Answer
Playwright Browser Support
Playwright supports three browser engines that cover all major browsers:
| Browser Engine | Real Browsers Covered | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chromium | Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge | Uses latest Chromium build |
| Firefox | Mozilla Firefox | Uses latest Firefox release |
| WebKit | Apple Safari | Uses Safari's engine (not full Safari) |
How Playwright Installs Browsers
When you install Playwright, it downloads its own managed browser binaries:
Bash
npx playwright install
# Downloads Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit
You can install specific browsers only:
Bash
npx playwright install chromium
npx playwright install firefox
npx playwright install webkit
Running Tests on All Browsers
In playwright.config.ts, define projects per browser:
TypeScript
import { defineConfig, devices } from '@playwright/test';
export default defineConfig({
projects: [
{ name: 'chromium', use: { ...devices['Desktop Chrome'] } },
{ name: 'firefox', use: { ...devices['Desktop Firefox'] } },
{ name: 'webkit', use: { ...devices['Desktop Safari'] } },
],
});
Run all browser projects:
Bash
npx playwright test --project=chromium
npx playwright test # runs all configured projects
Key Differences from Selenium Browser Support
- ✓Playwright ships its own browser binaries — no need to install ChromeDriver/GeckoDriver separately
- ✓Tests run on the same browser versions regardless of what is installed on the machine
- ✓Ensures reproducible test results across all environments
Mobile Browser Emulation
Playwright can also emulate mobile devices:
TypeScript
{ name: 'Mobile Chrome', use: { ...devices['Pixel 5'] } },
{ name: 'Mobile Safari', use: { ...devices['iPhone 12'] } },