Use a browser automation script to capture the page, a scheduler to run it daily, and storage that keeps each dated result instead of overwriting it. Playwright can save screenshots and PDFs; GitHub Actions can run a daily workflow. For a dependable archive, define the page state and capture scope, check each run, and keep a separate backup.
Choose what each daily record should show
Before automating anything, decide what the archive is meant to preserve. A screenshot records rendered pixels at a point in time; it is not a copy of the site’s source or a guarantee that interactive features can be recreated later.
- Viewport: the currently visible browser area. Useful when the page’s initial appearance matters.
- Full page: the complete scrollable page in one image. Useful for long articles and landing pages.
- Element: a specific region selected by CSS selector, such as a price panel or announcement. Useful when the rest of the page changes frequently.
Playwright supports viewport and full-page screenshots through its page screenshot API; its CLI also supports targeting an element. Keep the viewport dimensions, browser engine, capture scope, and other settings consistent between days if you intend to compare results. See the Playwright screenshot documentation.
For pages with asynchronous content, wait for a meaningful page-specific condition rather than assuming a fixed delay always works. A selector that indicates the content is ready is often more robust than sleeping for a set number of seconds. Set a timeout, and decide what the script should do if the condition is never met.
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Set up a Playwright capture script
The example below uses Node.js and Chromium, captures a full-page PNG, and exports a PDF for each target URL. It gives each day’s output its own directory. The selectors and URLs are examples: replace them with conditions and pages appropriate to your site.
Install the project dependencies
- Create a project directory and initialize it with
npm init -y. - Install Playwright with
npm install playwright. - Install the browser binaries with
npx playwright install chromium. - Save the script below as
capture.mjs.
import { chromium } from 'playwright';
import { mkdir } from 'node:fs/promises';
const targets = [
{ name: 'homepage', url: 'https://example.com' },
];
const date = new Date().toISOString().slice(0, 10);
const outputDir = `archive/${date}`;
await mkdir(outputDir, { recursive: true });
const browser = await chromium.launch({ headless: true });
try {
const page = await browser.newPage({
viewport: { width: 1440, height: 900 },
deviceScaleFactor: 1,
});
for (const target of targets) {
const safeName = target.name.replace(/[^a-z0-9_-]/gi, '_');
const response = await page.goto(target.url, {
waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded',
timeout: 45000,
});
// Replace this with a page-specific readiness condition where appropriate.
await page.locator('body').waitFor({ state: 'visible', timeout: 15000 });
await page.screenshot({
path: `${outputDir}/${safeName}.png`,
fullPage: true,
});
// page.pdf() uses print CSS by default. Emulate screen media first
// if the PDF should reflect screen styling instead.
await page.emulateMedia({ media: 'screen' });
await page.pdf({
path: `${outputDir}/${safeName}.pdf`,
format: 'A4',
printBackground: true,
});
console.log(JSON.stringify({
name: safeName,
requestedUrl: target.url,
finalUrl: page.url(),
status: response?.status() ?? null,
capturedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
}));
}
} finally {
await browser.close();
}Run it locally with node capture.mjs. The screenshot and PDF files will appear under archive/YYYY-MM-DD/. The script logs the final URL and HTTP status so that redirects and unsuccessful responses are easier to spot. A successful navigation does not, on its own, establish that the page showed the content you intended to archive.
Choose a suitable readiness check
The sample waits for the body to become visible, which is only a basic check. For a page that loads its main content later, replace that line with a selector specific to the content, for example await page.locator('[data-testid="main-content"]').waitFor({ state: 'visible', timeout: 15000 });. Confirm the selector exists on the target page and is stable before relying on it.
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A fixed delay can be useful for a known animation or delayed widget, but it can waste time on fast runs and still be too short on slow ones. Network-idle conditions can also be unsuitable for pages with persistent network activity. Choose the condition that reflects the content you actually need.
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Make the PDF match your intended appearance
Playwright’s page.pdf() renders with print CSS by default. Print styles may hide elements or rearrange the page, and printed colors can differ from screen colors. If the PDF should use screen styles, call page.emulateMedia({ media: 'screen' }) before page.pdf(), as in the script. Review a sample PDF before scheduling repeated runs; do not assume it will look identical to the screenshot.
For a printable document, leave print media enabled and inspect the result for page breaks, missing backgrounds, and clipped content. If visual evidence matters, retain the screenshot alongside the PDF rather than treating the PDF as a pixel-for-pixel substitute.
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Schedule the script to run daily with GitHub Actions
GitHub Actions can install the dependencies, run the capture script, and retain generated files as workflow artifacts. Create .github/workflows/daily-capture.yml in your repository’s default branch:
name: Daily website archive
on:
schedule:
- cron: '17 7 * * *'
workflow_dispatch:
jobs:
capture:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
- uses: actions/setup-node@v4
with:
node-version: 22
- run: npm ci
- run: npx playwright install --with-deps chromium
- run: node capture.mjs
- uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
with:
name: website-archive-${{ github.run_id }}
path: archive/
if-no-files-found: errorThe example uses five-field cron syntax: 17 7 * * * means 07:17 each day in the schedule’s applicable timezone. GitHub uses UTC by default and supports an optional IANA timezone. Scheduled workflows run using the latest commit on the default branch. Put the workflow on that branch before expecting it to run. Check GitHub’s schedule-event documentation for current syntax and behavior.
A scheduled run is not an exact-time guarantee. GitHub says schedule events can be delayed during periods of high workload, and sufficiently loaded queues can drop some runs. Choosing a minute other than the start of an hour may reduce exposure to peak load, but does not guarantee punctual execution. GitHub also automatically disables scheduled workflows in public repositories after 60 days without repository activity. Do not make this the only capture mechanism for a record that requires guaranteed timing or complete daily coverage.
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The workflow above uploads files as an artifact; artifact retention and workflow permissions depend on repository settings and current GitHub behavior. Check the repository’s artifact retention settings and download or copy files before they expire. Another option is committing generated files to the repository; the shot-scraper GitHub Actions guide documents a workflow pattern that writes screenshots back to a repository. Large, frequently updated binaries can make repository history cumbersome, so use that approach only if its reviewability is worth the storage and maintenance trade-off.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Organize, verify, and back up the archive
Keep each run distinct. A predictable structure such as archive/YYYY/MM/DD/ with filenames containing a sanitized page name and format makes retrieval easier and prevents a new capture from replacing an older one. If you compare devices or viewport sizes, include those in filenames too.
For each run, retain a small manifest or log with the requested URL, final URL, capture timestamp, browser and version, viewport, and outcome. Review the workflow’s run history for missing dates and failed steps. A file being written successfully does not prove the page rendered correctly or that the archive will remain available.
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- For a small archive, workflow artifacts or a repository may be convenient; confirm retention before relying on either.
- For important records, keep a second copy separately from the machine or account that runs the capture, and periodically test that stored files open.
- An external SSD can be an optional offline copy, but it does not replace a separately stored backup.
If the goal is broader local web preservation rather than a daily visual record, ArchiveBox documents offline copies in formats including HTML, PDF, PNG, and WARC. These formats preserve different aspects of a page and do not guarantee that every interactive feature can later be reproduced. Its cited manual is for release 0.4.17; consult the project’s current documentation rather than assuming older installation instructions still apply: ArchiveBox 0.4.17 documentation.
Troubleshoot common failures
- The workflow does not run: confirm the workflow is on the default branch, the cron expression has five fields, and the repository has not had its public-repository schedule disabled after 60 days without activity. Check the Actions run history and the current GitHub schedule documentation.
- The run starts late or is missing: scheduled runs may be delayed or dropped under load. Inspect the run history; a daily schedule is not a punctuality guarantee.
- Playwright cannot launch Chromium: ensure the browser installation step completed for the same environment running the script. In Actions,
npx playwright install --with-deps chromiuminstalls Chromium and system dependencies. - The capture is blank or incomplete: the page may not have finished rendering its main content. Wait for a meaningful page-specific selector, inspect the final URL and response status, and adjust the timeout for that page.
- The PDF differs from the screenshot: check whether print CSS is active. Use screen media before PDF export if screen styling is intended, and inspect page breaks and colors either way.
- The files disappear: check artifact retention and repository storage behavior. Copy needed files elsewhere before expiration, and verify that a separate backup can be read.
Or skip the browser setup
ScreenshotNeo can capture a URL with one GET request and return an image or PDF. For an archive, call it once per URL and date from your own scheduler, then store each response under a dated filename. The request below saves a PDF; see the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for output options and request parameters.
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://example.com -d format=pdf -o archive.pdfScreenshotNeo removes cookie and consent banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; each cleanup step can be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and response headers identify the page verdict and billing status. Its MCP server gives AI agents tools to take screenshots, retrieve page information, and capture PDFs. The free plan includes 1,000 shots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots.
Sign up for ScreenshotNeo’s free plan to start capturing without a card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I save only the visible browser area instead of the full page?
Yes. Remove fullPage: true from the Playwright screenshot call to capture the viewport.
Can a PDF archive prove what a website contained?
It records a rendered view, not the site’s complete source, behavior, or every underlying resource. Keep the capture conditions and run metadata with the file, and use broader preservation formats if your goal goes beyond visual evidence.
Quick Recap
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