To display a website screenshot in a PHP page, generate a signed Urlbox render link on your server with Urlbox’s Composer package, then use that link as an image’s src. For workflows that need to download or process the result, use Urlbox’s separate JSON endpoint, POST /v1/render/sync, with the project secret in a server-side Bearer-authenticated request. These are different request flows with different response shapes; keep the secret out of browser code in either case.
Use a signed render link for a screenshot in a PHP page
Urlbox accepts a webpage URL or HTML and can render screenshots and other outputs. Its PHP example uses the urlbox-php Composer package to create a signed URL, which the page can then load as an image. See the official PHP example and Urlbox documentation overview.
1. Install the Composer package
From your PHP project directory, install the package:
composer require urlbox/urlbox-phpThe PHP example identifies the Composer package as urlbox-php, but the available documentation does not specify a PHP version requirement or compatibility matrix. Check the package’s current Composer metadata and your project’s PHP version before deployment; do not assume Laravel compatibility from the standalone example.
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2. Generate the signed URL on the server
The following follows the documented client pattern. Replace the example URL with the public page you want to capture. Read credentials from environment variables or another server-side secret store rather than committing them to source control.
<?php
require __DIR__ . '/vendor/autoload.php';
use UrlboxScreenshotsUrlbox;
$apiKey = getenv('URLBOX_API_KEY');
$apiSecret = getenv('URLBOX_API_SECRET');
if (!$apiKey || !$apiSecret) {
throw new RuntimeException('Urlbox credentials are not configured.');
}
$urlbox = Urlbox::fromCredentials($apiKey, $apiSecret);
$options = [
'url' => 'https://example.com',
'width' => 1280,
'height' => 800,
];
$screenshotUrl = $urlbox->generateSignedUrl($options);
?>
<img src="<?= htmlspecialchars($screenshotUrl, ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8') ?>"
alt="Screenshot of example.com">Set URLBOX_API_KEY and URLBOX_API_SECRET in the PHP runtime environment. The PHP process generates the signature; only the resulting render URL is sent to the browser. Signed render links use HMAC-SHA256 over the query-string options, so changing signed options invalidates the token. For production links that may be public, follow Urlbox’s guidance on secure links in its quickstart and render-link documentation.
Choose capture options to match the page
The render-link approach is convenient when the result belongs directly in an HTML page. Urlbox documents these options for screenshot behavior:
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full_page: truecaptures the full page. The default stitch approach scrolls down to trigger lazy-loaded content and measure page height.skip_scroll: truecan avoid that initial scrolling behavior and may reduce render time, but can affect content that loads only when scrolled into view.- Stitch mode scrolls and combines page sections to support more layouts. Native full-page capture is faster, but the documentation cautions that it is less reliable on some sites.
full_widthcan help capture pages with horizontal scrolling. Useselectorto target a specific CSS element rather than the whole page.- For very tall or wide images, the screenshot guide lists maximum dimensions of 65,535 by 65,535 for JPEG and 16,383 by 16,383 for WebP. It recommends PNG for full-page captures without those size limits.
Check the current screenshot options documentation for option names and formats before building a production request.
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If PHP needs to receive render metadata, download the output, or pass it to another service, use the documented synchronous JSON endpoint instead of embedding a render link. The current API reference gives the base URL as https://api.urlbox.com and the endpoint as POST /v1/render/sync. It accepts JSON or form-encoded options and requires either a publicly accessible url or html. Authentication for this endpoint is the project secret in an Authorization: Bearer header.
Runnable PHP cURL example
This example sends JSON from PHP to the named synchronous endpoint, decodes the response, and prints the returned render URL. It does not expose the secret to the browser.
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<?php
$secret = getenv('URLBOX_API_SECRET');
if (!$secret) {
throw new RuntimeException('URLBOX_API_SECRET is not configured.');
}
$payload = [
'url' => 'https://example.com',
'format' => 'png',
];
$ch = curl_init('https://api.urlbox.com/v1/render/sync');
curl_setopt_array($ch, [
CURLOPT_POST => true,
CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER => true,
CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER => [
'Authorization: Bearer ' . $secret,
'Content-Type: application/json',
'Accept: application/json',
],
CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS => json_encode($payload, JSON_THROW_ON_ERROR),
]);
$responseBody = curl_exec($ch);
if ($responseBody === false) {
$error = curl_error($ch);
curl_close($ch);
throw new RuntimeException('Urlbox request failed: ' . $error);
}
$status = curl_getinfo($ch, CURLINFO_HTTP_CODE);
curl_close($ch);
if ($status < 200 || $status >= 300) {
throw new RuntimeException('Urlbox returned HTTP ' . $status . ': ' . $responseBody);
}
$response = json_decode($responseBody, true, 512, JSON_THROW_ON_ERROR);
if (empty($response['renderUrl'])) {
throw new RuntimeException('Urlbox response did not include renderUrl.');
}
echo htmlspecialchars($response['renderUrl'], ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8');The API response includes renderUrl and size information. The quickstart says that this URL expires after 30 days; download the result or configure storage if the application needs to retain it longer. Confirm response fields and available options against the live API reference and quickstart.
Do not mix endpoint authentication rules
The current reference for POST /v1/render/sync specifies Bearer authentication. A separate legacy Post API page describes a different /v1/render endpoint using HTTP Basic authentication with the secret as the username. Do not combine the legacy endpoint’s authentication instructions with the synchronous endpoint shown above. Name and follow the documentation for the exact endpoint used.
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Choose between the two PHP integration patterns
| Need | Signed render link | JSON POST endpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Typical use | Put the screenshot directly in a page with an image element. | Have the PHP application handle the API response for a server-side workflow. |
| Request pattern | Composer client generates a URL signed with the project credentials. | PHP sends JSON or form-encoded options to POST /v1/render/sync. |
| Authentication | Generate the signed URL server-side; do not disclose the project secret. | Send the project secret in the Bearer Authorization header from the server. |
| Output handling | Use the generated URL as an image source. | Parse the JSON response, which includes a temporary renderUrl and size information. |
| Retention consideration | Use the render-link flow for the page display it documents. | The returned URL expires after 30 days; download the output or configure storage when longer retention is needed. |
India-specific setup, billing, and deployment notes
The Urlbox documentation cited here does not establish India-specific PHP or Laravel support, rupee pricing, GST treatment, or local payment options. For billing, use Urlbox’s live pricing page: it lists Lo-Fi at $19/month for up to 2,000 renders, Hi-Fi at $49/month for up to 5,000, Ultra at $99/month for up to 15,000, Business at a $495 monthly base plus $3 per 1,000 renders, and Enterprise from $3,000/month. The page says prices exclude VAT at the prevailing rate. These are listed plan prices, not India-specific quotes; confirm current terms with Urlbox and assess applicable Indian tax obligations for your situation.
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Estimate volume from actual render requests and the capture modes your application needs. Full-page stitching may take longer than native capture because it scrolls and combines sections; native mode trades speed for reliability on some layouts. For retention, include the cost and implementation work of downloading output or using configured storage rather than assuming a temporary URL is permanent.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting common PHP integration problems
- The Composer class cannot be loaded: confirm the package is installed in the project that runs the PHP code, include
vendor/autoload.php, and importUrlboxScreenshotsUrlboxwith the correct namespace. - Credentials are empty or invalid: verify that both environment variables are available to the PHP process, not only to an interactive shell. Keep the secret server-side and confirm that the credentials belong to the intended Urlbox project.
- The signed link stops working after an option change: regenerate it after changing query options. The signature depends on those options, so editing them after signing invalidates it.
- The JSON request is unauthorized: for
/v1/render/sync, send the secret asAuthorization: Bearer .... Do not substitute the legacy/v1/renderpage’s Basic-auth pattern. - The API rejects the capture target: the synchronous API requires a publicly accessible URL or HTML. Check that the submitted payload includes one of those fields and that its JSON encoding is valid.
- The image misses lazy-loaded content: use full-page stitching, which scrolls to trigger lazy elements; avoiding the scroll can be faster but may omit content that has not loaded.
- A full-page capture fails on a complex layout: try stitch mode rather than native capture, or target a specific element with
selector. For oversized output, consider PNG where JPEG or WebP dimension limits apply. - A previously returned render URL no longer works: the quickstart describes the JSON API’s
renderUrlas expiring after 30 days. Download it earlier or configure storage for longer-term use.
Or skip the browser setup
For a one-call screenshot API alternative, ScreenshotNeo returns a screenshot or PDF from a GET request. It removes cookie/consent banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; bot checks, blank pages, failed loads, timeouts, and cache hits are not billed. Its MCP server lets AI agents use take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots a month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000.
Install the PHP HTTP client if needed, then make the request from your server. Keep the API key private. See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for request parameters and response behavior.
<?php
$response = file_get_contents(
'https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?access_key=' . rawurlencode(getenv('SCREENSHOTNEO_API_KEY')) .
'&url=' . rawurlencode('https://example.com')
);
if ($response === false) {
throw new RuntimeException('ScreenshotNeo request failed.');
}
file_put_contents(__DIR__ . '/shot.webp', $response);Sign up for ScreenshotNeo’s free plan: 1,000 screenshots a month, no card required.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Urlbox PHP example in Laravel?
The cited PHP example documents a Composer client, but the available official documentation does not establish a Laravel compatibility matrix. Confirm package and framework compatibility for your application before deployment.
Does Urlbox provide India-specific pricing or GST details?
The cited pricing page lists prices in dollars and says prices exclude VAT at the prevailing rate; it does not establish rupee pricing or Indian GST treatment. Check the live pricing page and confirm tax treatment for your circumstances.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
