What happens if multiple elements match a locator?

The Answer

If multiple elements match and you call a single-element action (click, fill, etc.), Playwright throws a 'strict mode violation'. Methods like `.count()`, `.all()`, and `.nth()` are designed for multi-element locators.

Deep Dive Explanation

When you EXPECT multiple elements (like a list), use `.count()` and `.all()`. When you accidentally get multiple elements (strict mode violation), it's a signal to make your locator more specific. The error message even tells you how many elements matched and their details.

example.spec.ts

// Getting count of all matches
const buttonCount = await page.getByRole('button').count();

// Iterating all matches
const allLinks = await page.getByRole('link').all();
for (const link of allLinks) {
  console.log(await link.textContent());
}

// Asserting all match a condition
await expect(page.getByRole('listitem')).toHaveCount(5);

// Checking text of all matches
await expect(page.getByRole('option')).toHaveText([
  'Option A', 'Option B', 'Option C'
]);