Capabilities

Capabilities control which tools the MCP server exposes to the LLM. By default, only core tools are enabled. Add capabilities to unlock additional tool groups.

Enabling capabilities

Via CLI argument:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "playwright": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["@playwright/mcp@latest", "--caps=vision,pdf,devtools"]
    }
  }
}

Via environment variable:

PLAYWRIGHT_MCP_CAPS=vision,pdf,devtools

Via config file:

{
  "capabilities": ["vision", "pdf", "devtools", "network", "storage", "testing"]
}

Capability reference

core (always enabled)

Basic browser automation — always available, cannot be disabled.

Tool	Description
`browser_navigate`	Navigate to a URL
`browser_navigate_back`	Go back in history
`browser_snapshot`	Capture accessibility snapshot
`browser_find`	Search the snapshot for text or a regexp
`browser_click`	Click an element
`browser_hover`	Hover over an element
`browser_drag`	Drag and drop between two elements
`browser_drop`	Drop files or MIME-typed data onto an element
`browser_select_option`	Select dropdown option
`browser_type`	Type text into an element
`browser_press_key`	Press a key
`browser_fill_form`	Fill multiple form fields
`browser_take_screenshot`	Take a screenshot
`browser_run_code_unsafe`	Execute a Playwright code snippet
`browser_evaluate`	Evaluate JavaScript
`browser_wait_for`	Wait for text or time
`browser_handle_dialog`	Accept or dismiss dialogs
`browser_file_upload`	Upload files into a file chooser
`browser_console_messages`	Get console output
`browser_network_requests`	List network requests
`browser_network_request`	Show one request in full detail
`browser_tabs`	Manage tabs
`browser_close`	Close the page
`browser_resize`	Resize the window

network

Network mocking and state control.

Tool	Description
`browser_route`	Mock requests matching a URL pattern
`browser_route_list`	List active mocked routes
`browser_unroute`	Remove mocked routes
`browser_network_state_set`	Set online/offline state

"--caps=network"

storage

Cookie, localStorage, and sessionStorage management plus state persistence.

Tool	Description
`browser_cookie_list/get/set/delete/clear`	Manage cookies
`browser_localstorage_list/get/set/delete/clear`	Manage localStorage
`browser_sessionstorage_list/get/set/delete/clear`	Manage sessionStorage
`browser_storage_state`	Save cookies + local storage to a file
`browser_set_storage_state`	Restore saved state

"--caps=storage"

testing

Assertions and locator generation.

Tool	Description
`browser_verify_element_visible`	Assert element is visible by role and accessible name
`browser_verify_text_visible`	Assert text is visible
`browser_verify_list_visible`	Assert a list and its items are visible
`browser_verify_value`	Assert form field value
`browser_generate_locator`	Generate a Playwright locator for test code

"--caps=testing"

vision

Coordinate-based mouse tools for screenshot-driven workflows. Requires a vision-capable LLM.

Tool	Description
`browser_mouse_move_xy`	Move mouse to coordinates
`browser_mouse_click_xy`	Click at coordinates
`browser_mouse_drag_xy`	Drag between coordinates
`browser_mouse_down`	Press mouse button
`browser_mouse_up`	Release mouse button
`browser_mouse_wheel`	Scroll with mouse wheel

"--caps=vision"

See Vision Mode for usage patterns.

pdf

PDF generation.

Tool	Description
`browser_pdf_save`	Export page as PDF

"--caps=pdf"

devtools

Tracing, video recording, action recording, highlighting, and debugging.

Tool	Description
`browser_start_tracing`	Start execution trace
`browser_stop_tracing`	Stop trace and save
`browser_start_video`	Start video recording
`browser_stop_video`	Stop video and save
`browser_video_chapter`	Add a chapter card
`browser_video_show_actions`	Annotate actions with on-page callouts
`browser_video_hide_actions`	Stop annotating actions
`browser_start_recording`	Record actions the user performs as code
`browser_stop_recording`	Stop recording and return the code
`browser_highlight`	Show a highlight overlay around an element
`browser_hide_highlight`	Remove a highlight overlay
`browser_annotate`	Open the Playwright Dashboard and collect user annotations
`browser_resume`	Resume paused script execution

"--caps=devtools"

See Debugging Tools.

config

Configuration introspection.

Tool	Description
`browser_get_config`	Get the final resolved config

"--caps=config"

Common configurations

Minimal (default)

Only core tools — navigation, snapshots, clicking, typing, screenshots:

["@playwright/mcp@latest"]

Full automation

Everything enabled:

["@playwright/mcp@latest", "--caps=network,storage,testing,vision,pdf,devtools"]

Testing workflow

Core + testing assertions + storage for auth persistence:

["@playwright/mcp@latest", "--caps=testing,storage"]

Debugging workflow

Core + devtools for tracing and video:

["@playwright/mcp@latest", "--caps=devtools"]

Data extraction

Core + network for mocking + storage for cookies:

["@playwright/mcp@latest", "--caps=network,storage"]

Why capabilities exist

Capabilities limit the number of tools exposed to the LLM. Fewer tools means:

Lower token cost — the tool schema is smaller
Fewer hallucinated tool calls — the LLM has fewer choices to confuse
Faster responses — less context to process

Only enable what you need for your use case.

Enabling capabilities​

Capability reference​

core (always enabled)​

network​

storage​

testing​

vision​

pdf​

devtools​

config​

Common configurations​

Minimal (default)​

Full automation​

Testing workflow​

Debugging workflow​

Data extraction​

Why capabilities exist​