[Feature] Testing Library query helper for multiple elements as Locator API (e.g. `getAllBy`)

I used Testing Library for years and also the Playwright plugin to be able to use queries in my Playwright tests, so I am really happy that with v1.27.0 they’re now part of the official API 🥳

What is missing right now is the support for queries that are used to access multiple elements:

https://testing-library.com/docs/queries/about#types-of-queries

These “all” queries (e.g. getAllBy...) are essential to use in some circumstances, so I am still bound to use the Playwright Testing Library right now.

It would be nice if the queries for multiple elements would also be part of the official Locator API.

[dgozman]

@bennettdams Playwright’s locator is a “way to find the element”. It does not actually look inside the page at the time of creation, it only matches element when you do something with it. This means page.getByText('My text') can never fail. It will only be resolved to the element upon the action, assertion or something else. I’d encourage you to read the locators guide that explains this, auto-waiting and more.

Not sure if there is a way to bring them closer together or if this is even planned?

I don’t think we want to change how locators work.

[bennettdams]

Ahh, so there is no “API feature parity” right now. Testing Library queries already fail when there are multiple elements as a result, Playwright will not. But Playwright will fail when you try to do something with the result.

Basic example: Imagine we render three buttons, but we expect them to all have a different text each. But because of a bug, they now all show the same text:

...
<button>My text</button>
<button>My text</button>
<button>My text</button>
....

Testing Library behavior:

// ❌ this already fails the test (multiple elements)
const button = screen.getByText("My text")

await userEvent.click(button)

vs.

Playwright behavior:

// this does not fail the test
const button = await page.getByText("My text")

// ❌ this fails the test (multiple elements)
await button.click()

I’m so used to the Testing Library queries being the ones failing that I didn’t think about Playwright’s locator strictness for the new locator helpers.

Not sure if there is a way to bring them closer together or if this is even planned?