Playwright Java calendar automation helps you interact with date pickers and calendar widgets in web applications using clean, reliable code. Many testers face issues when working with calendars because they behave differently from standard HTML inputs. Some calendars allow typing dates directly, while others require navigating through months, selecting years, or clicking dynamic UI elements.
Calendar automation in Playwright needs careful handling because date pickers are often built with complex HTML structures. They may use dynamic classes, delayed rendering, disabled dates, or custom scripts that make element locating difficult. As a result, testers frequently struggle with issues like unstable locators, incorrect date formats, and unpredictable calendar behavior across devices.
In this guide, you will learn how to inspect a date picker, locate calendar elements correctly, select specific dates, automate dynamic navigation, use Java date classes, and follow best practices for stable automation. This tutorial covers real examples, complete code samples, and troubleshooting tips to help you automate calendars confidently in Playwright Java.
- What Are Date Pickers in Playwright Java
- Prerequisites
- Understanding Calendar Element Locators
- Playwright Java Calendar Automation Step by Step
- Select a Specific Date with Playwright Java
- Automate Dynamic Date Picker Navigation
- Using LocalDate for Dynamic Date Selection
- Additional Use Cases
- Conclusion
What Are Date Pickers in Playwright Java
Date pickers are interactive UI components that allow users to select dates from a calendar-style interface. In Playwright Java, these date pickers appear in different formats depending on how developers have implemented them. Some are simple input fields that accept a typed date, while others open a calendar widget that requires clicking through months and years to choose a specific day.
There are several common types of date pickers. Some applications use native HTML date inputs that support direct typing. Others use custom calendars created with JavaScript libraries, often showing a pop-up calendar when the input is clicked. You may also find advanced versions like date range pickers or multiple date selectors.
Calendar widgets usually fall into two categories: static and dynamic. Static widgets display the full calendar structure directly in the HTML, which makes it easier to locate elements. Dynamic widgets generate parts of the calendar only when the user interacts with them. For example, clicking the next month button may redraw the calendar completely, changing the HTML structure every time.
Automation becomes tricky because these widgets often rely on dynamic rendering, custom scripts, and unpredictable HTML changes. Many calendars use identical class names for each cell, making it hard to pick the correct day. Some date pickers disable past or future dates, while others change their structure after navigation. All these variations require careful locator strategies and smart interaction methods to automate them reliably in Playwright Java.
Prerequisites
Before you start working on calendar automation, make sure your Java environment is ready, and Playwright Java is properly configured in your project.
If you are new to Playwright Java setup, you can follow the complete installation guide using Eclipse and Maven here:
Playwright Java Installation Guide
Download Practice Calendar HTML File
To help you practice all the examples in this guide, including date selection, dynamic navigation, and the full working automation script, you can download the ready-to-use HTML file. Save it on your local machine and open it using Playwright with a file:/// path.
Download calendar_examples.html
This file contains different types of date pickers used in the examples so you can run the scripts exactly as shown.
Understanding Calendar Element Locators
Before automating any calendar widget, the most important step is understanding its HTML structure. Each date picker is built differently, so you should start by opening the browser DevTools and inspecting the input field, calendar container, navigation buttons, and the day elements. Some calendars render the full structure upfront, while others create elements only when opened. Observing these changes helps you choose the right locators.
CSS locators are commonly used for identifying days, months, and years within a date picker. For example, day cells often have repeating classes, while navigation buttons may include icons or specific attributes. You can locate a day by matching its text, a month by targeting a header element, or a year by selecting a dropdown or clickable label. Always examine how these elements behave when you switch between months or years.
In Playwright Java, you can also use getByRole, getByLabel, or text-based locators when the calendar offers accessible attributes. If the date picker includes proper labels or uses ARIA roles for buttons and grids, these locators provide more stability than plain CSS. Text-based locators are helpful when day or month names appear as visible text inside the calendar.
To make your locators more stable, prefer attributes that remain consistent across date changes. Avoid relying on dynamic class names that update after navigation. Choose parent-child relationships carefully and confirm that your locators still work when switching months or selecting dates from different years. Stable locators lead to fewer test failures and make your Playwright Java calendar automation more reliable.
Playwright Java Calendar Automation Step by Step
Playwright Java calendar automation becomes much easier when you break the process into simple steps. Most date pickers follow a similar interaction pattern, so understanding these steps will help you automate almost any calendar widget with confidence.
Open the calendar widget
Begin by locating the date input field and triggering the calendar pop-up. Many date pickers open when the input is clicked, while others use a separate icon button. Use a stable locator that reliably targets the element responsible for opening the widget. Once clicked, confirm that the calendar container becomes visible before moving to the next step.
Select month and year
Calendars often show only one month at a time, so you may need to navigate to a different month or year. Some widgets provide dropdowns for month and year, while others use next and previous buttons. Inspect the HTML structure to identify how navigation works. Use Playwright actions such as click, selectOption, or text-based locators to reach the correct month. Always wait for the container to update before selecting the date.
Click a specific date
After reaching the correct month, locate the desired day cell. Days are usually displayed as clickable buttons or div elements. Look for a unique attribute or visible text that matches your target day. Use a locator that identifies the correct day without relying on dynamic classes. Once located, click the day and verify that the selected value appears in the input field.
Handle input based on date entry
Some applications allow typing the date directly into the input field instead of interacting with the calendar UI. This method is often faster and more reliable. If the field accepts manual entry, you can clear the input, type the desired date in the required format, and verify that the application accepts it. This approach works well for tests that need consistent outcomes without navigating through calendar elements.
By following these steps, you can automate simple and complex date pickers efficiently and create stable tests that run smoothly across different environments.
Select a Specific Date with Playwright Java
Native HTML date inputs, such as <input type="date"> behave differently compared to custom calendar widgets. The date picker pop-up is controlled by the browser, not created using HTML. Because of this, Playwright cannot interact with the pop-up directly.
However, you can still automate date selection very reliably by setting the value programmatically.
Enter a fixed date using fill()
page.locator("#dateInput").fill("2025-12-15");Set date using JavaScript
page.evaluate("document.getElementById('dateInput').value = '2025-12-25'");Verify the selected value
You can assert the value using the TestNG assertion.
String value = page.locator("#dateInput").inputValue();
Assert.assertEquals(value, "2025-12-15");This method is cross-browser, stable, and recommended for any <input type="date"> element.
Automate Dynamic Date Picker Navigation
Dynamic date pickers require more interaction because they do not always display the month you want. Instead of showing every month at once, these widgets let you move forward or backward using navigation buttons. Automating these calendars in Playwright Java becomes easier when you understand their behavior and build a clear navigation flow.
Scenarios where month navigation is required
You need month navigation when the target date is not visible in the currently displayed month. This often happens when selecting a date several months in the future or choosing a past date that the widget does not display by default. Travel booking sites, event schedulers, and bank portals commonly use dynamic date pickers where navigation is required.
Logic for previous and next month navigation
Most calendars include two navigation buttons. One button moves to the next month, and another moves to the previous month. When automating, you must compare the displayed month with the desired month and decide whether to move forward or backward. After each navigation click, you should wait for the calendar to update before continuing, or your script may click elements before they exist.
Loop-based navigation
A loop is the most reliable way to navigate dynamic calendars. Instead of guessing how many times to click, you repeatedly check the visible month. If the month does not match the target, you click the appropriate button again. This process continues until the correct month and year appear. A loop-based approach works for both small and large date changes and keeps your code flexible.
Real-world Java code example
Below is a complete example that navigates to a target month and selects a date:
package com.examples.test;
import com.microsoft.playwright.*;
public class HandleCalendar {
// Convert month name to month number
private static int monthToNumber(String month) {
return switch (month) {
case "January" -> 1;
case "February" -> 2;
case "March" -> 3;
case "April" -> 4;
case "May" -> 5;
case "June" -> 6;
case "July" -> 7;
case "August" -> 8;
case "September" -> 9;
case "October" -> 10;
case "November" -> 11;
case "December" -> 12;
default -> 0;
};
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
try (Playwright playwright = Playwright.create()) {
Browser browser = playwright.chromium().launch(
new BrowserType.LaunchOptions().setHeadless(false)
);
Page page = browser.newPage();
// Load your local HTML calendar example
page.navigate("file:///D:/calendar_examples.html");
// Open the custom date picker (dynamic calendar widget)
page.locator("#dynamicDateInput").click();
// Target date
String targetMonth = "August";
String targetYear = "2025";
String targetDay = "20";
// Calendar navigation loop
while (true) {
String visibleMonth = page.locator(".calendar-header .month").innerText().trim();
String visibleYear = page.locator(".calendar-header .year").innerText().trim();
// If correct month and year reached, stop navigation
if (visibleMonth.equals(targetMonth) && visibleYear.equals(targetYear)) {
break;
}
int currentMonthNum = monthToNumber(visibleMonth);
int targetMonthNum = monthToNumber(targetMonth);
int currentYear = Integer.parseInt(visibleYear);
int targetYearNum = Integer.parseInt(targetYear);
// Decide forward or backward navigation
if (currentYear < targetYearNum ||
(currentYear == targetYearNum && currentMonthNum < targetMonthNum)) {
// Move forward to next month
page.locator(".next-btn").click();
} else {
// Move backward to previous month
page.locator(".prev-btn").click();
}
page.waitForTimeout(300);
}
// Select day
Locator day = page.locator("//td[normalize-space()='" + targetDay + "']");
day.click();
System.out.println("Date selected successfully!");
page.waitForTimeout(3000); // pause to view result
}
}
}This example reads the visible month and year, uses a loop to navigate correctly, and then selects the desired date. The approach works well for any dynamic date picker, even when selecting dates far in the past or future.
Using LocalDate for Dynamic Date Selection
LocalDate is one of the most useful Java classes when working with date pickers. It allows you to generate dates programmatically rather than hardcoding values. This helps you create flexible and reusable tests that adapt to real-time scenarios like selecting today, tomorrow, or future dates.
Generate today, yesterday, tomorrow
LocalDate makes it easy to work with dates relative to the current day. For example, you can get today’s date with LocalDate.now(). To calculate yesterday or tomorrow, you simply subtract or add one day. These values can be used directly in your calendar automation logic.
//Fill today's date.
LocalDate today = LocalDate.now();
String formattedDatetoday = today.toString();
page.locator("#dateInput").fill(formattedDatetoday);
//Fill yesterday's date.
LocalDate yesterday = LocalDate.now().minusDays(1);
String formattedDateyesterday = yesterday.toString();
page.locator("#dateInput").fill(formattedDateyesterday);
//Fill tomorrow's date.
LocalDate tomorrow = LocalDate.now().plusDays(1);
String formattedDatetomorrow = tomorrow.toString();
page.locator("#dateInput").fill(formattedDatetomorrow);These dynamic values help create tests that always select the correct date without any manual updates.
Generate future and past dates
You may need to select a date several months or years away. LocalDate provides simple methods to calculate these values. You can add or subtract days, months, or years depending on your testing needs.
//Fill future date.
LocalDate futureDate = LocalDate.now().plusMonths(3);
String formattedDatefuture = futureDate.toString();
page.locator("#dateInput").fill(formattedDatefuture);
//Fill past date.
LocalDate pastDate = LocalDate.now().minusYears(1);
String formattedDatepast = pastDate.toString();
page.locator("#dateInput").fill(formattedDatepast);These generated dates are especially useful for travel applications, billing cycles, event systems, or any feature that requires selecting dates far from the current month.
Convert LocalDate to the required UI format
Date pickers often expect dates in a specific format, such as dd MM yyyy, yyyy MM dd, or MM dd yyyy. LocalDate works well with DateTimeFormatter to convert your dynamic date into the exact format your application requires.
LocalDate target = LocalDate.now().plusDays(10);
DateTimeFormatter formatter = DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern("dd MMM yyyy");
String formattedDate = target.format(formatter);Once formatted, you can type the value directly into the input field or match parts of the calendar UI as needed.
By using LocalDate, you can handle both simple and complex date generation tasks with ease. It helps you keep your Playwright Java tests clean, adaptable, and more reliable when selecting dynamic dates from any calendar widget.
Additional Use Cases
Modern applications use many types of date pickers. Apart from selecting a single date, you may also need to automate advanced scenarios. Below are some common use cases and how to handle them in Playwright.
Calendar navigation
Some date pickers open a calendar where the user must click on the next or previous month to reach the required date.
You can automate this by locating the navigation buttons and clicking until the correct month appears.
Example:
page.locator(".nextMonth").click();
page.locator(".prevMonth").click();You can loop through navigation until the month matches your target month.
Selecting multiple dates
Certain calendars allow users to pick more than one date.
In this case, you can click multiple date elements one after another.
Example:
page.locator("//td[text()='10']").click();
page.locator("//td[text()='15']").click();
page.locator("//td[text()='20']").click();You can create an array of dates and loop through them for cleaner code.
Range date pickers
Range pickers allow users to select a start date and an end date.
This is common in travel booking websites and hotel reservation systems.
Approach:
- Click the start date field.
- Choose the start date.
- Click the end date field.
- Choose the end date.
Example:
page.locator("#startDate").click();
page.locator("//td[text()='05']").click();
page.locator("#endDate").click();
page.locator("//td[text()='12']").click();You can also use LocalDate to calculate dynamic ranges.
Mobile view calendar behavior
Calendars behave differently on mobile views.
Many sites replace the calendar widget with a native mobile date picker.
To test this, you can simulate a mobile device using Playwright’s built in device emulation.
Example:
BrowserContext context = browser.newContext(
new Browser.NewContextOptions().setViewportSize(375, 667)
);
Page mobilePage = context.newPage();
mobilePage.navigate("https://example.com");On mobile, you may need to:
- Interact with native date picker fields
- Handle scrollable calendars
- Work with touch actions instead of clicks
Understanding these variations helps in writing robust Playwright automation tests for date selection in any environment.
Conclusion
Automating calendars in Playwright Java can be challenging, especially with dynamic date pickers and native HTML date inputs. In this guide, we covered how to handle calendar element locators, navigate through months and years, select specific dates, and use Java’s LocalDate to generate dynamic dates.
You also learned about advanced use cases like selecting multiple dates, range pickers, and handling mobile view calendars. By following these techniques, you can write stable and reliable calendar automation scripts that work across different applications.
