[Bug]: Playwright v1.51.1: locator.waitFor({ timeout }) unexpectedly waits for visibility

[Sasi4usi]

Version

v1.51.1

Steps to reproduce

import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';

test('waitFor defaults to visible?', async ({ page }) => {
await page.setContent('');
const locator = page.locator('input[type="file"]');

// This should wait only for attachment
await locator.waitFor({ timeout: 5000 });

// This should succeed even though hidden
await locator.setInputFiles('README.md');
});

Expected behavior

It should wait for element to be attached.

Actual behavior

It waits for element to be visible and timed out.

_Error locator.waitFor: Timeout 30000ms exceeded.
Call log:

• waiting for locator('div[class*='Toolbar_importcontainer'] input[type='file']') to be visible
  63 × locator resolved to hidden_

Additional context

Input element with type as file is hidden. Using await locator.waitFor({ timeout: 5000 }); throws the following error:

_Error locator.waitFor: Timeout 30000ms exceeded.
Call log:

• waiting for locator('div[class*='Toolbar_importcontainer'] input[type='file']') to be visible
  63 × locator resolved to hidden_

Environment

System:
  OS: Windows 10 
  Node: v22.13.0 
  npm: 10.9.2 
  @playwright/test: 1.51.1

[mxschmitt]

The snippet you provided seems to fail because its waiting for an element which is not there - so this seems to be working as expected.

waitFor waits for visibility as well, see here.

Could you provide us another snippet with whats failing and whats your expected outcome?