execution platform value | Separates references when platform-specific rendering is intentional. |
{projectName} |
The configured Playwright project name | Keeps browser or device projects from sharing incompatible baselines. |
{snapshotDir} |
The snapshot directory calculated by Playwright | Useful when composing a template around Playwright’s derived directory. |
Tokens can be combined. The optional slash form {/projectName} includes both the slash and project name only when a project name has a value, avoiding an empty directory segment for an unnamed project.
Add screenshot assertions to your tests
Visual-regression references are generated by Playwright Test assertions, not by arbitrary screenshots saved with page.screenshot({ path }). A minimal test looks like this:
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import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
test('landing page', async ({ page }) => {
await page.goto('https://example.com');
await expect(page).toHaveScreenshot('landing.png');
});On the first run, Playwright captures the image and writes the reference into the configured template location. On subsequent runs, it captures the page again and compares the result with that file. You can also compare a locator rather than the whole page:
test('navigation header', async ({ page }) => {
await page.goto('https://example.com');
await expect(page.locator('header')).toHaveScreenshot('header.png');
});Use explicit names when a test contains multiple assertions. Names such as desktop.png and mobile.png communicate intent and become the {arg} portion of the path.
Keep projects’ baselines separate when needed
Projects commonly represent Chromium, Firefox, WebKit, mobile device profiles, or different themes. If those projects render differently, give each one its own reference tree:
import { defineConfig, devices } from '@playwright/test';
export default defineConfig({
testDir: './tests',
snapshotPathTemplate:
'{testDir}/__screenshots__{/projectName}/{testFilePath}/{arg}{ext}',
projects: [
{
name: 'chromium',
use: { ...devices['Desktop Chrome'] },
},
{
name: 'mobile',
use: { ...devices['iPhone 13'] },
},
],
});The resulting tree has separate chromium and mobile branches below __screenshots__. Use the project token when differences are expected; do not add it merely because a project exists if all projects are deliberately required to share one rendering baseline.
Generate, update, and review references
Create references on the first run
Run the relevant test normally:
npx playwright test tests/landing.spec.tsIf no reference exists, Playwright writes one under the configured directory. Treat that first capture as a proposed baseline: inspect it before committing.
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Refresh references after an intentional UI change
When a reviewed product change should alter the expected image, regenerate references with:
npx playwright test --update-snapshotsLimit the command to a file, project, or test title when you want a smaller update. Review the resulting image diffs and commit only the references that match the approved change. Do not use the update flag to hide an unexpected regression.
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Commit the reference tree
Add the configured __screenshots__ directory to version control. Keeping references beside the test suite gives code review a durable before-and-after record and allows CI to compare against the same files used locally.
Find a calculated snapshot path in code
If tooling needs to locate a reference rather than guessing the directory, ask Playwright for the resolved path:
const reference = test.info().snapshotPath('header.png', {
kind: 'screenshot',
});
console.log(reference);The returned path honors your snapshotPathTemplate, project name, test-file path, and extension. This is safer than concatenating __screenshots__ manually.
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Make baselines reproducible
A reference image is only useful when the capture environment is stable. Playwright warns that browser rendering can vary with the host operating system, browser version, settings, hardware, power source, headless mode, and other factors.
- Generate and compare references with the same browser version used by CI.
- Use the same operating-system image for baseline creation and verification when pixel-level consistency matters.
- Keep viewport, device scale factor, color scheme, locale, timezone, and font availability consistent.
- Wait for the page state your test actually intends to verify; otherwise a late-loading image or font can create noise.
- Review diffs before accepting updates, especially after dependency or browser upgrades.
If your team intentionally supports multiple rendering environments, model each meaningful environment as a named project and include {/projectName} in the template.
Choose a layout that fits your repository
| Template | Result | Best use |
|---|---|---|
{testDir}/__screenshots__/{testFilePath}/{arg}{ext} |
One shared root, then test-file path and screenshot name | Most teams; avoids collisions while keeping one browsable tree. |
{testDir}/__screenshots__{/projectName}/{testFilePath}/{arg}{ext} |
Shared root with optional project directory | Distinct browser, device, or theme baselines. |
{testDir}/__screenshots__/{arg}{ext} |
Flat directory | Only when every screenshot name is globally unique. |
{testFileDir}/__screenshots__/{arg}{ext} |
References near each test file | Small suites that prefer local ownership over a single central tree. |
Troubleshoot common failures
“The screenshot is not in my folder”
Confirm that the test is using expect(...).toHaveScreenshot(), not page.screenshot({ path }). Then check that the configuration file being loaded is the one containing snapshotPathTemplate. Run with an explicit config if your repository has multiple configurations.
Two tests overwrite one another
The template is probably missing {testFilePath}, or both assertions use the same name within one path. Add the test-file token and give each assertion a distinct filename.
An empty project directory appears
Use {/projectName} rather than a literal slash followed by {projectName}. The optional-slash form omits the segment when no project name is defined.
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References differ only in CI
Compare the CI browser version, operating system, fonts, viewport, device scale factor, headless mode, and power-related environment with the machine that created the references. Align them or maintain separate named projects for environments whose differences are intentional.
Updating snapshots changes too many files
Run the update command against the specific test file or project, inspect the diff, and revert unrelated files. A broad update can accidentally approve regressions across the suite.
The expected file extension is unexpected
Check the assertion filename and {ext} in the template. The extension is derived from the screenshot argument; the default is PNG, while WebP can be selected explicitly.
Performance, repository, and CI practices
- Keep the shared root in the repository unless your organization has a deliberate artifact-storage policy; Playwright’s comparison workflow expects references to be available to the test run.
- Run only the affected project during local development, then run the complete matrix in CI.
- Use stable test data and deterministic animation or time handling so image differences represent UI changes rather than changing content.
- Review image diffs as part of the pull request, not after merging.
- When upgrading Playwright or browsers, regenerate references in a controlled change and record which project produced them.
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See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for request parameters. Replace the example URL with the page you want to capture.
cURL
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open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)Node.js
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