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Use element.evaluate(fn) when you already have a Puppeteer ElementHandle: Puppeteer passes that element to your callback as its first argument and returns the callback’s result. Use page.evaluate(fn, element) if you want to run the same page-context computation through the page instead.

Evaluate JavaScript on an existing element

This complete Node.js example finds the page’s first h1, reads its text, and disposes of the handle when it is no longer needed:

const element = await page.$('h1');
if (!element) throw new Error('Heading not found');

try {
  const text = await element.evaluate(el => el.textContent);
  console.log(text);
} finally {
  await element.dispose();
}

element.evaluate runs its callback in the browser page context. The handle is supplied as the callback’s first argument; the value returned by the callback is delivered to your Node.js code. Puppeteer returns a promise for that value and waits if the callback itself returns a promise. See the Puppeteer evaluate API.

Choose the evaluation method for the task

Method Use it for Behavior
element.evaluate(fn) Computing something from an element handle you already have The current element is the callback’s first argument.
page.evaluate(fn, element) Running page-level code while passing an existing handle Puppeteer resolves the handle to its in-page element and supplies it as an argument.
element.$eval(selector, fn) Evaluating against one matching descendant The first matching descendant is passed as the callback’s first argument.
element.$$eval(selector, fn) Evaluating against matching descendants as a group An array of matching elements is passed as the callback’s first argument.
page.$eval(selector, fn) Evaluating against the first page-level selector match Throws if no element matches.
page.locator(selector) Ordinary selection and interaction, such as clicking or filling The current guide recommends locators for interaction because they wait for the element to be present and in the appropriate state.

For the selector-scoped methods, the selector is resolved within the current element for element.$eval and element.$$eval. Consult the ElementHandle selector-evaluation API and page interactions guide.

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Evaluate across matching descendants

Use $$eval when the result should be ordinary data, such as an array of titles:

const titles = await section.$$eval('.title', nodes =>
  nodes.map(node => node.textContent?.trim() ?? '')
);

console.log(titles);

The callback runs in the page, where nodes refers to the matching elements. The returned strings and array are usable in Node.js.

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Pass data into page-context code

Evaluation callbacks execute in the browser, not in your Node.js lexical scope. A variable declared outside the callback is not automatically available inside it. Pass values explicitly as arguments:

const prefix = 'Title: ';
const title = await page.evaluate(
  (el, label) => label + (el.textContent ?? '').trim(),
  element,
  prefix
);

console.log(title);

page.evaluate accepts the callback followed by its arguments. Puppeteer converts supported arguments, including an element handle, for use in the page context. See the Page.evaluate API.

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Return a value or keep a page-object handle

For strings, numbers, arrays, and plain objects that your Node.js code needs, use evaluate. If you need to keep a reference to an in-page object for later browser-side operations, use evaluateHandle. Page.evaluateHandle returns a handle; when the page function returns an element reference, the result can be an ElementHandle. Handles keep their referenced objects from garbage collection until disposed. Dispose explicitly acquired handles when you are done; navigation or destruction of their execution context also disposes them. See the Page.evaluateHandle API.

Common errors and fixes

  • No element matched: page.$ returns null when there is no match, so check the result before calling evaluate. $eval throws if its selector has no match. Check the selector and whether the page has reached the state where the element exists.
  • The callback targets the wrong thing: page.evaluate does not implicitly use a selected element. Pass the handle as an argument, or call evaluate on the handle. For a descendant, use element.$eval or element.$$eval.
  • A Node.js variable is undefined in the callback: page-context code does not inherit Node.js variables. Supply required values as evaluation arguments.
  • The result is not usable in Node.js: return serializable data when you need a normal value. Use evaluateHandle only when you need a browser-object reference.
  • A handle is no longer valid: dispose handles when finished. A page navigation or destroyed execution context also ends the handle’s lifetime.
  • Evaluation is being used for a routine click or fill: prefer page.locator(selector) for ordinary interaction; use evaluation for custom reads or computations.

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For example, this cURL request saves a WebP capture of Stripe:

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curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webp

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Puppeteer wait for an asynchronous evaluation callback?

Yes. Evaluation methods wait for a promise returned by the page-context callback to resolve.

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Which Puppeteer version do these API details describe?

The official reference pages reviewed carry version labels ranging from 25.1.0 to 25.12.0; check the documentation for the version installed in your project if you need version-specific confirmation.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.