chromedp is a Go client for automating Chrome-family browsers through the Chrome DevTools Protocol (CDP). You add it to a Go module, make Chrome or Chromium available to the process, create a chromedp context, and run browser actions such as opening a URL, waiting for an element, and reading page content. Chrome runs headlessly by default, so a successful first program may not display a window.
This guide builds a minimal working program, explains browser visibility and cleanup, and shows where to go next for larger workflows.
What chromedp does
chromedp is a high-level Go client for browser automation through the Chrome DevTools Protocol. Your Go code sends CDP commands to a supported Chrome-family browser rather than driving a separate desktop application. Typical uses include scraping, automated tests, profiling, and scripted browser actions.
The project describes chromedp as “a faster, simpler way to drive browsers supporting the Chrome DevTools Protocol in Go without external dependencies.” That is the project’s positioning, not an independently measured performance claim. The API reference documents the package surface, while the project’s examples repository demonstrates complete workflows.
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chromedp is a Go module dependency. You still need a browser executable that the process can start, or an already-running browser instance to which it can connect.
Prerequisites and version expectations
- A working Go toolchain and a directory for a Go module.
- Chrome or Chromium installed and available to the process.
- A project decision about the exact Go, chromedp, and browser versions you will use.
The consulted project documentation does not publish a current compatibility matrix. Verify the versions selected for your project together rather than assuming that any combination is supported.
Create a Go module and add chromedp
- Create a project directory and initialize a module.
mkdir chromedp-start cd chromedp-start go mod init example.com/chromedp-start - Add the dependency. The project README documents this command:
go get -u github.com/chromedp/chromedpIt is the README’s documented workflow; whether you should use an update flag in a particular project depends on that project’s dependency policy.
- Create
main.gowith a small navigation-and-read program.
package main
import (
"context"
"fmt"
"log"
"time"
"github.com/chromedp/chromedp"
)
func main() {
// The timeout bounds the whole browser task.
ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 30*time.Second)
defer cancel()
var title string
var body string
err := chromedp.Run(ctx,
chromedp.Navigate("https://example.com"),
chromedp.Title(&title),
chromedp.Text("body", &body, chromedp.NodeVisible),
)
if err != nil {
log.Fatal(err)
}
fmt.Printf("Title: %snn%sn", title, body)
}Run it with:
go run .The program creates a context, navigates to https://example.com, reads the document title and visible body text, and exits. The deferred cancellation releases the context when main returns.
How the first run works
Context controls the session
chromedp uses Go contexts to represent browser work. The timeout in the example prevents a navigation or extraction from waiting indefinitely. Calling cancel ends the work when the function finishes or when you decide to stop it earlier.
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Actions run in order
chromedp.Run executes the supplied actions sequentially. Navigation must occur before title or text extraction. For real pages, add an action that waits for the selector or state your task needs before reading data.
Headless is the default
Chrome runs headlessly by default, so no window is expected to appear. A successful command can therefore produce terminal output while nothing is visible on your desktop. This is normal, not evidence that chromedp failed.
Make Chrome visible while debugging
When you need to watch navigation, inspect a login flow, or diagnose a selector, configure the allocator options instead of relying on the defaults. The README points to DefaultExecAllocatorOptions for changing Chrome’s default behavior.
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import (
"context"
"log"
"time"
"github.com/chromedp/chromedp"
)
func main() {
ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 30*time.Second)
defer cancel()
opts := append(chromedp.DefaultExecAllocatorOptions[:],
chromedp.Flag("headless", false),
)
allocCtx, allocCancel := chromedp.NewExecAllocator(ctx, opts...)
defer allocCancel()
taskCtx, taskCancel := chromedp.NewContext(allocCtx)
defer taskCancel()
if err := chromedp.Run(taskCtx,
chromedp.Navigate("https://example.com"),
); err != nil {
log.Fatal(err)
}
// Keep the browser open briefly so it can be observed.
time.Sleep(5 * time.Second)
}This example is for local diagnosis. For unattended jobs, headless operation is generally the expected mode. If your installed browser does not accept the selected option, check the browser executable and the precise versions used by your project.
Use an existing Chrome instance
chromedp can either start Chrome or connect to an instance that is already running. The project FAQ documents manually starting a long-running Chrome instance and connecting with RemoteAllocator. This approach is useful when browser startup is managed outside your Go process or when several tasks share a controlled browser endpoint.
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The connection lifecycle remains your responsibility: ensure the existing instance is reachable, keep its debugging endpoint protected, and cancel contexts when work ends. The README also notes Linux-specific cleanup behavior for browsers chromedp starts: it force-kills started Chrome child processes to avoid resource leaks. That behavior is different from managing a separately started, long-running instance.
Expand the example safely
Wait for a page condition
Modern pages may render content after the initial navigation completes. Use a selector-based wait before reading the value you need. Choose a selector that represents the state your task actually requires, and retain a context timeout so a missing element becomes a bounded failure.
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Wrap each logical browser operation in its own function or task list. Log the URL and operation when returning an error, but avoid logging credentials or sensitive page content. A timeout, a closed browser connection, and an explicit context cancellation can all stop a run; the surrounding operation should identify which stage was active.
Keep browser work isolated
Create a parent context for the browser allocation and child contexts for individual jobs. Cancel a child after each job so a failed navigation does not leave pending work attached to the next one. For concurrent jobs, design the browser and context ownership deliberately rather than sharing mutable page state accidentally.
Lifecycle and common first-run failures
“I cannot see a browser window”
Headless mode is the default. Use allocator options to disable headless mode while debugging, or add logging and inspect the returned values in a headless run.
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Chrome cannot be started
Confirm that Chrome or Chromium is installed and that the process can locate the executable. In a service, container, or restricted account, check the runtime user’s environment and permissions. If your deployment starts Chrome separately, use the documented remote-connection approach instead of asking chromedp to launch another process.
The command ends with context canceled
Context cancellation can be an intentional result of your timeout or deferred cleanup. It can also surface when the browser connection is lost. Check whether the deadline was reached, whether your code called the cancel function early, and whether the browser process exited. Increase the timeout only after confirming that the page legitimately needs more time.
Navigation succeeds but extraction is empty
The requested node may not exist yet, may be hidden, or may be inside a different document state than expected. Add a wait for the relevant selector and use the appropriate visibility condition. Also verify that the URL redirects to the page you think you are reading.
Linux leaves unexpected processes or fails under a supervisor
The README documents force-killing Chrome child processes that chromedp starts on Linux to avoid resource leaks. If your service needs a long-running browser, start it explicitly and connect with RemoteAllocator, then manage that process according to your service’s shutdown policy.
Where to find the next complete example
Start with the project’s examples and the package reference:
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- chromedp project README and examples — installation, FAQ material, allocator behavior, and links to workflows.
- chromedp package reference — exported types, functions, actions, and option details.
Use the smallest example that matches your task, then add one concern at a time: waiting, selector robustness, authentication handling, screenshots, downloads, or remote-browser lifecycle. Keep the browser and chromedp versions pinned and documented for reproducible builds.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is chromedp a browser or a Go library?
It is a Go client library that controls a separate Chrome-family browser through the Chrome DevTools Protocol.
Can I use chromedp without a graphical desktop?
Yes. Chrome runs headlessly by default, so a graphical desktop is not required for the normal first run.
Where are the official chromedp examples?
The project README at https://github.com/chromedp/chromedp links to the examples and the package reference.
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