How to Use getByPlaceholder Locator in Playwright

Last updated on December 18th, 2025 at 03:33 pm

If you are starting with Playwright, locating elements on the page is one of the first things you’ll learn. One powerful and beginner-friendly way to do this is by using getByPlaceholder Locator in Playwright.

In this article, you’ll discover:

• What getByPlaceholder is and when to use it
• How to write simple examples with getByPlaceholder
• Tips for beginners using Playwright getByPlaceholder locator

Let’s dive in!

What is getByPlaceholder Locator in Playwright?

In Playwright, getByPlaceholder is a locator method used to identify input fields by their placeholder text.

Placeholder is the greyed-out hint text inside input fields. For example, an email field might have a placeholder like “email@example.com”. See the image given below.

Instead of using complex selectors like XPath or CSS, you can directly locate the input using this placeholder text.

This makes your tests easier to read and maintain.

The getByPlaceholder locator is used to select input elements using their placeholder text. It’s beneficial when dealing with forms that lack labels.

If your form fields have labels, consider using the getByLabel locator in Playwright, which targets elements based on associated label text for better accessibility and clarity.

Syntax of getByPlaceholder Locator in Playwright

Here’s the simple syntax:

const input = page.getByPlaceholder('email@example.com');

const input = page.getByPlaceholder('email@example.com');

You can then perform actions like typing or clicking:

await input.fill('user@example.com');

await input.fill('user@example.com');

It’s that easy! No need to look for IDs or write complicated selectors.

Example: Using getByPlaceholder Locator in a Playwright Test

Let’s look at a complete working example:

import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';

test('fill email field using getByPlaceholder', async ({ page }) => {
  await page.goto('URL of test page');
  
  // Locate input using placeholder
  await page.getByPlaceholder('Enter your email').fill('user@example.com');

  // Submit form
  await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Login' }).click();

  // Assertion
  await expect(page).toHaveURL(/dashboard/);
});

import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';

test('fill email field using getByPlaceholder', async ({ page }) => {
  await page.goto('URL of test page');
  
  // Locate input using placeholder
  await page.getByPlaceholder('Enter your email').fill('user@example.com');

  // Submit form
  await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Login' }).click();

  // Assertion
  await expect(page).toHaveURL(/dashboard/);
});

Besides getByPlaceholder, Playwright provides other user-centric locators. For example, the getByRole locator in Playwright helps you select elements based on their ARIA roles, such as button, link, or heading, making your tests more accessible.

Essential Playwright Locators to Learn Next

• Find Element Using XPath in Playwright
• Select Element Using Visible Text in Playwright
• Find Element Using ID in Playwright
• Select Element Using getByTitle in Playwright
• Find Element Using getByAltText in Playwright
• Select Element Using getByRole in Playwright
• Find Element Using getByLabel in Playwright

When to Use getByPlaceholder Locator

Use getByPlaceholder selector in Playwright when:

• Input fields have a visible placeholder text
• The placeholder is unique on the page
• You want a clean, readable, and robust test

It’s especially useful when element IDs or labels are missing.

Benefits of Using getByPlaceholder in Playwright

• Beginner-friendly – No need to understand XPath or CSS selectors
• Readable tests – The purpose of the input is clear from the placeholder
• More resilient – Avoids issues with changing HTML structures

Tips for Beginners

1. Use getByPlaceholder only when placeholder text is static.
2. Make sure placeholder text is unique to avoid wrong matches.
3. Combine with other locators (like getByRole) for better context.

Want to locate elements using just their visible text instead? Check out the Playwright text selector guide for a simpler way to interact with buttons, links, and labels.

What’s Next

Now that you know how to use the getByPlaceholder locator in Playwright to target input fields using placeholder text, the next step is learning how to retrieve and verify page-level information. One common task in test automation is getting the page title to ensure your script is on the correct page after navigation. To build on your Playwright skills with simple and practical examples, check out How to Get Page Title in Playwright, where we explain multiple approaches you can use in your tests.

Summary

The getByPlaceholder in Playwright locator is an excellent choice for new testers. It allows you to write clear, simple, and maintainable test scripts. If you’re new to automation, mastering this one command can boost your confidence.

Start using Playwright getByPlaceholder today and make your tests cleaner!

Frequently Asked Questions – getByPlaceholder in Playwright

Aravind QA Automation Engineer & Technical Blogger

Aravind is a QA Automation Engineer and technical blogger specializing in Playwright, Selenium, and AI in software testing. He shares practical tutorials to help QA professionals improve their automation skills.

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