We are using routeFromHAR(har, {update: true}) to record network traffic while testing an application that makes a series of REST calls (GETs and POSTs). I am doing the recording for the purposes of later running the tests offline using mocked data (i.e. {update: false}).

Question: is there an API in Playwright that STOPS the HAR file recording, so that I can start recording to a different HAR file?

More detail: let’s say I start recording, and then do a GET and a POST to modify something in the database. Like this pseudo-code:

1. page.routeFromHAR(har, {update: true});
2. oldData = GET('/foo');               // get initial data
3. POST('/foo', newData);               // update with new data
4. assert( GET('/foo') === newData) );  // get again; compare with new data

The problem happens when running later against the mocked HAR file (i.e. {update: false}). The GET call in step (4) will return oldData and the test will fail.

I think what I want to do is spin up a new HAR file recording after step (3). Like this:

1. page.routeFromHAR(har1, {update: true});
2. oldData = GET('/foo');               // get initial data
3. POST('/foo', newData);               // update with new data
4. page.routeFromHAR(har2, {update: true});
5. assert( GET('/foo') === newData) );  // get again; compare with new data

This way, I get two HAR files, and step (5) succeeds even when running offline against mocked data.

But … when recording, even after starting har2 at line 4, the har1 file continues to record. How can I STOP recording har1 before starting har2? Calling page.unroute(har1) does not work.