Monitoring as Code: Learn more about the Browser Check Construct.
Browser check overview

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What are Browser Checks?

Browser checks are automated tests that use real browsers to interact with your web applications. They simulate user journeys like logging in, filling out forms, making purchases, or navigating through complex workflows, ensuring your critical user paths work and perform correctly. Browser checks are perfect for detecting downtime and performance issues in:
  • User authentication flows
  • E-commerce checkout processes
  • Form submissions and user journey validation
  • Frontend performance monitoring
Supported Browsers:
  • Chromium: Default browser, fast and reliable
  • Chrome: Google Chrome for production-like testing
  • Mobile Simulation: Test responsive designs and mobile workflows

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How Browser Checks Work

Checkly uses Playwright to power your Browser checks. Playwright is a robust, open-source framework for browser automation and end-to-end web application testing. It enables you to write idiomatic, reliable tests and easily control interactions within a web page. Browser checks execute automated test scripts in real browsers:
  1. Browser Launch - Starts a real browser instance (Chromium or Chrome)
  2. Page Navigation - Navigates to your web application
  3. User Interactions - Simulates clicks, typing, form fills, and navigation
  4. Assertions - Validates page content, elements, and user experience
  5. Performance Monitoring - Captures Core Web Vitals and timing metrics
  6. Results Collection - Records screenshots, videos, and detailed logs
  7. Alerts - Triggers alerts if any of the assertions fail

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Check Structure

Browser check dashboard
Create your Playwright test file in the Checkly IDE, then configure the check settings in the Checkly UI.
To learn more about Playwright, see the our Playwright documentation.

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Key Capabilities

Execute scripts in real Chromium browsers to test complex user interactions, JavaScript functionality, and dynamic content.
Write tests using Playwright’s powerful API for cross-browser automation with built-in waiting, assertions, and debugging capabilities.
Capture and compare screenshots to detect unintended visual changes in your application’s UI.
Monitor Core Web Vitals, page load times, and custom performance metrics to ensure optimal user experience.
Test responsive designs and mobile-specific functionality by emulating various devices and screen sizes.
Run checks from multiple worldwide locations to verify performance and availability across different regions.