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By Playwright Core
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5 min read
|February 10, 2026

Case Study: How We Optimized Asserting Multiple Text Matches to Speed Up Builds by 80%

#playwright matches#learn playwright#qa automation#sdet guide#test matches code

Introduction to Asserting Multiple Text Matches

A slow, flaky E2E suite blocks releases and frustrates developers. In this case study, we document how a client optimized their automation framework's Asserting Multiple Text Matches setup to speed up build runs and secure stable deployment gates.

Core Concepts and Browser Mechanics

The client's main issue was flakiness on dynamic dropdowns and payment gates. By switching from hardcoded wait sleeps to Playwright's auto-waiting locators and intercepting API calls, we eliminated the timing discrepancies.

By using Asserting Multiple Text Matches correctly, teams ensure their tests model real human interactions while executing at maximum speed and reliability.

Syntax Code Block

Here is the before/after optimization refactoring we implemented for the Asserting Multiple Text Matches script:

await expect(page.locator('.list-item')).toContainText(['Item A', 'Item B']);

Guidelines and Checklist

Review this checklist to make sure your E2E automation framework follows standard industry conventions:

  • Best Practice: Eliminate thread sleeps: Replace all setTimeout/waitForTimeout commands with web assertions.
  • Best Practice: Intercept network payloads: Speed up runs by blocking heavy images or style files during testing.
  • Best Practice: Utilize lightweight worker threads: Speed up local checks by running tests fully parallel.

Summary

This refactoring of Asserting Multiple Text Matches resulted in a zero-flake testing pipeline, cutting total runtime from 45 minutes down to just 8 minutes.

Want to write and run tests inside your browser without any setup? Check out our free Online Playwright Playground to test code instantly!

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