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Read a JSON file, validate its URL list, then use Puppeteer to visit each URL and save a separate screenshot. The example below assumes this input shape: {"urls":["https://example.com","https://example.org"]}. It processes URLs sequentially, saves viewport PNGs, continues after an individual capture fails, and always closes the browser.
Set up the JSON input and Puppeteer
Use Node.js with Puppeteer’s managed Chrome for Testing browser. Puppeteer’s official guide demonstrates the core flow: launch a browser, open a page, navigate, call Page.screenshot(), and close the browser (Puppeteer screenshots guide). Install Puppeteer in a new project:
npm init -y
npm install puppeteerCreate urls.json in the project directory:
{
"urls": [
"https://example.com",
"https://example.org"
]
}The urls property and array-of-strings format are assumptions for this script, not a requirement imposed by Puppeteer. The script rejects invalid JSON or a missing or incorrectly typed urls property before starting Chrome. It skips blank entries and reports malformed or unsupported URL values individually.
Run a sequential screenshot script
Save the following as capture.js, alongside urls.json, then run node capture.js. It writes PNG files to a new screenshots folder, with a zero-padded index and hostname in each filename. Query strings and URL paths are not used as filenames, so they cannot accidentally create nested paths or overwrite another URL’s file.
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const fs = require('node:fs/promises');
const path = require('node:path');
const puppeteer = require('puppeteer');
const inputPath = path.join(__dirname, 'urls.json');
const outputDir = path.join(__dirname, 'screenshots');
async function readUrls() {
let text;
try {
text = await fs.readFile(inputPath, { encoding: 'utf8' });
} catch (error) {
throw new Error(`Could not read ${inputPath}: ${error.message}`);
}
let data;
try {
data = JSON.parse(text);
} catch (error) {
throw new Error(`Invalid JSON in ${inputPath}: ${error.message}`);
}
if (!data || typeof data !== 'object' || !Array.isArray(data.urls)) {
throw new Error('Expected a JSON object with a "urls" array.');
}
if (!data.urls.every((value) => typeof value === 'string')) {
throw new Error('Every entry in "urls" must be a string.');
}
return data.urls;
}
function parseHttpUrl(value, index) {
const trimmed = value.trim();
if (!trimmed) {
console.error(`Skipping URL ${index + 1}: value is blank.`);
return null;
}
try {
const url = new URL(trimmed);
if (url.protocol !== 'http:' && url.protocol !== 'https:') {
throw new Error('only http and https URLs are supported');
}
return url;
} catch (error) {
console.error(`Skipping URL ${index + 1}: ${error.message}`);
return null;
}
}
async function main() {
const values = await readUrls();
await fs.mkdir(outputDir, { recursive: true });
let browser;
const failures = [];
let completed = 0;
try {
browser = await puppeteer.launch();
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.setViewport({ width: 1365, height: 768, deviceScaleFactor: 1 });
for (let index = 0; index < values.length; index += 1) {
const url = parseHttpUrl(values[index], index);
if (!url) continue;
const filename = `${String(index + 1).padStart(4, '0')}-${url.hostname.replace(/[^a-zA-Z0-9.-]/g, '_')}.png`;
const screenshotPath = path.join(outputDir, filename);
try {
await page.goto(url.href, {
waitUntil: 'networkidle2',
timeout: 30000
});
await page.screenshot({ path: screenshotPath });
completed += 1;
console.log(`Saved ${screenshotPath}`);
} catch (error) {
failures.push({ index: index + 1, host: url.hostname, message: error.message });
console.error(`Failed URL ${index + 1} (${url.hostname}): ${error.message}`);
}
}
} finally {
if (browser) await browser.close();
}
console.log(`Finished: ${completed} screenshot(s) saved, ${failures.length} capture failure(s).`);
if (failures.length) process.exitCode = 1;
}
main().catch((error) => {
console.error(error.message);
process.exitCode = 1;
});The file read uses Node’s promise-based fs.readFile with UTF-8 encoding. Node documents this operation as reading the entire file into memory; for very large inputs, use a streaming or chunked design instead (Node.js filesystem documentation). The script reports errors by URL index and hostname rather than printing the full URL, which avoids exposing URL query values that may contain tokens.
Choose when a page is ready to capture
The example uses waitUntil: 'networkidle2', also shown in Puppeteer’s screenshot guide. It is a useful starting point, not proof that every page has finished rendering. Analytics, polling, streaming requests, or other persistent network activity can delay or prevent network idleness; a client-rendered page may also populate its important content after network activity settles.
Use a page-specific signal for dynamic content
If the screenshot depends on a particular element appearing, wait for it after navigation:
await page.goto(url.href, { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded', timeout: 30000 });
await page.waitForSelector('[data-ready="true"]', { timeout: 15000 });
await page.screenshot({ path: screenshotPath });Replace the selector with a signal that means the target page is ready, such as a report container or a specific heading. If the site offers an application-specific readiness signal, use that rather than assuming that a generic browser event means the content is complete. Puppeteer also provides page.waitForNetworkIdle(); it resolves after the network is idle and waits at least the configured idle time, but it is not a universal completion test (Page.waitForNetworkIdle API).
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Set a delay only when the page needs one
For content that appears after a known client-side delay and has no useful selector, wait explicitly before capturing:
await page.goto(url.href, { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded', timeout: 30000 });
await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 2000));
await page.screenshot({ path: screenshotPath });A fixed delay is a compromise: a longer wait costs time for every URL, while a shorter one may capture too early. Prefer a meaningful selector where possible.
Choose screenshot dimensions and output
The script sets a 1365-by-768 viewport at device scale factor 1 and saves the visible viewport as PNG. Change the viewport before navigation if you need a different desktop or mobile layout. A viewport capture is bounded by the configured dimensions; full-page capture can produce a much taller, larger image.
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await page.screenshot({ path: screenshotPath, fullPage: true });Puppeteer’s screenshot options include path, type, fullPage, clip, omitBackground, and quality. fullPage defaults to false; the filename extension can determine the image type when one is not explicitly set. JPEG quality applies when using JPEG output. See the ScreenshotOptions API for the current option details.
Capture a region or choose another image format
To capture a specific rectangle, provide a clip object with its position and dimensions. To choose a format explicitly, use type:
await page.screenshot({
path: screenshotPath,
type: 'jpeg',
quality: 85,
clip: { x: 0, y: 0, width: 800, height: 600 }
});For a transparent background, use omitBackground: true with a format that supports transparency, such as PNG. Avoid combining options without checking their applicability in the Puppeteer API, particularly format-specific quality settings.
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The example launches Puppeteer’s managed Chrome for Testing browser. Puppeteer says it works best with that downloaded browser and does not guarantee compatibility with arbitrary browser versions. If you instead install puppeteer-core, configure executablePath or channel when launching; otherwise, the browser location is not specified for it. Consult the launch API for launch configuration.
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Captures run sequentially, one URL at a time, sharing one page. This is a straightforward choice for moderate batches and predictable resource use. If throughput matters, consider a bounded number of concurrent pages, but choose the limit for your machine and pages and measure it: there is no universal safe concurrency number established here. More simultaneous pages consume more browser resources and can make failures harder to isolate.
The script keeps going after a navigation or screenshot error, records the failure, and exits with a nonzero status at the end if any captures failed. This makes it practical in automation while still surfacing an unsuccessful batch. The browser closes in finally, including when capture work throws. A process termination or machine shutdown cannot be handled by that cleanup path.
Troubleshoot common failures
- “Could not read” the JSON file: confirm that
urls.jsonis in the same directory ascapture.js, or changeinputPathto its actual location. The script resolves the path relative to the script, not the shell’s current directory. - “Invalid JSON”: check commas, quotation marks, brackets, and that the file contains JSON rather than JavaScript syntax or comments.
- Expected a JSON object with a “urls” array: use the stated object format, not a top-level array. Ensure every item in
urlsis a string. - URL skipped as malformed or unsupported: include the scheme, such as
https://, and use only HTTP or HTTPS URLs. Blank entries are skipped. - Navigation timeout: the host may be slow, unresponsive, or continuously active. Check whether the page is reachable, set a timeout suited to the sites, and consider
domcontentloadedfollowed by a page-specific selector rather than waiting for network idleness. - Screenshot is blank or missing late content: choose a better readiness condition and confirm the selector exists on that page. A navigation event alone does not guarantee that client-rendered data, fonts, or remote assets are ready.
- Browser launch fails: let Puppeteer install its supported Chrome for Testing browser, or, with
puppeteer-core, provide a validexecutablePathorchannel. Arbitrary browser versions are not guaranteed compatible. - Two captures overwrite one another: retain the index in the output filename or use a unique identifier for each input. Do not use an unmodified URL path as a filename.
- Output directory is missing: the script creates
screenshotsrecursively. If it still fails, check filesystem permissions and available disk space.
Or skip the browser setup
If you do not want to install and maintain Puppeteer and a local browser, ScreenshotNeo can return a screenshot from one GET request. Its API accepts image or PDF capture requests, and the call below saves a WebP response. See the ScreenshotNeo documentation for API parameters and response details.
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curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://example.com -o shot.webp- Cookie and consent banners are accepted before capture; the service removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets. Each of these steps can be turned off.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does the JSON file have to use a property named `urls`?
No. That is the input shape this example validates. Change `readUrls()` to match your own JSON structure.
Can I save a PDF instead of an image with Puppeteer?
Yes. Puppeteer has a separate `page.pdf()` method for PDF output; its options and behavior differ from screenshot options.
Can the script capture the same URL more than once?
Yes. Each valid array entry is processed independently and receives an index-based filename.
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