When running multiple tests in Playwright, logging in repeatedly can slow down test execution. Instead, you can store session cookies after the first login and reuse them in subsequent tests. This approach removes the need to log in multiple times, significantly reducing test runtime.
Solution
To persist authentication between tests, Playwright provides methods to get and set cookies. The idea is simple:
1. The first test logs in and stores the session cookies in a file.
2. Other tests load these cookies to avoid re-authentication.
Example
Here’s how you can implement this in Playwright using JavaScript:
1. Store Cookies After Login
After logging in, save the cookies to a file:
const browser = await chromium.launch();
const context = await browser.newContext();
const page = await context.newPage();
// Navigate and log in
await page.goto('https://your-app.com/login');
await page.fill('#username', 'yourUsername');
await page.fill('#password', 'yourPassword');
await page.click('#loginButton');
// Wait for navigation or confirmation of login
await page.waitForURL('https://your-app.com/dashboard');
// Get all cookies and save them
const cookies = await context.cookies();
fs.writeFileSync('cookies.json', JSON.stringify(cookies, null, 2));
console.log('Cookies saved!');
await browser.close();
2. Load Cookies in Subsequent Tests
Before running a test, load the saved cookies to retain the session:
const browser = await chromium.launch();
const context = await browser.newContext();
// Load cookies from the file
const cookies = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync('cookies.json', 'utf8'));
await context.addCookies(cookies);
const page = await context.newPage();
await page.goto('https://your-app.com/dashboard');
Summary
By storing and reloading cookies, you can bypass login steps in Playwright tests, improving execution speed. This is especially useful for CI pipelines and large test suites. Try implementing this technique to streamline your test automation! 🚀
