In test automation, locators are essential. They help your autotest find and interact with elements on a web page – like buttons, input fields, links, and more.
A locator is a way to uniquely identify a web element within the DOM (Document Object Model).
Think of it as an address for the element you want your test to interact with-whether it’s clicking a button or entering text into a field.
Selector vs Locator – What’s the Difference?
- Selector: The actual string or pattern used to identify an element (e.g., CSS selector, XPath).
- Locator: The abstraction or method that uses a selector to find the element in automation frameworks.
In short:
Selector = the “how”
Locator = the “tool” that uses the selector
Examples in Playwright:
// Using a CSS selector
await page.locator(‘button.login’).click();
// Using a text selector
await page.locator(‘text=Submit’).click();
Why Locators Matter
✔️ Stable locators = reliable tests
❌ Bad locators = flaky tests
Choosing the right locator strategy is key to building robust and maintainable automation!
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