---
title: "Test Structure"
description: "The anatomy of a YAML E2E test file: goal, base_url, statements, teardown, plus test-level fields like name, tags, and Playwright fixtures (use:)."
---

# Test Structure

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```yaml
goal: Description of what this test verifies
base_url: https://your-app.com

statements:
  - URL: /starting-page
  - intent: Step described in natural language
  - intent: Another step
  - VERIFY: Expected outcome

teardown:
  - intent: Clean up step
```

| Field        | Required | Description                                                                                       |
| ------------ | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `goal`       | Yes      | Test description (used as the Playwright test name)                                               |
| `base_url`   | No       | Base URL for the app under test. Can also be set via `use: { baseURL }` in `playwright.config.ts` |
| `statements` | Yes      | List of test steps                                                                                |
| `teardown`   | No       | Steps that always run after the test (like `finally`)                                             |

For the kinds of steps that can appear in `statements` and `teardown`, see [Statement Types](/local/yaml-tests/statement-types).

## Custom Test Name

Override the Playwright test name (defaults to `goal`):

```yaml
name: Login with valid credentials
goal: Verify login flow works
base_url: https://example.com
statements:
  - URL: /
  - ...
```

## Tags

Add Playwright tags for filtering with `--grep`:

```yaml
goal: Login test
base_url: https://example.com

tags:
  - smoke
  - auth
statements:
  - URL: /
  - ...
```

Run: `npx shiplight test --grep @smoke`

## Playwright Fixtures

Pass options to `test.use()`:

```yaml
goal: Mobile French layout
base_url: https://example.com

use:
  viewport:
    width: 375
    height: 812
  locale: fr-FR
statements:
  - URL: /
  - ...
```

The `use:` block also configures the [Shiplight Fixture](/local/yaml-tests/fixture): authentication, Chrome extension support, and the AI agent.