diff --git a/docs/test-conventions.md b/docs/test-conventions.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2439ebe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/test-conventions.md
@@ -0,0 +1,170 @@
+# Test Conventions Reference
+
+Concrete selector and ARIA conventions used across this repository.
+Intended for Copilot agent sessions (heal, code review, new tests) so they
+do not need to re-read every source file.
+
+---
+
+## 1. Login message — ARIA roles and `aria-live`
+
+**Source:** `src/pages/Login.js`
+
+The message `<div>` rendered below the form uses a **dynamic role**:
+
+| State   | `role`   | CSS class        |
+|---------|----------|------------------|
+| Success | `status` | `message success` |
+| Error   | `alert`  | `message error`  |
+
+Both states also carry `aria-live="polite"` (static attribute — it does not
+change with the role).
+
+```jsx
+<div
+  id="message"
+  role={error ? 'alert' : 'status'}
+  aria-live="polite"
+  className={`message ${error ? 'error' : 'success'}`}
+>
+  {message}
+</div>
+```
+
+---
+
+## 2. How Playwright specs assert on login messages
+
+**Source:** `tests/login.spec.ts`
+
+Specs use `getByRole` — never a CSS selector or `#message` ID — because the
+role itself encodes the pass/fail state.
+
+```ts
+// Success
+const message = page.getByRole('status');
+await expect(message).toBeVisible();
+await expect(message).toHaveClass(/success/);
+await expect(message).toContainText('Welcome');
+
+// Error
+const message = page.getByRole('alert');
+await expect(message).toBeVisible();
+await expect(message).toHaveClass(/error/);
+```
+
+Form field selectors use `getByRole('textbox', { name: … })` and
+`getByRole('button', { name: … })`, matching the `<label>` text:
+
+```ts
+page.getByRole('textbox', { name: 'Username' })
+page.getByRole('textbox', { name: 'Password' })
+page.getByRole('button',  { name: 'Login' })
+```
+
+---
+
+## 3. Dashboard stat cards — structure and test selectors
+
+**Source:** `src/pages/Dashboard.js`, `tests/dashboard.spec.ts`
+
+Each stat card is a `<div class="card">` containing:
+
+- `<h3>` — the label (`Users`, `Revenue`, `Orders`)
+- `<p class="stat" id="…">` — the value (rendered after the 900 ms
+  loading delay)
+
+Stat `id` values are: `user-count`, `revenue`, `order-count`.
+
+```jsx
+<div className="card">
+  <h3>{stat.label}</h3>
+  <p className="stat" id={stat.id}>{stat.value}</p>
+</div>
+```
+
+**Test strategy** — headings via `getByRole`, values via `locator('#id')`:
+
+```ts
+// Heading presence
+await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Users',   level: 3 })).toBeVisible();
+await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Revenue', level: 3 })).toBeVisible();
+await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Orders',  level: 3 })).toBeVisible();
+
+// Value assertions
+await expect(page.locator('#user-count')).toHaveText('128');
+await expect(page.locator('#revenue')).toHaveText('$12,450');
+await expect(page.locator('#order-count')).toHaveText('340');
+```
+
+The parent grid sets `aria-busy={isChartsLoading}` during the loading phase.
+
+---
+
+## 4. Chart-skeleton loading state
+
+**Source:** `src/pages/Dashboard.js`, `src/pages/Dashboard.css`
+
+While `isChartsLoading` is `true` (first 900 ms), each stat card renders a
+skeleton `<div>` in place of the value `<p>`:
+
+```jsx
+<div
+  className="chart-skeleton"
+  role="status"
+  aria-label={`Loading ${stat.label} chart`}
+/>
+```
+
+- **Role:** `status`
+- **`aria-label` pattern:** `"Loading <label> chart"` — e.g.
+  `"Loading Users chart"`, `"Loading Revenue chart"`, `"Loading Orders chart"`
+
+The skeleton is an empty self-closing `<div>` (no inner text).
+
+To target a specific skeleton in tests:
+
+```ts
+page.getByRole('status', { name: 'Loading Users chart' })
+```
+
+---
+
+## 5. `prefers-reduced-motion` handling
+
+**Source:** `src/pages/Dashboard.css`
+
+The shimmer animation on `.chart-skeleton` is suppressed for users who
+prefer reduced motion:
+
+```css
+@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
+  .chart-skeleton {
+    animation: none;
+    background: var(--color-border);
+  }
+}
+```
+
+There is **no JavaScript-level** reduced-motion check; the handling is
+CSS-only. In Playwright tests that need to simulate reduced motion, use:
+
+```ts
+await page.emulateMedia({ reducedMotion: 'reduce' });
+```
+
+---
+
+## File paths quick-reference
+
+| Purpose                        | Path                          |
+|--------------------------------|-------------------------------|
+| Login component                | `src/pages/Login.js`          |
+| Login styles                   | `src/pages/Login.css`         |
+| Dashboard component            | `src/pages/Dashboard.js`      |
+| Dashboard styles               | `src/pages/Dashboard.css`     |
+| Login Playwright spec          | `tests/login.spec.ts`         |
+| Dashboard Playwright spec      | `tests/dashboard.spec.ts`     |
+| Shared auth setup              | `tests/auth.setup.ts`         |
+| Playwright config              | `playwright.config.ts`        |
+| Test plan (prose)              | `tests/specs/test-plan.md`    |