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To monitor only part of a webpage with urlwatch, add a css filter to the job’s YAML filter list and set it to the selector for the content you want to track. For example, ul#groceries > li.unchecked selects unchecked list items that are direct children of the element with ID groceries. Run urlwatch --test-filter to inspect what urlwatch will compare before relying on the job.
Configure the CSS filter in a urlwatch job
Put the selector in a css filter under the job’s filter key. The documented YAML form is a list item:
url: https://example.net/css.html
filter:
- css: ul#groceries > li.uncheckedIn this example, the selector targets matching <li> elements with class unchecked when they are direct children of a <ul> with ID groceries. urlwatch applies the filter to fetched page content before comparison, so the selected content—not necessarily the whole page—is what the job monitors.
Choose a selector that matches the page’s actual markup
First identify the page URL and the specific element or elements whose content should trigger a notification. Then inspect the page’s markup and write a selector for that structure. For example, main article .price describes elements with class price inside an article inside main; it is only an illustration, not a selector guaranteed to match a particular site.
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Selectors that are too broad can include unrelated text and cause noisy change alerts. Selectors that are too narrow—or based on markup that has changed—may return nothing or miss the content you care about. Confirm the extracted output before treating the job as set up.
Preview what urlwatch will compare
Use the filter test command for the job and inspect the result:
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urlwatch --test-filterThis previews the filtered content that enters the comparison pipeline. It is the practical check for whether the selector returns the intended text and whether later filters leave a useful result. The command and documented filter behavior are covered in the urlwatch 2.29 online handbook; verify command behavior against the release installed on your system.
Chain cleanup filters only when needed
If the selected content includes formatting or other text you do not want to monitor, urlwatch supports chaining filters. Put each filter in the job’s filter list in the order you want it applied: each stage operates on the preceding result. Re-run urlwatch --test-filter after changing the chain so you can see the final comparison input.
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Selector limitations and cases that need a different approach
Browser selectors are not all guaranteed to work
urlwatch documents limitations and extensions in its CSS selector support and points to cssselect documentation for details. A selector that works in a browser is not necessarily supported by the dependency version used in a particular installation. The supported selector set for any specific installation is not established here, so test the selector and check the documentation for your installed cssselect version if it fails.
JavaScript-rendered content may not be present in fetched HTML
A CSS filter can select only content available in the page content urlwatch has obtained. If the target text is added by JavaScript after the initial response, the filter may not see it. The handbook describes navigate for pages that require browser-based rendering. Where appropriate, configure browser navigation and then test the filter output; do not assume that adding a CSS selector alone will render missing content.
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XML pages require XML-specific configuration
The versioned urlwatch 2.26 filter documentation describes CSS selection for XML using method: xml. Namespace handling and selector compatibility depend on the feed and configuration, so validate the actual output rather than assuming an HTML selector will work unchanged.
Multiple matches and subfilters
The current handbook documents CSS filter subfilters including sort; the versioned 2.26 documentation also describes skip and maxitems. Because the exact options may differ by release, check the documentation for the installed urlwatch version before using them. Use --test-filter to verify which matches remain after applying the selector and any subfilters.
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CSS versus XPath and other urlwatch filters
CSS is a concise choice when the desired region can be described by element relationships, IDs, classes, or tags. urlwatch also documents XPath and simpler selectors such as selecting by tag, class, or ID. XPath is an alternative when the selection is easier to express with XPath; browser navigation is relevant when the desired content requires JavaScript rendering. In each case, check the extracted output instead of assuming the selection matches your intent.
Or skip the browser setup
ScreenshotNeo is a screenshot API, not a replacement for urlwatch’s change-monitoring job. It is useful when your separate goal is to capture a page as an image or PDF without setting up your own browser capture flow. A single GET request can return an image or PDF; for example, this cURL request saves a WebP screenshot:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpSee the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for request options. ScreenshotNeo accepts cookie or consent banners and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; each cleanup step can be disabled. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and responses identify the page verdict and billing status in headers. An MCP server provides take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for AI agents. The free plan includes 1,000 shots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots. Learn about ScreenshotNeo, or sign up for 1,000 free screenshots a month with no card.
Troubleshooting a CSS-filter job
- The test output contains too much. Inspect the page structure and make the selector more specific—for example, add the relevant parent, ID, class, or direct-child relationship.
- The test output is empty. Check that the page markup contains the elements your selector describes, that the URL is correct, and that the content is available in the fetched page. If it depends on JavaScript, consider the documented browser-navigation approach.
- A browser accepts the selector but urlwatch does not. Check urlwatch’s CSS selector limitations and the documentation for the installed
cssselectdependency; browser support alone does not establish compatibility. - The output changes unexpectedly after adding another filter. Filter stages run in sequence. Inspect the result after each change and confirm that each later stage is operating on the preceding stage’s output.
- An XML selector does not match as expected. Verify XML mode and account for the feed’s namespaces and the installed release’s selector behavior.
- Options such as
skipormaxitemsare rejected. These options are described in earlier versioned documentation, while the current handbook listssort; check the documentation corresponding to your installed release.
Version and compatibility note
The documented behavior referenced here covers the urlwatch 2.29 online handbook and 2.26 versioned filter documentation. The latest release and its date, and the selector support of any particular installed dependency, are not established. Check the documentation matching your installation when relying on command options or selector details.
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Does a CSS filter monitor the selected element’s attributes as well as its text?
The documented material establishes that the filter selects page content for comparison, but does not specify attribute-level monitoring behavior. Check the filtered output for your job and consult the documentation for your installed version if you need to track an attribute.
Can one CSS filter select several matching elements?
The documented selector example describes matching elements, and the handbook documents CSS subfilters including sorting. Use urlwatch --test-filter to see which matches are actually included for your page.
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