To capture network requests generated by an automated browser, attach request and response listeners before navigation or the action that triggers the traffic. Use Playwright events for passive logging, wait for a matching response when you need one API result, and use routing or a browser protocol when you need to intercept or change traffic. Only inspect traffic you are authorized to access.
Choose what to capture
“Scraping network requests” can mean several different things. Choose the least invasive API that returns the information you need:
- Request metadata: record the URL, method, and resource type as the browser sends each request.
- Response metadata: correlate a response with its URL and inspect status or headers once they arrive.
- Response body: read the body after the response has completed downloading. A response event alone does not mean the body is ready.
- Network interception: pause matching requests so you can modify, fulfill, or abort them. This changes browser behavior rather than merely observing it.
For broad logging, install listeners. For one known endpoint, wait for the corresponding request or response. For active interception, use Playwright routing or an appropriate browser protocol API.
Capture network requests with Playwright
Log requests and responses
Attach event handlers before calling goto() or triggering the page action. This minimal JavaScript example prints each request’s method and URL, then each response’s status and URL:
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page.on('request', request => {
console.log('>>', request.method(), request.url());
});
page.on('response', response => {
console.log('<<', response.status(), response.url());
});
await page.goto('https://example.com');Playwright’s network documentation says page requests, including XHR and fetch, can be tracked, modified, and handled: Playwright Network. The example above observes traffic; it does not change or block requests.
Wait for one request or response
When an action triggers a known API call, create the wait promise before performing the action, then await it. Otherwise, a fast request could happen before the wait is registered.
const responsePromise = page.waitForResponse('**/api/fetch_data');
await page.getByText('Update').click();
const response = await responsePromise;
console.log(response.status(), response.url());Playwright’s glob pattern must match the entire URL. The ** pattern can match across path separators; use a regular expression or predicate when the endpoint needs more precise matching, such as checking the host, query string, method, or response condition. See the Page API reference for waitForResponse and waitForRequest.
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If the needed data is in a response body, read it after the wait resolves and handle non-success statuses deliberately. For example, JSON APIs can be read with await response.json(); body-reading methods are documented in the Playwright Response API.
Use routing for network interception
Use page.route() or browserContext.route() when a matching request must be modified, fulfilled with a supplied response, or aborted. Routed requests stall until the handler deals with them, so always continue, fulfill, or abort each matching request as appropriate. For example, to log a request and let it proceed:
await page.route('**/api/**', async route => {
console.log(route.request().method(), route.request().url());
await route.continue();
});
await page.goto('https://example.com');Routing is not required for ordinary logging. Keep observation and interception separate unless the test needs to alter network behavior.
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Understand request, response, and completion events
These events represent different points in a request’s lifecycle:
- Request: the browser issues the request.
- Response: response status and headers have arrived.
- Request finished: the response body has finished downloading.
If the client does not receive an HTTP response because of a network error or timeout, Playwright can emit requestfailed instead. An HTTP error status such as 404 or 503 is still an HTTP response; it is not, by itself, a failed request. Use the response status to identify HTTP errors and failure events to investigate transport or loading problems. See Playwright’s Request API.
Choose Selenium WebDriver BiDi or CDP when appropriate
Selenium WebDriver BiDi
If the automation already uses Selenium, WebDriver BiDi can stream browser events over a WebSocket, including network events. Enable the webSocketUrl capability using the syntax for your Selenium language binding, then subscribe to the network events that binding and browser expose. The exact APIs and coverage depend on the browser, driver, Selenium binding, and their versions; verify the specific operation in your deployed environment rather than assuming every combination supports it.
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Selenium describes BiDi as the bidirectional path aligned with the W3C specification, with APIs growing as browser vendors implement the standard. Selenium’s CDP support is described as temporary while BiDi is implemented. Consult Selenium WebDriver BiDi documentation and the W3C WebDriver BiDi specification for current details.
Chrome DevTools Protocol
CDP is a lower-level option for direct Chrome protocol operations, not a cross-browser standard. Its Network domain provides request and response events and methods for tasks such as retrieving request post data or response bodies. Choose it when your automation specifically needs Chrome DevTools Protocol access and the library exposes the required Network-domain methods. Check the Chrome DevTools Protocol Network reference for current protocol details.
| Option | Best fit | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Playwright events | Passive logging or waiting for a request or response in a Playwright test | Use routing only when traffic must be handled or changed. |
| Selenium WebDriver BiDi | Event streaming in Selenium where the needed BiDi network operation is supported | Support varies by browser and binding as implementations evolve. |
| CDP Network domain | Direct access to Chrome protocol network events and methods | Chrome-specific protocol, not a cross-browser standard. |
Troubleshoot missing or unexpected traffic
The listener misses the request
Register listeners or create the wait promise before navigation or the click that triggers the call. If traffic may come from a popup, inspect the popup’s page as well as the original page; page-level listeners do not automatically mean every page in a context is covered.
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Playwright routing does not see a request
Check whether a Service Worker handles the traffic. Playwright warns that native page.route() and browserContext.route() may appear to miss requests when Service Workers are active. If the test permits disabling them, create the context with serviceWorkers: 'block'. If you need to observe or intercept Service Worker requests themselves, use Playwright’s dedicated Service Worker guidance instead.
A request appears failed even though the server returned an error
Distinguish an HTTP response with an error status from a request that never received an HTTP response. A 404 or 503 belongs to the response path; investigate requestfailed for connectivity errors, timeouts, or similar client-side failures.
BiDi events are unavailable
Confirm that the browser, driver, Selenium version, language binding, and enabled webSocketUrl capability support the event or command you need. BiDi implementations are evolving, so a feature present in one browser and binding may not be available in another.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Playwright’s response event mean the response body is ready?
No. The response event provides status and headers; request completion follows after the body has downloaded. Read the body after completion using the documented response methods.
Can Selenium BiDi and CDP be treated as interchangeable?
No. BiDi is a developing W3C bidirectional standard supported according to browser and binding; CDP is Chrome-specific. Check whether the exact event or operation you need is supported in your deployed setup.
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