What’s New in Playwright 1.55: Essential Updates

Did you know that 70% of software companies in India are accelerating test automation adoption in 2025? Yet many QA teams struggle to keep up with evolving frameworks and tools. Playwright, a favorite among SDETs, has just released version 1.55, promising smarter automation, deeper insights, and features that close the gap between manual and automated testing. If you’re a tester aiming to future-proof your skills or a product team seeking reliability at speed, this guide reveals how Playwright 1.55 can transform your testing strategy.

Get Started with Playwright and VS Code (2025 edition)

Revolutionary Features for Automation-Focused Teams

1. `testStepInfo.titlePath`: Deeper Traceability

Playwright 1.55 introduces a new property, testStepInfo.titlePath. This gives you the full hierarchy of test and step titles, starting from the test file—making debugging and reporting radically clearer. For teams auditing large automation suites, this property means faster root-cause analysis and easier onboarding for new SDETs.

Pro Tip: Integrate titlePath into custom report visualizations for client demos or internal dashboards.

2. Smarter Code Generation: Automatic Visibility Assertions

The updated Codegen can now automatically insert toBeVisible() assertions when generating scripts for common UI actions. This makes scripts more robust and directly addresses flaky test failures caused by invisible elements.

3. Advanced Browser & OS Compatibility

Debian 13 “Trixie” support ensures Playwright stays ready for modern CI/CD environments.
Latest Browser Engines: Out-of-the-box support for Chromium 140.0+, Firefox 141.0, WebKit 26.0.
Stable channel tested with Google Chrome 139, Microsoft Edge 139.

4. Breaking Change: Chromium Extension Manifest v2 Dropped

Heads-up for teams testing browser extensions: support for Chromium extension manifest v2 is now dropped. Plan your migration strategies accordingly.

Feature Comparison Table: Playwright 1.55 and Competitors

Feature	Playwright 1.55	Selenium	Cypress	TestCafe	Puppeteer
Multiple Browsers in One API	Yes	Yes	Partial	No	No
Automatic Visibility Assertions	Yes	No	No	No	No
Full Title Path for Steps	Yes	No	No	No	No
Chromium, Firefox, WebKit	Native	Plugin	Plugin	Native (Partial)	Yes (Limited)
Modern Language Support	JS, TS, Python, C#, Java	All Major	JS Only	JS Only	JS/TS Only
Community & Updates	Very Active	Mature	Active	Moderate	Moderate

Real-World Use Cases: Transforming QA Workflows

Startup SDETs: Save hours on flaky UI debugging with built-in visibility assertions.
Product Teams: Use step-traceable reports (titlePath) for seamless defect triages.
Service Organizations: Quickly migrate to new browser/OS environments without legacy blockers.
Manual → Automation Transitions: Codegen helps manual testers create stable E2E scripts fast.

Recommended Tools & Learning Resources

Playwright Test Runner (Recommended by QABash): Integrates natively—perfect for fast implementation.
LambdaTest: Cloud grid for Playwright (free credits for new signups!).
BrowserStack Automate: Supports Playwright parallel runs at scale.
Testim Automate: AI-driven test authoring for Playwright.
Udemy/Axure Automation Courses: Comment for Special discounts on select certifications.

Expert Insight: “Pair Playwright’s Codegen with LambdaTest cloud runners to instantly validate tests across real devices—no local setup needed.”

Step-by-Step Guide: Upgrading & Leveraging Playwright 1.55

Upgrade Your Projectbashnpm install -D @playwright/test@latest npx playwright install
Explore New Properties
- Use testStepInfo.titlePath in your custom reporters.
- Enable auto-visibility assertions within Codegen’s settings.
Test against Updated Browsers
- Confirm your automation runs on Chrome 139+, Edge 139+, and Firefox 141.0.
Audit Browser Extensions
- Review extension manifest usage if your scripts test Chrome extensions.
Train Your Team
- Leverage Playwright’s documentation and QABash’s internal resources for quick upskilling.

Future Trends in Test Automation

Rise of AI-Powered Assertions: Expect more “self-healing” and “self-diagnosing” test steps as seen in Playwright’s automatic visibility checks.
Cloud-Native QA Gains: Tools like LambdaTest and BrowserStack are becoming baseline for cross-browser automation at scale.
Towards Unified Reporting: Granular step traceability will become standard, especially with enterprise needs for audit trails.
Edge Browser Automation: As Microsoft Edge and Chromium-based browsers converge, expect even deeper integrations.

Key Takeaways

Playwright 1.55 ups the ante with traceable test steps and smarter code generation.
Eliminate flakiness with automatic toBeVisible() assertions—ideal for modern UI tests.
Native Debian 13 support means no blockers for CI/CD pipeline upgrades.
Dropped legacy extensions—review your Chrome extension automation now.
QABash recommends bundling Playwright with trusted cloud grid tools for end-to-end coverage.

FAQs

Q1: What is new in Playwright 1.55 for automation testers?
A1: Playwright 1.55 introduces the new testStepInfo.titlePath for advanced step traceability, automatic toBeVisible() assertions in Codegen, and enhanced OS/browser compatibility—helping testers build more robust automation suites.

Q2: Why should SDETs in India use Playwright over Selenium?
A2: Playwright offers superior support for modern browsers, out-of-the-box visibility checks, and native multi-language support, giving it an edge in speed, reliability, and ease of use for Indian QA teams.

Q3: How do I enable automatic visibility assertions in Playwright?
A3: Open the Codegen settings UI and activate the toBeVisible() assertions feature, which adds these checks into generated test scripts automatically.

Q4: Is Playwright 1.55 compatible with my CI/CD pipeline?
A4: Yes, with native Debian 13 support and up-to-date browser engines, Playwright 1.55 integrates smoothly with all popular CI/CD tools.

Q5: What does the removal of Chromium extension manifest v2 mean for testers?
A5: You’ll need to migrate any Chrome extension tests from manifest v2 to manifest v3, as Playwright 1.55 no longer supports v2—essential for maintaining test coverage.

Q6: Can Playwright replace Cypress or TestCafe in my current workflow?
A6: For most modern web automation needs, Playwright often offers faster execution, better cross-browser coverage, and a more active community than Cypress or TestCafe.

Q7: Where can I find Playwright automation courses with certification?
A7: QABash partners with Udemy and other providers to offer curated courses at a discount. Check our resource section or newsletter for the latest deals.

Ready to master Playwright and modern testing? Upgrade, implement, and engage with QABash for your next leap in QA excellence!