---
id: debug
title: "Debugging tools"
---

Playwright scripts work with existing debugging tools, like Node.js debuggers
and browser developer tools. Playwright also introduces new debugging features
for browser automation.

<!-- TOC -->

## Run in headful mode

Playwright runs browsers in headless mode by default. To change this behavior,
use `headless: false` as a launch option. You can also use the `slowMo` option
to slow down execution and follow along while debugging.

```js
await chromium.launch({ headless: false, slowMo: 100 }); // or firefox, webkit
```

## Visual Studio Code debugger

The VS Code debugger can be used to pause and resume execution of Playwright
scripts with breakpoints. The debugger can be configured in two ways.

### Use launch config

Setup [`launch.json` configuration](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/nodejs/nodejs-debugging)
for your Node.js project. Once configured launch the scripts with F5 and use
breakpoints.

### Use the new JavaScript debugger

VS Code 1.46+ introduces the new JavaScript debugger behind a feature flag. The
new debugger does not require a `launch.json` configuration. To use this:

1. Enable the preview debugger
    * Open JSON settings and add `"debug.javascript.usePreview": true`
    * Open settings UI and enable the `Debug › JavaScript: Use Preview` setting

1. Set a breakpoint in VS Code
    * Use the `debugger` keyword or set a breakpoint in the VS Code UI

1. Run your Node.js script from the terminal

## Browser Developer Tools

You can use browser developer tools in Chromium, Firefox and WebKit while running
a Playwright script. Developer tools help to:

* Inspect the DOM tree and **find element selectors**
* **See console logs** during execution (or learn how to [read logs via API](./verification.md#console-logs))
* Check **network activity** and other developer tools features

<a href="https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/284612/77234134-5f21a500-6b69-11ea-92ec-1c146e1333ec.png"><img src="https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/284612/77234134-5f21a500-6b69-11ea-92ec-1c146e1333ec.png" width="500" alt="Chromium Developer Tools"></img></a>

> **For WebKit**: Note that launching WebKit Inspector during the execution will
  prevent the Playwright script from executing any further.

### API for Chromium

In Chromium, you can also open developer tools through a launch option.

```js
await chromium.launch({ devtools: true });
```

## Run in Debug Mode

Set the `PWDEBUG` environment variable to run your scripts in debug mode. This
configures the browser for debugging.

```sh
# Linux/macOS
$ PWDEBUG=1 npm run test

# Windows
$ set PWDEBUG=1
$ npm run test
```

### Defaults

With PWDEBUG, the following defaults are configured for you:

* **Run in headful**: With PWDEBUG, browsers always launch in headful mode
* **Disables timeout**: PWDEBUG sets timeout to 0 (= no timeout)
* **Preserve DevTools preferences**: When used with `devtools: true`, PWDEBUG
  preserves the docked/undocked state of Chrome DevTools

### Debugging Selectors

PWDEBUG configures a `playwright` object in the browser to highlight
[Playwright selectors](./selectors.md). This can be used to verify text or
composite selectors. To use this:

1. Setup a breakpoint to pause the execution
1. Open the console panel in browser developer tools
1. Use the `playwright` API
    * `playwright.$(selector)`: Highlight the first occurrence of the selector. This reflects
      how `page.$` would see the page.
    * `playwright.$$(selector)`: Highlight all occurrences of the selector. This reflects
      how `page.$$` would see the page.
    * `playwright.inspect(selector)`: Inspect the selector in the Elements panel.
    * `playwright.clear()`: Clear existing highlights.

<a href="https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/284612/86857345-299abc00-c073-11ea-9e31-02923a9f0d4b.png"><img src="https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/284612/86857345-299abc00-c073-11ea-9e31-02923a9f0d4b.png" width="500" alt="Highlight selectors"></img></a>

### Evaluate Source Maps

PWDEBUG also enables source maps for [`page.evaluate` executions](./core-concepts.md#evaluation).
This improves the debugging experience for JavaScript executions in the page context.

<a href="https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/284612/86857568-a6c63100-c073-11ea-82a4-bfd531a4ec87.png"><img src="https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/284612/86857568-a6c63100-c073-11ea-82a4-bfd531a4ec87.png" width="500" alt="Highlight selectors"></img></a>

## Verbose API logs

Playwright supports verbose logging with the `DEBUG` environment variable.

```sh
# Linux/macOS
$ DEBUG=pw:api npm run test

# Windows
$ set DEBUG=pw:api
$ npm run test
```
