In Automation Consistency Is Key
PlayWright Flaky Test Check
In Automation Consistency Is Key
Tests that pass reliably instill confidence in your codebase, while unpredictable ones can erode trust and waste valuable time. Enter flaky tests - those pesky tests that don't always pass on the first try, even when the underlying code seems fine.
Fortunately, Playwright, a powerful browser automation framework, offers a handy tool to help QA automation teams tackle this challenge head-on: the --fail-on-flaky-tests option.
What Are Flaky Tests?
Flaky tests are the wild cards of the testing world. They might pass on one run and fail on the next, often due to timing issues, external dependencies, or subtle environmental differences.
While they don't necessarily indicate a bug in the application, they do signal a problem in the test itself - something that might need a closer look to ensure reliability.
For QA teams, flaky tests can be a headache. They slow down workflows, muddy the waters of test reporting, and make it harder to trust the results of a test suite. That's where Playwright steps in with a feature designed to shine a spotlight on these troublemakers.
Playwright's Flaky Test Detection
Playwright provides a built-in mechanism to identify and flag flaky tests, helping teams address them proactively. By enabling certain configurations, Playwright can detect when a test exhibits inconsistent behavior - passing sometimes and failing others - and mark it as flaky.
This doesn't just sweep the issue under the rug; it gives teams actionable insights to refine their tests.
One particularly useful option in Playwright's arsenal is --fail-on-flaky-tests. By default, this option is set to false, meaning Playwright will note flaky tests but won't treat them as failures in the overall test run.
However, when you flip this switch to true, Playwright takes a stricter stance: if any test is flagged as flaky, the entire test suite fails. This forces the team to confront the issue immediately rather than letting it linger.
How to Use --fail-on-flaky-tests
To leverage this feature, simply add the --fail-on-flaky-tests flag when running your Playwright tests from the command line. For example:
npx playwright test --fail-on-flaky-tests