PhpStorm 2024.1 Help

Web UI test automation tools

The web UI test automation functionality in PhpStorm is provided by the Test Automation plugin. This plugin helps develop and maintain automated UI tests, and comprises a significant part of the features provided by Aqua – a standalone JetBrains IDE for test automation.

The Test Automation plugin provides the following features:

For more information about test automation features, refer to the official Aqua documentation.

Install the Test Automation plugin

  1. In the Settings dialog (Ctrl+Alt+S) , select Plugins.

  2. Switch to the Marketplace tab, type Test Automation, and click Install.

    Installing the Test Automation plugin
  3. Click Apply to save the changes and close the dialog. Restart the IDE if prompted.

Test automation features

Tests recognition

When you open your project, PhpStorm automatically detects Cypress/Playwright tests. Recognized tests can be run by clicking the The Run icon icon in the gutter.

Viewing tests
Viewing tests

Coding assistance

Provided coding assistance features include intelligent code completion, navigation, syntax highlighting, linter support, support for framework-specific functions and expressions, and more.

For example, you can start typing the locator or its substring in the code editor, and the auto-completion feature will provide you with a list of elements to select from.

Locator code completion
Locator code completion

Locators generation and validation

The Web Inspector tool window allows you to view web applications and capture page elements required for automated tests. When you select the required element on the web page, PhpStorm generates a unique CSS or XPath locator and helps add it to the source code. Additionally, PhpStorm can generate role-based locators used in Playwright. These locators are designed to reflect the element’s role (for example, a button or a checkbox), making its identification easier.

Web Inspector

Moreover, Web Inspector helps you verify that the locators in your code are valid and point to the correct elements on the web page. Clicking the icon next to the locator in the code editor opens the Web Inspector and selects the corresponding element, thus verifying the existence of the locator.

For more information about Web Inspector, refer to Aqua documentation.

Manage run/debug configurations for tests

Run/debug configuration is a set of startup properties that define what to execute and what parameters and environment should be used during the execution.

You can create different sets of configurations for your tests and switch between them instantly, according to your needs.

Managing test run configuration
Managing test run configuration

Test execution details

Once the tests finish running, you are provided with comprehensive test results, including related logs and console outputs for each test. You can filter the results to quickly navigate through failed or ignored tests and analyze their execution times.

Viewing test results
Viewing test results

Debugger

A debugger for Playwright tests is available out of the box. You can set breakpoints to stop the execution and analyze your code.

Debugger
Last modified: 28 June 2024