The landscape of popular test automation frameworks for testing web applications has changed in recent years with the release of new all-in-one frameworks designed specifically for maximum performance and ease of use.
The role of the QA test automation engineer has not changed, it is still about ensuring reliable software, but learning automation has become more accessible with new automation tools.
If you plan to learn test automation, it is no longer necessary to learn languages like Java or C#. What you need to do is to focus on the latest frameworks and their best practices. Let’s talk about those tools and strategies on how to learn UI test automation of web applications in 2025 ⬇️
The Rise of New Testing Frameworks
Selenium was the number one choice for web test automation for many years. If you wanted to automate web applications, the high-level process was pretty straightforward:
→ Learn an object-oriented programming language like Java or C#.
→ Build a custom framework around Selenium.
→ Use page objects or page factory to organize tests
This approach had a steep learning curve, often taking six months or more for a new engineer to become comfortable with the framework. QAs often relied on the help of developers to set up and configure the framework. It was also one of the reasons for the programming language choice, which often was the same as used in the test application.
Then came Cypress, which changed everything. Released in 2018, it was the first framework all-in-one solution focused on test automation of Web applications. The core benefits are:
→ An out-of-the-box solution ready to use with minimal setup.
→ Stability and speed of test execution, auto-waiting, simple scripting.
→ Built-in support of Rest API handler with mocks.
Cypress quickly became a No1 choice for new projects because of its ease of use and performance.
In 2020, Microsoft launched the Playwright framework, another all-in-one framework for web automation. Initially, it was not stable but the Playwright team quickly improved its performance and features. By late 2023, Playwright began to gain significant traction. Most likely one of the reasons because Cypress restricted open-source parallel test execution, pushing users toward Cypress Cloud, so companies began to transition to Playwright as it’s fully open source.
As of mid-2024, Playwright had surpassed Cypress in downloads, becoming the most popular test automation framework according to NPM Trends
Take note, Selenium Web Driver is still popular in some kinds of projects and companies, mostly for legacy systems. Most companies now prioritize Cypress or Playwright for new projects, making these the frameworks to learn in 2025.
Where to Start your learning Test Automation
Even though new software testing frameworks are significantly easier compared to Selenium, it is still scripting frameworks. It means that you will have to write a code manually as well. If you did not write a single line of code in your life, you will need to learn at least basic computer programming and it will be enough to start writing automated tests in Cypress or Playwright.
Learn Basic Programming
Even though new frameworks are easier to use, it still requires using a programming language for scripting. But you don’t need to become an expert in it! All you need is to learn basic programming fundamentals to be able to operate with data, such as:
- Variables. Storing and managing data in your code.
- Concatenation and Interpolation. How to combine several values.
- Conditions and Loops. Drive the logic of your script and handle repetitive operations.
- Functions. To group the code into reusable components.
As of today, the most popular language language for test automation frameworks is JavaScript (or TypeScript). These languages are natively supported by web browsers, making them the most logical choice for web automation.
Why JavaScript?
- Cypress supports only JavaScript and TypeScript.
- Playwright supports multiple languages, but its API was written in TypeScript. The documentation and community support is also better in TypeScript
- JavaScript and TypeScript consistently rank among the top programming languages, No2, and No3 according to GitHub statistics.
You can start learning JavaScript today. In less than 2 hours you can get an understanding of basic programming concepts and then jump into test automation.
Helpful Resources:
💰 Free YouTube course: JavaScript Fundamentals
💰 Free interactive course with self-assessments: Bondar Academy – JavaScript Fundamentals
Choose Automation Testing Framework
When you learn the basics of programming, the next step is to choose a framework. In 2025, the leading frameworks for web test automation are Cypress and Playwright.
Cypress VS Playwright: Which Should You Choose?
Cypress:
- Simple scripting and excellent documentation.
- Provides everything needed for UI test automation out of the box.
- Good choice for small test suites and applications without iFrames.
Playwright:
- Growing rapidly in adoption because of its flexibility and its fully open source.
- Supports multiple programming languages (JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Java, C#).
- Free parallel execution and unlimited scaling for big projects.
Why Playwright May Be a Better Choice
Playwright has been experiencing exponential growth since 2023, driven by its advanced capabilities and Microsoft’s strong support. It has surpassed Cypress in downloads and is becoming the framework of choice for many companies.
If you are starting fresh and don’t have specific requirements tied to Cypress, Playwright is the smarter investment for the future.
How to Learn a Test Automation Framework
There are three main approaches to learning Cypress or Playwright, depending on your time, budget, and preferred learning style.
#1: Free Option
You can start by combining free YouTube tutorials with the official Playwright Documentation. Search for YouTube playlists, which provide structured content in chronological order. Multiple authors on YouTube host free mini-courses.
You may want to explore this free Playwright resources:
Playwright GitHub Repositories for Testing and Automation Mastery
Top Playwright Tutorials and Learning Resources to Become Guru in Testing Expertise
The documentation serves as the ultimate source of truth. Cross-reference the YouTube content with documentation, making sure the concerts are presented correctly.
Here are the three most useful sections in Playwright documentation you can begin with:
This approach is entirely free and flexible but it requires self-discipline to structure your learning path.
#2: Affordable Option
If you prefer structured content that helps to save time, look into courses on the platform – Udemy 👀 The Udemy courses are affordable, especially during the promotions, and usually well-strictured. Check course ratings and reviews to choose the right course for your needs.
Here is the link for Playwright test automation test automation university courses: https://www.udemy.com/courses/search/?q=Playwright
Also, Udemy has a 30-day money-back guarantee policy, so if you do not like any of the purchased courses, you can always get your money back with no questions asked. Very convenient.
#3: Premium Option
If you are looking for a more personalized approach and mentorship, check out the SDET with Playwright course at my own Academy. This course is focused on the development of hands-on skills. You will dive deeply into Playwright, automate the provided test cases, and receive instructor feedback. It is ideal for accelerating your learning and mastering test automation.
Integrate your workflow with CI\CD Early
When you have your first tests created, look for integration into the CI\CD pipeline process.
There is a good expression
Test that are not in the pipeline – do not exists.
Do it early. Once you have first few tests ready, add them to CI server to execute on the regular basis: for every build or on specific time schedule. Then you will add new tests to your framework, it automatically be added to execution process on CI.
Development teams usually use a cloud solutions for applications building and hosting. The most popular clouds solutions, such as GitHub Actions, Microsoft Aziure and others have CI\CD capabilities included, you just need to set it up. Luckly, modern frameworks like Cypress and Playwright have very detailed guides in documentation on how to do that for any of those systems, so it should be pretty straightforward process.
⚙️ Helpful CI\CD Test Automation Resources:
CI integration with Playwright: Playwright CI Integration
CI integration with Cypress: Cypress CI Integration
AI in your Learning Test Automation Process
Please be careful when using AI like ChatGPT for education. Unfortunately, AI is not at the level yet where the system can confidently tell you the right information. It is pretty often when AI can “hallucinate” pretending that provided information is correct.
Since you are learning a new skill it’s crucially important to lay the right foundation at the beginning and if you try to build this foundation with AI you can create a mess in your head.
When to Use AI to streamline your learning of test automation
After you’ve gained some confidence with a framework, AI becomes a useful tool. For example, you can handle faster the following tasks:
- Debugging. Use AI to explain the error messages to better understand the root cause.
- Code Refactoring. Ask AI to optimize your test code for better readability.
- Quick Explanations. Use AI to clarify specific concepts or approaches. You can ask something like “Explain to me what this code is doing like I am 5 years old”
AI should complement, but not replace the official documentation or highly trusted courses. Always rely on the credible source when building your foundation of understanding.
Value of the QA Community
Cypress and Playwright have a lot of fans around the world and already huge online communities. By joining those, you can lean useful tips from real engineers, ask questions if you need support and support others. The best part of it, that it’s also absolutely free! 🙂
Join official Cypress and Playwright communities in Discord to keep up with the latest updates in the test automation industry. If you didn’t use Discord before, it’s the right time to start using it!
Conclusion
Test automation in 2025 is making a shift towards the all-in-one frameworks optimized for fast test scripting and performance. Frameworks like Cypress and Playwright have made it easier than ever for QA engineers to write the tests. Learn basic JavaScript programming and you are good to go to start scripting your first test. Integrate in CI\CD early in your test automation progress!
Focus on documentation, choose credible resources for education, and avoid shortcuts like AI tools during the learning phase. Join official communities in Discord to keep up to date with latest news, get support from real engineers and support others. With dedication and the right approach, you can advance your career in test automation much faster, thankfully to the new frameworks.
