> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/microsoft/playwright-mcp/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Tools Overview

> Comprehensive guide to Playwright MCP tools for browser automation

Playwright MCP provides a comprehensive set of tools for browser automation through the Model Context Protocol. These tools enable AI assistants to interact with web pages, manage browser tabs, perform coordinate-based interactions, generate PDFs, and execute test assertions.

## Tool Categories

Playwright MCP organizes its tools into the following categories:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Core Automation" icon="browser" href="/tools/core-automation">
    Essential tools for browser navigation, element interaction, form filling, and page inspection
  </Card>

  <Card title="Tab Management" icon="window-restore" href="/tools/tab-management">
    Tools for creating, listing, closing, and switching between browser tabs
  </Card>

  <Card title="Coordinate-Based" icon="mouse-pointer" href="/tools/coordinate-based">
    Low-level mouse operations using screen coordinates (requires vision capability)
  </Card>

  <Card title="PDF Generation" icon="file-pdf" href="/tools/pdf-generation">
    Save web pages as PDF documents (requires pdf capability)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Test Assertions" icon="check-circle" href="/tools/test-assertions">
    Verify page elements and content for testing (requires testing capability)
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Opt-in Capabilities

Some tool categories require explicit opt-in through the `--caps` flag when starting the server. This provides fine-grained control over which capabilities are enabled.

### Enabling Capabilities

Use the `--caps` flag to enable specific capabilities:

```bash theme={null}
# Enable vision capability for coordinate-based tools
npx @playwright/mcp-server --caps=vision

# Enable multiple capabilities
npx @playwright/mcp-server --caps=vision,pdf,testing
```

### Available Capabilities

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="vision" icon="eye">
    Enables coordinate-based mouse operations using x/y coordinates. Required for tools like `browser_mouse_click_xy`, `browser_mouse_move_xy`, and `browser_mouse_drag_xy`.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="pdf" icon="file-pdf">
    Enables PDF generation functionality. Required for the `browser_pdf_save` tool.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="testing" icon="flask">
    Enables test assertion tools for verifying page elements and content. Required for tools like `browser_verify_element_visible` and `browser_verify_text_visible`.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="tracing" icon="chart-line">
    Enables Playwright tracing functionality for debugging and performance analysis.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Read-Only vs. Write Operations

Tools are categorized by whether they modify browser state:

* **Read-only tools**: Safe operations that only read information (e.g., `browser_snapshot`, `browser_take_screenshot`, `browser_console_messages`)
* **Write tools**: Operations that modify the browser or page state (e.g., `browser_click`, `browser_type`, `browser_navigate`)

Read-only tools are useful for inspection and debugging without affecting the page state.

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Core Automation Tools" icon="play" href="/tools/core-automation">
    Start with essential browser automation tools
  </Card>

  <Card title="Quick Start Guide" icon="rocket" href="/quickstart">
    Set up your first Playwright MCP integration
  </Card>
</CardGroup>