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To add Microlink screenshots to a WordPress website preview plugin, request a screenshot for a validated target URL with WordPress’s HTTP API, check the response, cache the result in a transient, and render the returned image URL. Use Microlink’s JSON response when the plugin needs image metadata; choose its direct-image embed mode when the page only needs an image source.
Choose how the preview should be delivered
Microlink’s screenshot API takes the page URL and a screenshot parameter. In its normal JSON workflow, the response contains a hosted screenshot asset URL and metadata. That gives a plugin room to inspect the result before displaying it. If the plugin only needs an image source, Microlink also documents a direct-image mode using embed=screenshot.url.
| Delivery | Use it when | What the plugin receives |
|---|---|---|
| JSON response | You need screenshot metadata, need to validate the returned data, or may use additional response fields. | Structured response data including the hosted screenshot URL. |
| Direct image embed | You need only an image source for markup. | The selected screenshot field as an image response with an appropriate content type. |
For a link card, a viewport screenshot is usually a more compact preview than a full-page image. That is a design choice, not a measured performance guarantee. Microlink’s direct-image mode is documented at https://microlink.io/docs/api/parameters/embed.
Build a server-side WordPress request
Use WordPress’s HTTP API rather than introducing a separate HTTP client for an ordinary server-side GET request. The example below accepts a target URL, uses wp_safe_remote_get() because the URL may be user-controlled, checks transport and HTTP errors, decodes JSON, and verifies that a screenshot URL is present before returning it.
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<?php
function my_preview_microlink_screenshot( $target_url ) {
$target_url = esc_url_raw( $target_url );
if ( ! $target_url || ! wp_http_validate_url( $target_url ) ) {
return new WP_Error( 'invalid_preview_url', 'Enter a valid website URL.' );
}
$cache_key = 'my_preview_' . md5( $target_url );
$cached = get_transient( $cache_key );
if ( false !== $cached ) {
return $cached;
}
$endpoint = add_query_arg(
array(
'url' => $target_url,
'screenshot' => 'true',
),
'https://api.microlink.io/'
);
$response = wp_safe_remote_get(
$endpoint,
array(
'timeout' => 20,
'redirection' => 3,
'headers' => array( 'Accept' => 'application/json' ),
)
);
if ( is_wp_error( $response ) ) {
return $response;
}
$status = wp_remote_retrieve_response_code( $response );
if ( $status < 200 || $status >= 300 ) {
return new WP_Error( 'microlink_http_error', 'The screenshot service returned an unsuccessful response.' );
}
$data = json_decode( wp_remote_retrieve_body( $response ), true );
if ( ! is_array( $data ) || empty( $data['data']['screenshot']['url'] ) ) {
return new WP_Error( 'microlink_missing_screenshot', 'No screenshot was returned for this page.' );
}
$result = array(
'url' => esc_url_raw( $data['data']['screenshot']['url'] ),
'width' => isset( $data['data']['screenshot']['width'] ) ? absint( $data['data']['screenshot']['width'] ) : 0,
'height' => isset( $data['data']['screenshot']['height'] ) ? absint( $data['data']['screenshot']['height'] ) : 0,
);
if ( ! $result['url'] ) {
return new WP_Error( 'microlink_invalid_image_url', 'The screenshot response did not contain a usable image URL.' );
}
set_transient( $cache_key, $result, HOUR_IN_SECONDS );
return $result;
}
function my_preview_render_screenshot( $target_url ) {
$shot = my_preview_microlink_screenshot( $target_url );
if ( is_wp_error( $shot ) ) {
return '<p>Preview image is unavailable.</p>';
}
return sprintf(
'<img src="%1$s" alt="Website preview" loading="eager" />',
esc_url( $shot['url'] )
);
}
?>Microlink’s screenshot parameter and response structure are described in its screenshot API documentation. WordPress documents request and response helpers in its HTTP API reference. The sample uses a one-hour transient expiration as an implementation default; choose a period that matches how quickly the pages shown in your preview should reflect changes.
Adapt request options deliberately
- Full page: Set
fullPageto capture the entire scrollable page instead of only the visible viewport. The documented default isfalse. - Image format: Choose
typeas PNG or JPEG; the documented default is PNG. - JPEG quality: Use
qualityfrom 0 to 100 for JPEG output only. The documented default is 80. - One element: Set
elementto a CSS selector to capture a matching DOM element; Microlink documents waiting for that element to become visible.
These screenshot options are documented in Microlink’s SDK screenshot parameter reference. Add only controls your plugin’s users need: full-page images can be much taller than card previews, while an element selector is useful when the desired image is a specific page component.
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Validate inputs and protect public preview generation
Any URL entered by a user is untrusted. WordPress explicitly recommends wp_safe_remote_get() when making requests to user-controlled URLs; it validates the requested URL and helps guard against unsafe destinations. See the WordPress function reference.
- Decide whether screenshot generation is available only to editors or administrators, or to public visitors as well. Check capabilities on privileged actions.
- Validate and normalize submitted URLs before building the API request. Do not accept arbitrary request destinations without safeguards.
- Set reasonable request timeouts and redirect limits. A remote capture can take longer than a local lookup, but an unbounded wait can tie up PHP workers.
- For public preview routes, set rate limits and abuse controls so visitors cannot consume the plugin’s API allowance without limit.
- For authenticated WordPress REST routes, follow WordPress nonce and cookie guidance to protect authenticated requests from cross-site request forgery. Public routes need their own authorization and abuse policy.
WordPress’s REST API guidance for cookie authentication and nonces is at https://developer.wordpress.org/rest-api/using-the-rest-api/authentication/.
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Cache by URL and capture settings
WordPress Transients store temporary values with an expiration and are suitable for caching a screenshot URL or response data. A cache key should include every input that changes the captured result—not just the page URL. For example, include full-page mode, format, quality, element selector, and any relevant viewport or display settings when those options are exposed.
Pick the expiration by the preview’s freshness needs. A mostly static directory listing may tolerate longer reuse; a frequently changing page may need a shorter lifetime. Caching reduces repeat API requests for the same input, but it also means a changed source page may not appear until the cached entry expires or is cleared. WordPress explains transient behavior in its Transients API documentation. Microlink also lists configurable cache TTL among Pro features in its API overview; do not assume a particular retention period beyond the terms shown for your account.
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Use direct-image mode for markup-only previews
If no JSON fields are needed, request the screenshot field directly by adding embed=screenshot.url to the Microlink request. The response is then the selected image field with an image content type, which can simplify the image-source workflow. Treat the response as an image rather than decoding it as JSON; check the request result and handle failures before emitting a source URL. The mode is documented at Microlink’s embed parameter reference.
Or skip the browser setup
For a screenshot endpoint without configuring your own browser workflow, ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server. A single GET request can return an image or PDF; its capture can accept cookie banners and remove more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets, with each step independently switchable. Bot checks, blank pages, failed loads, timeouts, and cache hits are not billed, and response headers identify the page verdict and billing status. Its MCP server provides take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for AI agents.
One-call cURL example, using the documented endpoint and parameters (see the ScreenshotNeo API docs):
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Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
WordPress returns a WP_Error. |
The HTTP request failed at the transport or safety-validation layer, or timed out. | Check that the submitted URL is valid and publicly reachable, retain safe URL handling, and adjust the timeout only to a bounded value appropriate for the route. |
| The service responds with a non-success status. | The remote request was rejected or could not be completed. | Check the request URL and screenshot parameters, inspect the response status for logs, and show a graceful preview-unavailable state rather than breaking the page. |
| JSON decoding fails or screenshot data is missing. | The response may not be the expected JSON workflow, or the capture did not yield screenshot data. | Confirm that the request did not use direct-image embed mode, validate the decoded structure before indexing it, and handle missing image URLs as a recoverable error. |
The rendered img is broken. |
The stored asset URL may be absent, invalid, or no longer usable. | Escape the URL for the HTML attribute, avoid caching malformed results, and permit a later retry after the transient expires or is cleared. |
| Visitors can trigger too many captures. | A public feature lacks suitable access and abuse controls. | Restrict generation where possible, enforce rate limits, and cache repeated requests using keys that include capture settings. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this approach require a WordPress screenshot plugin to already exist?
No. It is an integration pattern for adding screenshot generation to a plugin; it does not rely on a particular existing plugin.
Can I use Microlink without an API key?
Microlink’s screenshot guide currently describes 25 requests per day without an API key; verify its current terms and quota before relying on that allowance.
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