How Playwright Solves Dynamic Element Challenges in Localization Testing

By Eduard Dubilyer, CTO of Skipper Soft

In our previous discussion on Playwright and dynamic elements, we explored how modern web applications create challenges for test automation due to asynchronous content loading, UI shifts, and unstable locators. But there’s another major factor that complicates automation: localization.

When a web application supports multiple languages, elements can change dynamically, structurally, and contextually depending on the locale. A button labeled “Submit” in English may appear as ?Absenden“ in German or ?送信“ in Japanese. These changes can impact element size, positioning, and even overall layout. So, how can we ensure that Playwright effectively and reliably handles localization challenges?

The Hidden Complexity of Localization in Test Automation

Localization introduces a new layer of challenges that traditional automation approaches often fail to address, including:

• Text-Based Locators Break Across Languages: Relying on page.locator('text=Submit') can lead to test failures when UI text varies by locale.
• Right-to-Left (RTL) vs. Left-to-Right (LTR) Layout Differences: Arabic or Hebrew interfaces often mirror UI components, affecting positioning.
• Expanded or Truncated Text: Some languages (e.g., German) use longer phrases, while others (e.g., Chinese) are more compact.
• Third-Party Translation Delays: Some localized content loads asynchronously from external translation services, leading to potential timing issues.

To ensure robust automation across languages, teams need a smarter test design and closer collaboration with developers.

How Playwright Enhances Localization Testing

1. Ditch Fragile Text-Based Locators – Use Test-Friendly Attributes

A common mistake in localization testing is relying on UI text for element selection. This approach breaks when languages change. Instead, Playwright enables the use of stable attributes like data-testid to create localization-proof selectors.

Fragile text-based locator:

await page.locator('text=Submit').click(); // Breaks in different languages

Stable locator using a test attribute:

await page.locator('[data-testid="submit-button"]').click();

Why Custom Attributes Make Localization Testing More Reliable

• Avoids Breakages Due to Language Changes

Example:?

Instead of this fragile locator:

page.locator('text=Submit'); Use a stable attribute-based locator: page.locator('[data-testid="submit-button"]');        

• Makes Multi-Language Testing Seamless

Example:

const submitButton = page.locator('[data-testid="submit-button"]'); await expect(submitButton).toBeVisible();        

• Reduces Flaky Tests Caused by Dynamic UI Changes
• Optimizes Test Performance

How do you get Developers on Board?

• Integrate data-testid attributes as a standard practice in development.
• Explain that it won’t impact UI/UX—these attributes are invisible to users.
• Highlight developer benefits:

• It helps reduce QA-reported UI bugs with faster automation feedback.
• Simplifies debugging in Storybook, Cypress, Playwright, and Selenium.

Additional Option: Give automation engineers the ability to add, edit, and work with attributes themselves in product base code.

Best Practices for Implementing Test Attributes

? Follow a clear naming convention:

• Good: <button data-testid="checkout-button">Checkout</button>
• Bad: <button data-testid="btn123">Checkout</button> (Avoid generic names)

? Ensure test IDs remain unique for key UI elements like buttons, inputs, and links. ? Maintain consistency across all UI versions and languages.

2. Run Automated Tests Across Multiple Locales

Playwright allows parameterizing tests to validate functionality across multiple languages dynamically:

const locales = ['en', 'fr', 'de', 'ar', 'ja']; for (const locale of locales) { ? ? await page.goto(`https://example.com?lang=${locale}`); ? ? await expect(page.locator('[data-testid="submit-button"]')).toBeVisible(); }        

This approach ensures that all translations are validated without requiring separate test scripts for each language.

3. Handling RTL vs. LTR Layout Differences

Languages like Arabic and Hebrew require RTL layouts, which can change the alignment and positioning of UI components. Playwright enables CSS-based assertions to ensure correct positioning.

const submitButton = page.locator('[data-testid="submit-button"]'); await expect(submitButton).toHaveCSS('direction', 'rtl'); // Verifies correct RTL layout

The Business Impact of Reliable Localization Testing

By leveraging Playwright’s best practices for handling dynamic elements across multiple languages, teams can:

• Reduce localization-related test failures by 80% using attribute-based locators.
• Cut down debugging time by eliminating false negatives from fragile text-based locators.
• Improve user experience worldwide by proactively identifying translation and UI adaptation issues.

At Skipper Soft , we help teams build scalable automation frameworks that seamlessly adapt to multilingual environments. If localization testing is a bottleneck in your QA process, let’s discuss how we can optimize your automation strategy with Playwright.

Want to discuss this? Drop a message or connect with us today!

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