Playwright Tips

Handling Unexpected Popups with addLocatorHandler in Playwright ​

When automating web interactions with Playwright, unexpected popups—such as cookie consent dialogs or promotional modals—can disrupt test flows. These elements may appear unpredictably, making it challenging to script consistent interactions. Playwright’s addLocatorHandler method offers a solution by allowing you to define handlers that automatically manage these unexpected popups, ensuring smoother test execution.

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Solution ​

The addLocatorHandler method enables you to specify actions that should be taken when certain elements appear on the page. This is particularly useful for handling popups that do not have consistent timing or triggers. By defining a handler for a specific locator, you can automate the dismissal of these popups whenever they appear, without manually coding the interaction each time.

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Example ​

Consider a scenario where a cookie consent popup appears unpredictably during your tests. You can use addLocatorHandler to automatically dismiss this popup whenever it appears:

Tip 2.1

In this example, whenever the ‘Accept all cookies’ button appears, the handler clicks it automatically, allowing your test to continue without interruption. ‍

Key Considerations ​

• Use addLocatorHandler*.* For elements that are consistently present or triggered by specific actions, include explicit interactions in your test scripts instead.

• Automating unexpected popups ensures that such elements do not disrupt your test flow, improving reliability and maintainability.

• Overusing this method can lead to unclear test behavior. Ensure that handlers are scoped and documented to prevent unintended interactions.

Summary ​

Utilizing addLocatorHandler in Playwright enhances test reliability by automating the handling of unexpected popups. This approach ensures that such elements do not disrupt your test flow, allowing for more efficient and maintainable test scripts. It’s particularly beneficial for managing popups with unpredictable timing, streamlining your automated testing process.

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Guy Arieli is the Chief Technology Officer at BlinqIO, a company building AI-powered test engineering tools for Playwright. With a deep passion for developer productivity and test automation, Guy shares practical insights from real-world use cases.

​ Want to contribute your own tips? Reach out to us at tips@playwright-user-event.org.