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Use a conditional test.skip(callback, description) inside the test.describe() block. The callback can count matches for the selector, and Playwright will skip every test in that group when the count is zero.
import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
const selector = '[data-testid="optional-panel"]';
test.describe('optional panel tests', () => {
test.skip(
async ({ page }) => (await page.locator(selector).count()) === 0,
`Required selector is missing: ${selector}`,
);
test('shows panel content', async ({ page }) => {
await expect(page.locator(selector)).toBeVisible();
});
});This is the documented group-level pattern. Choose an existence check when the element merely has to be present; choose a visibility check when the tests require it to be visible.
The group-level skip pattern
Declare the tests with test.describe(), then put one conditional test.skip(callback, description) call directly inside that group. The callback receives the Playwright fixtures, including page, so it can inspect the current page before the tests run. Playwright’s API documentation describes this as a way to skip all tests in a file or test.describe() group based on one condition: Test API.
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const selector = '[data-testid="optional-panel"]';
test.describe('optional panel tests', () => {
test.skip(
async ({ page }) => (await page.locator(selector).count()) === 0,
`Required selector is missing: ${selector}`,
);
test('shows panel content', async ({ page }) => {
await expect(page.locator(selector)).toBeVisible();
});
test('allows interaction with the panel', async ({ page }) => {
await page.locator(selector).click();
});
});When count() returns zero, the group is marked skipped and its tests do not continue. When one or more matching elements exist, the callback returns false and the tests run normally. The description is shown with the skip result, making an optional feature’s absence understandable in CI output.
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Make sure the page is in the right state first
A zero count is meaningful only after the page has reached the state in which the selector is expected. If your fixture starts at a blank page, redirects through authentication, or renders the panel after navigation, checking too early can skip a group even though the application would eventually create the element.
Navigate before the group condition
Use a project fixture or a setup hook that establishes the required URL and authentication before the callback evaluates the locator. The callback should inspect the same application state that the tests are intended to cover. Do not treat a transient loading state as proof that the feature is unavailable.
Use a stable selector
A test id such as [data-testid="optional-panel"] is generally less sensitive to layout changes than a long CSS path. Keep the selector in one constant so the condition, assertions and skip message cannot drift apart.
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Existence versus visibility
These checks answer different questions. The locator API documents both matching and visibility operations: Locator API.
Skip when no element exists
Use count() === 0 when the group applies only to pages that render the element at all. This allows a hidden element to satisfy the prerequisite, which is appropriate when later tests are responsible for checking its state.
test.describe('panel tests', () => {
test.skip(
async ({ page }) => (await page.locator(selector).count()) === 0,
`Required selector is missing: ${selector}`,
);
// Tests that require the panel's presence...
});Skip when the element is not visible
Use isVisible() when the tests require a visible control or panel. A selector can match a node that is hidden with CSS, covered by application state, or otherwise not visible to a user.
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test.describe('visible panel tests', () => {
test.skip(
async ({ page }) => !(await page.locator(selector).isVisible()),
'The panel is not visible',
);
test('shows panel content', async ({ page }) => {
await expect(page.locator(selector)).toBeVisible();
});
});Do not substitute a visibility requirement with a count check: that would let hidden markup through. Conversely, do not use visibility when the feature is allowed to exist in the DOM while remaining hidden until a later interaction.
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Group skip versus skipping one test
Scope determines where the skip belongs. A test.skip() call made inside an individual test aborts that test after the call. It does not express a reusable prerequisite for every test in the group.
test('optional panel check', async ({ page }) => {
if ((await page.locator(selector).count()) === 0) {
test.skip();
}
// Only this test is skipped.
});For a shared condition, place the callback form inside test.describe(). Playwright’s annotations guide covers conditional group skipping: Annotations. The group form prevents repeating the same guard in every test and keeps the reason attached to the group prerequisite.
Writing useful skip descriptions
Always pass a description for a conditional skip. State what was required and, when practical, include the selector or condition. A message such as Required selector is missing: [data-testid="optional-panel"] tells a developer why the tests did not execute without opening the source file.
- Good:
Required selector is missing: [data-testid="optional-panel"] - Good:
The panel is not visible - Weak:
Not applicable - Misleading:
Panel test failedwhen the test was skipped
Common failure modes and fixes
The group skips unexpectedly
Cause: The callback runs before navigation, authentication, or client-side rendering finishes.
Fix: Move navigation and prerequisite setup into the fixture or setup flow that runs before the group condition. Verify the URL and application state at the point where the locator is evaluated.
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The group runs but a test fails on visibility
Cause: The existence check found hidden markup.
Fix: Change the callback to !(await page.locator(selector).isVisible()) when visibility is the real prerequisite. Keep the assertion in the test so failures still identify a regression after the group is admitted.
Only one test is skipped
Cause: The skip was called inside that test rather than as a callback in the surrounding test.describe().
Fix: Put one test.skip(callback, description) declaration in the group body. If you need a different condition for a single test, retain the test-local form deliberately.
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Cause: count() checks whether there is at least one match; it does not enforce uniqueness.
Fix: Use a selector that identifies the intended element, or add a separate assertion for the expected count in a test that runs after the prerequisite check.
The callback signature is rejected
Cause: The project may use an older Playwright release whose installed API differs from the current reference.
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Fix: Check the documentation matching the version installed in your project before relying on the group callback overload. The referenced API material does not establish the release in which this overload was introduced.
Debugging the condition safely
When diagnosing a skip, temporarily log the URL and match count inside the callback, or inspect the page with a headed run. Remove verbose logging after diagnosis so CI output remains readable. A useful diagnostic preserves the same selector used by the test:
test.skip(
async ({ page }) => {
const matches = await page.locator(selector).count();
console.log({ url: page.url(), selector, matches });
return matches === 0;
},
`Required selector is missing: ${selector}`,
);If the page is expected to render the feature in every environment, a skip may conceal a real defect. In that case, do not guard the group; let the assertion fail and investigate the application or fixture. Conditional skipping is best for genuinely optional capabilities, route-specific UI, and environments where the feature is intentionally absent.
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Python
import requests
r = requests.get(
"https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot",
params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"},
timeout=90,
)
r.raise_for_status()
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)Node.js
const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Screenshot failed: ${res.status}`);
const fs = await import('node:fs/promises');
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FAQ
Does a group callback skip the entire file?
No. It governs the surrounding test.describe() group. Use a file-level declaration when the condition should apply to all tests in the file.
Should I use locator.count() or page.$()?
Use the locator-based condition shown here. It keeps the prerequisite aligned with Playwright’s locator API and the selector used by the assertions.
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Yes. If the selector is mandatory in every supported environment, a skip is the wrong policy; allow the test to fail so the missing element is reported as a defect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add multiple prerequisites to one group?
Yes. Combine them in the callback and return true when any required condition is absent, then describe the combined reason clearly.
Does isVisible() wait for an element to appear?
The condition expresses a visibility check at callback evaluation time. Arrange navigation and rendering prerequisites before it, rather than treating the callback as a replacement for page setup.
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