To capture a website from PHP on Debian, run an installed Chrome or Chromium binary with its headless and screenshot options through PHP’s proc_open(). On PHP 7.4 and later, pass the command as an argument array to avoid shell parsing. Chrome writes screenshot.png to its working directory; set that directory explicitly and check the process exit code and error output.
What you need on Debian
- A Chrome or Chromium executable that runs on your Debian release and architecture.
- PHP with
proc_open()available. - An output directory writable by the user running PHP.
- A reachable page URL and enough time for its content to render.
Debian Reference lists Chromium, but package availability, version and installation commands depend on the Debian release and architecture. Check the Debian Reference and the package information for the system you are deploying to rather than assuming a universal apt command or binary path. Chrome and Chromium may have different executable names and locations, so make the path configurable.
Locate the browser executable
On the target host, check which executable is installed and use its full path in the PHP configuration. For example, run command -v chromium or command -v google-chrome in a shell where the PHP service environment is representative. These are lookup examples, not guaranteed paths or installation instructions. If PHP runs under a service account or container, verify the browser is available in that same environment.
Capture a viewport screenshot from PHP
The following PHP 7.4+ example starts Chrome directly, closes the unused standard input pipe, collects output and errors, and reports a nonzero exit status. Set $chrome, $url and $outputDir for your deployment.
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<?php
declare(strict_types=1);
$chrome = '/path/to/chrome-or-chromium';
$url = 'https://example.com/';
$outputDir = '/absolute/path/to/output';
$command = [
$chrome,
'--headless',
'--screenshot',
'--window-size=1280,900',
$url,
];
$descriptors = [
0 => ['pipe', 'r'],
1 => ['pipe', 'w'],
2 => ['pipe', 'w'],
];
$pipes = [];
$process = proc_open($command, $descriptors, $pipes, $outputDir);
if (!is_resource($process)) {
throw new RuntimeException('Could not start Chrome');
}
fclose($pipes[0]);
$stdout = stream_get_contents($pipes[1]);
$stderr = stream_get_contents($pipes[2]);
fclose($pipes[1]);
fclose($pipes[2]);
$exitCode = proc_close($process);
if ($exitCode !== 0) {
throw new RuntimeException("Chrome failed with exit code $exitCode: $stderrn$stdout");
}
echo "Screenshot saved to $outputDir/screenshot.pngn";PHP’s argument-array form of proc_open() is documented for PHP 7.4 and later; it starts the executable without a shell, avoiding shell interpretation of arguments. See the PHP proc_open() manual. The example is a starting point, not a verified deployment-specific script: confirm the executable, directory permissions and Chrome runtime dependencies on your host.
Choose the viewport and output location
--window-size=1280,900 sets the viewport dimensions for the capture. Change the width and height to match the layout you need. Chrome’s CLI screenshot option writes screenshot.png in the current working directory; the fourth argument to proc_open() above sets that directory explicitly. Ensure it exists and is writable before launching Chrome. See the Chrome Headless command-line reference.
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Use a capture deadline thoughtfully
Chrome’s --timeout option sets the maximum time in milliseconds before screenshot, DOM-dump or PDF capture proceeds, even if the page is still loading. It is a deadline, not proof that a page has reached the state you want. A page may load images, fonts or script-driven content later, or keep animating. If timing matters, choose a deadline for the site and verify the resulting image; there is no universal readiness test established by the CLI option.
PHP before version 7.4
Older PHP versions require a command string for proc_open(). Quote each individual argument with escapeshellarg(); do not concatenate untrusted input into a shell command. For example:
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<?php
$chrome = '/path/to/chrome-or-chromium';
$url = 'https://example.com/';
$parts = [
escapeshellarg($chrome),
escapeshellarg('--headless'),
escapeshellarg('--screenshot'),
escapeshellarg('--window-size=1280,900'),
escapeshellarg($url),
];
$command = implode(' ', $parts);
// Pass $command to proc_open() with the same descriptors and output handling
// as the PHP 7.4+ example. Set proc_open()'s working directory to $outputDir.escapeshellarg() quotes a single shell argument; it is not a general command sanitizer. Prefer the array form when PHP 7.4 or newer is available. See the PHP escapeshellarg() manual.
Viewport capture is not full-page capture
The basic --screenshot command captures the page viewport. Making the viewport unusually tall does not guarantee that the entire document will appear: lazy-loaded content may not have loaded, and the page may extend beyond the chosen dimensions. Full-page screenshots require additional handling, such as scrolling and coordinating capture or using browser automation/protocol commands. The Chrome CLI reference documents the basic screenshot behavior; do not treat --window-size alone as a full-page setting.
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Chrome Headless and headless-shell
Chrome’s current unified Headless mode runs without a visible browser UI while sharing the browser implementation with headful Chrome. Chrome says this unified mode has been used since version 112. The older, separate Headless implementation has been offered as a standalone chrome-headless-shell binary beginning with Chrome 132.0.6793.0. Chrome characterizes the full browser as the more authentic, feature-complete choice for high-accuracy testing; the older shell has fewer dependencies and may suit simpler automated screenshots. Confirm which executable you installed before using it in PHP. Read Chrome’s Headless mode documentation.
Troubleshooting
- PHP cannot start the process: Check that the configured executable exists and is executable by the PHP service account. Verify the path in the same environment where PHP runs.
- Chrome starts but exits with an error: Inspect captured stderr and the exit code. Check runtime dependencies and permissions for the host and browser profile/environment; the exact cause depends on the deployment.
- No screenshot appears: Chrome writes to its current working directory. Confirm
$outputDirexists, is writable by PHP, and that you are looking forscreenshot.pngthere. - The image is clipped:
--window-sizesets the viewport, not a promise of full-document capture. Use a full-page capture method if the entire page is required. - The image is blank or incomplete: A successful process launch does not ensure the page finished rendering. Adjust the capture deadline for the target page and inspect whether its content depends on delayed scripts, fonts, network requests or animations.
- The command works in a shell but not in PHP: PHP may run with a different user, path, permissions or environment. Test the executable and output directory under the PHP service account.
Or skip the browser setup
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Frequently Asked Questions
What filename does Chrome use for a CLI screenshot?
The --screenshot option writes screenshot.png in Chrome’s current working directory.
Does --window-size make the screenshot full-page?
No. It sets the viewport dimensions; capturing the full document requires additional handling.
Quick Recap
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