Use Python’s requests library to send a request to a hosted screenshot service, then handle the response in the format that service documents. The example below uses Screenshot API’s documented POST endpoint, bearer-token authentication, and JSON response. Screenshot APIs are not interchangeable: endpoint paths, key headers, request parameters, and response formats vary by provider.
Make a screenshot request with Python
Install the HTTP client if needed:
python -m pip install requestsKeep your API key outside your source code. For example, set it in your shell before running the script:
export SCREENSHOT_API_KEY="your_api_key"On Windows PowerShell, use $env:SCREENSHOT_API_KEY="your_api_key" for the current session. The following example follows the request and response contract documented by Screenshot API: a POST request with a JSON body and bearer-token authentication, followed by JSON parsing.
import os
import requests
api_key = os.environ["SCREENSHOT_API_KEY"]
endpoint = "https://api.screenshot-api.org/api/v1/screenshot"
response = requests.post(
endpoint,
headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}"},
json={
"url": "https://example.com",
"viewport": {"width": 1280, "height": 720},
"format": "png",
"fullPage": True,
},
timeout=30,
)
response.raise_for_status()
result = response.json()
print(result["screenshotUrl"])The endpoint, fields, authentication header, and screenshotUrl response property are specific to Screenshot API. The 30-second client timeout and raise_for_status() are defensive choices in this example, not a guarantee that every capture completes in that time. Screenshot API recommends header authentication rather than putting the key in a query string.
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Understand the request options
The example requests a full-page PNG with a 1280-by-720 viewport. Screenshot API documents PNG, JPEG, WebP, and PDF output, along with controls for viewport dimensions, full-page capture, device scale factor, navigation wait strategy, image quality, element selection, selector waits, post-load delay, dark mode, and blocking ads or cookie banners. Some advanced options are available only through POST. Use the provider’s own documentation for exact field names, supported values, and defaults; these are not shared standards across screenshot APIs.
The Python library sends the HTTP request. The provider’s hosted browser performs the webpage rendering and capture, so the target site is not being rendered by requests on your computer.
Handle the response correctly
For the Screenshot API example, a successful response is JSON containing a screenshotUrl. The script prints that URL; if you need a local image file, retrieve the returned URL according to the provider’s instructions and check that download’s status before saving it.
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Other services return the screenshot itself as raw response bytes rather than JSON. ScreenshotEngine, for example, documents successful HTTP 200 responses as raw bytes and advises clients to inspect Content-Type, not call response.json() on a successful capture. For such an API, save response.content with an extension matching the returned content type, or stream the response when files may be large. Always follow the selected service’s response contract.
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Check errors, quotas, and retries
Screenshot API documents these error responses and free-plan limits; they are vendor-specific details and may change:
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| Response or limit | Documented meaning | Practical response |
|---|---|---|
| 401 | Missing or invalid API key | Check that the environment variable is set correctly and that the key is active. Do not print or log the key. |
| 400 | Invalid request | Verify the URL and JSON field names and values against the provider’s documentation. |
| 422 | Requested selector was not found | Check that the selector exists on the rendered page and that any required wait is configured. |
| 429 | Rate or monthly quota limit reached | Read the response headers for rate-limit and quota information. Back off or reduce request volume, following the provider’s retry guidance. |
| 502 | Rendering failure | Check whether the page is reachable and retry only in line with the provider’s documented guidance. |
| Free-plan limits | 60 requests per minute and 500 screenshots per month, as stated by Screenshot API in its 2026 documentation | Monitor the account’s usage and response headers; do not treat these vendor limits as general API limits. |
raise_for_status() raises an exception for HTTP error responses, which prevents the script from trying to parse an error page as a successful result. For a production integration, catch requests.exceptions.HTTPError and inspect the response status and safe-to-log error body. Also handle connection errors and timeouts. Avoid automatic retries for every failure: a malformed request or invalid key will not be fixed by retrying, and the exact retry behavior should follow the provider’s instructions.
Alternative: Cloudflare Browser Rendering
Cloudflare’s Browser Rendering API offers a separate screenshot operation at POST /accounts/{account_id}/browser-rendering/screenshot. Its API reference specifies an API token and lists Browser Rendering Write among the accepted permissions. Documented controls include navigation waits, viewport, full-page capture, clipping, and image encoding. Its account-scoped path, authentication requirements, request shape, and response handling are not interchangeable with Screenshot API’s example; consult Cloudflare’s API reference before adapting a client.
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Or skip the browser setup
ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server. Its GET endpoint returns an image or PDF, so you do not need to configure a browser-rendering service yourself for a basic capture. For example, the following saves a WebP response:
import requests
r = requests.get(
"https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot",
params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://example.com"},
timeout=90,
)
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for authentication, parameters, and response details. ScreenshotNeo removes cookie banners, popups, and chat widgets before the shot; bot checks, blank pages, and failed loads are never billed. Its MCP server lets AI agents take screenshots. The Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card, and paid plans start at $5 for 3,000.
Sign up for ScreenshotNeo free to get 1,000 screenshots a month with no card.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Python requests take the screenshot itself?
No. It sends the HTTP request; the screenshot provider’s hosted browser renders and captures the webpage.
Can I use the same request code with any screenshot API?
No. Providers differ in endpoint, authentication, request fields, and whether a successful response is JSON metadata or image bytes.
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