ApiFlash captures a webpage by rendering a URL through its https://api.apiflash.com/v1/urltoimage endpoint. Send a valid access_key and a fully qualified URL, then save the returned image bytes. For full-page shots, JavaScript-rendered content, authenticated pages, output options, and common errors, the key is choosing the right parameters and keeping the API key off public clients.
Make your first ApiFlash screenshot request
ApiFlash accepts GET query parameters or POST form data. The default response is the screenshot itself, with an appropriate content type and content length. This cURL example saves the response to a file:
endpoint="https://api.apiflash.com/v1/urltoimage"
access_key="YOUR_ACCESS_KEY"
url="https://example.com"
curl --request GET --url "${endpoint}?access_key=${access_key}&url=${url}" > screenshot.jpegReplace YOUR_ACCESS_KEY with a key from the ApiFlash dashboard. The URL must include http:// or https://. For production code, URL-encode query parameter values; a URL containing ampersands, selectors, cookies, or JavaScript can otherwise be parsed incorrectly. ApiFlash requires a valid key for every call, as its API documentation states.
The example is intentionally minimal. A real integration should check the HTTP status before treating the response as an image, use an explicit output format and filename, and keep credentials server-side. ApiFlash also supports POST form submissions; those can be useful when parameter values are long or structured, but do not make a client-side secret safe.
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Python
import requests
response = requests.get(
"https://api.apiflash.com/v1/urltoimage",
params={
"access_key": "YOUR_ACCESS_KEY",
"url": "https://example.com",
"format": "png",
},
timeout=60,
)
response.raise_for_status()
with open("screenshot.png", "wb") as image_file:
image_file.write(response.content)Requests encodes the query parameters supplied in params. In a service that handles many captures, check the response headers and log the status and quota information rather than silently writing an error response to an image file.
Node.js
const params = new URLSearchParams({
access_key: process.env.APIFLASH_ACCESS_KEY,
url: "https://example.com",
format: "png",
});
const response = await fetch(
`https://api.apiflash.com/v1/urltoimage?${params}`,
{ signal: AbortSignal.timeout(60000) }
);
if (!response.ok) {
throw new Error(`ApiFlash returned HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
const image = Buffer.from(await response.arrayBuffer());
await import("node:fs/promises").then(fs => fs.writeFile("screenshot.png", image));Set APIFLASH_ACCESS_KEY in the server environment before running this code. The timeout is your caller’s limit; it is separate from ApiFlash’s documented content-wait settings.
Choose the capture dimensions and image format
Use the viewport dimensions that match the page context you want to inspect or publish. ApiFlash documents a default viewport of 1920 by 1080 pixels, subject to its pixel limits. Specify dimensions explicitly when reproducibility matters.
| Parameter | What it controls | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
width, height |
Viewport size; documented defaults are 1920 × 1080, subject to API pixel limits. | Match desktop or mobile layouts. Provide both dimensions to avoid relying on defaults. |
full_page=true |
Captures the full page; height is ignored in this mode. |
Use for long articles or page archives where below-the-fold content matters. |
format |
Accepts jpeg, png, or webp. |
Choose based on downstream compatibility and file-size needs. |
quality |
Compression quality for JPEG and WebP. | Set when trading file size against image fidelity; it does not apply to PNG. |
scale_factor=2 |
Produces high-definition output at a larger file size. | Use when sharper output is worth the additional bytes. |
element |
Captures the first element matching a CSS selector; ignored with full_page=true. |
Capture a card, chart, or component rather than the viewport. |
crop |
Defines left,top,width,height crop coordinates. |
Trim an area after rendering when a selector-based capture is not suitable. |
thumbnail_width |
Creates a proportional thumbnail. | Generate a smaller preview from a larger capture. |
PNG supports transparent when the page body background is transparent. Transparency does not turn an opaque webpage into a cutout; the page itself must have a transparent body background. A full-page capture and element capture address different needs: the former ignores the requested height, while the latter selector mode is ignored with full-page mode.
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Wait for JavaScript-rendered content
Modern pages often populate after the initial HTML arrives. ApiFlash documents three wait_until choices: dom_loaded, page_loaded, and network_idle; the documented default is network_idle. For a known component, use wait_for with its CSS selector. ApiFlash documents a 15-second wait limit for that selector and a 1–30 second range for wait_until_timeout.
Prefer a condition tied to the content over an arbitrary fixed delay. ApiFlash’s documentation recommends wait_for or wait_until where possible because they are more reliable for rendered content. Network activity can remain ongoing on analytics-heavy sites, however, so a selector that represents the content you need may be a better fit.
curl -G "https://api.apiflash.com/v1/urltoimage"
--data-urlencode "access_key=YOUR_ACCESS_KEY"
--data-urlencode "url=https://example.com/dashboard"
--data-urlencode "wait_until=page_loaded"
--data-urlencode "wait_until_timeout=20"
--data-urlencode "wait_for=.report-ready"
--data-urlencode "format=png"
-o dashboard.pngApiFlash also accepts a js parameter to inject JavaScript before capture. The vendor’s JavaScript injection guide, last updated February 9, 2024, says the script must be URL-encoded. Use injected JavaScript only when a wait condition or ordinary URL state is insufficient; page scripts can be site-specific and may fail when the target site’s structure changes.
Capture a page behind login
There is no single authentication parameter that works for every site. ApiFlash’s FAQ lists headers or cookies for passing tokens and session state, and JavaScript injection for automating a login flow. Choose based on the target’s actual authentication scheme.
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- Authorization header: use when the application accepts an API or bearer token in an HTTP header.
- Cookies: use when the session is represented by browser cookies. Pass the cookie value securely and URL-encode it.
- Login automation: use JavaScript injection only if the login page permits that flow and the necessary selectors and steps can be executed reliably.
Do not expose session cookies, bearer tokens, or the ApiFlash access key in browser JavaScript, public image URLs, client logs, or a page source. For a public-facing capture endpoint, put ApiFlash behind your own server or proxy, validate which target URLs callers may request, and rate-limit the route. ApiFlash provides an Nginx proxy guide that demonstrates key insertion at the proxy, target URL restrictions, and rate limiting.
Choose between image bytes, JSON, and direct storage
Keep the default binary response when your application can stream the screenshot bytes straight to local storage or an object store. Set response_type=json when you need ApiFlash’s generated screenshot URL or requested extraction links such as HTML or text. The JSON response is not itself the image bytes, so handle it separately from the default capture response.
ApiFlash also documents direct upload parameters for an AWS S3 bucket or compatible endpoint. That can reduce the amount of screenshot data routed through your own application server. Use it where the storage credentials, bucket permissions, and retention policy can be configured safely; do not place long-lived storage credentials in a public caller’s request.
Control caching, overlays, and page requests
ApiFlash’s documented screenshot cache TTL defaults to 86,400 seconds (one day); the maximum documented TTL is 2,592,000 seconds (30 days). Use fresh=true when a new render is needed instead of a cached screenshot. A cached response can save unnecessary repeated rendering, but it is unsuitable when the page changes and the screenshot must reflect its current state.
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The API documents no_cookie_banners, no_ads, and no_tracking options to remove common overlays or requests. Treat these as capture controls rather than a guarantee that every site’s consent interface or third-party element will be recognized.
Plan for quota, rate limits, and errors
ApiFlash documents a leaky-bucket limit of 20 requests per second with a burst size of 400. When the burst is exceeded, additional requests can return HTTP 429. The documentation also says identical failed captures are limited to five requests per hour. Avoid rapid retry loops: back off after throttling, and correct the underlying URL or capture condition before retrying a failed page.
Successful responses expose X-Quota-Limit, X-Quota-Remaining, and X-Quota-Reset headers. ApiFlash documents a quota endpoint at /v1/urltoimage/quota; consult the documentation for its request details and current account behavior.
| HTTP status | Documented meaning | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 400 | Invalid parameters or an uncapturable URL. | Check the URL scheme, parameter names, encoding, selector, and whether the target can be reached. |
| 401 | Invalid or revoked key. | Verify the server-side key and whether it remains active. |
| 402 | Monthly quota exceeded. | Check quota headers and account quota before sending more requests. |
| 403 | Unsupported plan feature. | Confirm the requested option is available on the account’s plan. |
| 429 | Too many requests. | Reduce concurrency and retry with backoff after the throttle window. |
| 500 | Internal capture failure. | Retry cautiously; distinguish transient capture failure from a persistently uncapturable page. |
Common capture problems
- The saved “image” is actually an error: check the HTTP status before writing the body to an image file. Error responses are not screenshots.
- The page looks incomplete: wait for a meaningful selector, adjust
wait_until, or use a longer permittedwait_until_timeout. A fixed delay may help in isolated cases but is less dependable. - The selector capture is blank or unexpected: confirm the CSS selector matches the intended first element, URL-encode it, and do not combine it with
full_page=true. - The authenticated page redirects to login: verify that the supplied header or cookie is valid for that domain and route; if the site requires an interactive flow, a token or cookie alone may not suffice.
- The request fails only for long parameters: use a URL-encoding client such as cURL’s
--data-urlencode, or submit the parameters as POST form data. - Repeated failures keep being throttled: ApiFlash limits identical failed captures to five requests per hour. Stop retrying unchanged input and diagnose the URL or parameter error first.
Performance and cost decisions
Capture latency and output size depend on the target page, wait condition, dimensions, full-page height, and scale factor. The documented defaults and limits do not establish a universal response time, so set caller timeouts for your application and monitor actual response status and duration. Larger viewports, full-page output, and scale_factor=2 can produce larger files; balance visual detail against storage and transfer needs.
The sources linked here do not establish a current ApiFlash price table. Check the current ApiFlash account or pricing information before estimating ongoing costs. For volume control, use quota headers, cache intentionally when freshness permits, and ensure your application handles 402 and 429 responses without creating retry storms.
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Or skip the browser setup
ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server for developers. Its one-call endpoint returns an image or PDF, while its capture flow accepts cookie/consent banners and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before taking the shot. Those steps can each be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits cost nothing; response headers indicate the page verdict and whether the capture was billed. Its MCP server provides take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients.
The example below saves a WebP screenshot; replace the target URL as needed. See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for parameters and setup.
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpThe free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 screenshots. Sign up free for ScreenshotNeo.
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Can ApiFlash return a screenshot URL instead of image bytes?
Yes. Set response_type=json to receive a JSON object containing a generated screenshot URL and requested extraction links.
Does ApiFlash support full-page screenshots and element screenshots together?
No. The element option is ignored when full_page=true; choose the capture mode that matches the output you need.
Can I use ApiFlash’s screenshot API from frontend JavaScript?
A browser can make HTTP requests, but the access key must not be exposed in client-side code or a public URL. Put authenticated requests behind a controlled server or proxy.
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