On Debian, PHP can create a website screenshot by launching an installed Chrome or Chromium executable with proc_open() and Chrome’s --headless --screenshot options. On PHP 7.4 and later, use the argument-array form to avoid shell parsing. Set the process working directory to the folder where you want Chrome to write screenshot.png, and check the exit code and error output.
What you need before writing the PHP code
- A Chrome or Chromium executable installed on the Debian host and readable/executable by the account running PHP.
- PHP with the process-control functions enabled, including
proc_open(). - An output directory that exists and is writable by the PHP process.
- A URL the browser process can reach, plus enough time and memory for the page to render.
The Debian Reference lists Chromium, but package availability and installation commands depend on Debian release and architecture. Confirm the appropriate package and executable path for your target system in the Debian Reference and the documentation for that release; the available documentation does not establish one universal apt command, version, or binary path. Do not assume Chrome and Chromium use the same executable name or installation location.
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Set the executable path explicitly in your application configuration or determine it on the target host, then use that exact path. Headless Chrome runs without displaying a browser UI. Since Chrome 112, its unified Headless mode shares the browser implementation with headful Chrome; beginning with Chrome 132.0.6793.0, the old, separate Headless implementation is offered as a standalone chrome-headless-shell binary. Chrome describes the full browser as the more authentic, feature-complete choice for high-accuracy testing, while the shell has fewer dependencies and may suit simpler screenshot jobs. See Chrome Headless mode.
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Capture a viewport screenshot with PHP 7.4 or later
The following complete example uses PHP’s array-form proc_open(). Replace the browser path, URL, and output directory with values for your Debian deployment. The code is schematic and has not been executed in the documented environment, so validate it and the browser setup on your host.
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<?php
$chrome = '/path/to/chrome-or-chromium';
$url = 'https://example.com/';
$outputDir = '/absolute/path/to/output';
$command = [
$chrome,
'--headless',
'--screenshot',
'--window-size=1280,900',
$url,
];
$descriptors = [
0 => ['pipe', 'r'],
1 => ['pipe', 'w'],
2 => ['pipe', 'w'],
];
$pipes = [];
$process = proc_open($command, $descriptors, $pipes, $outputDir);
if (!is_resource($process)) {
throw new RuntimeException('Could not start Chrome');
}
fclose($pipes[0]);
$stdout = stream_get_contents($pipes[1]);
$stderr = stream_get_contents($pipes[2]);
fclose($pipes[1]);
fclose($pipes[2]);
$exitCode = proc_close($process);
if ($exitCode !== 0) {
throw new RuntimeException("Chrome failed: $stderrn$stdout");
}
$screenshotPath = $outputDir . '/screenshot.png';
if (!is_file($screenshotPath)) {
throw new RuntimeException('Chrome exited without creating screenshot.png');
}
echo "Saved screenshot to {$screenshotPath}n";On PHP 7.4 and later, proc_open() accepts a command array and starts the executable directly rather than routing it through a shell. That avoids shell interpretation of arguments, but it does not make an untrusted URL safe to fetch. Validate or restrict URL inputs if users can supply them. PHP documents the process API at proc_open().
Where the screenshot goes
Chrome’s --screenshot option writes screenshot.png to its current working directory. The fourth argument to proc_open() sets that directory in this example, making the output location predictable. Ensure it already exists and that the PHP account can write there. Chrome documents this behavior in its Headless command-line reference.
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What the dimensions mean
--window-size=1280,900 sets the browser viewport to 1280 by 900 CSS pixels for the capture. Change the two numbers to match the layout you need. Chrome’s CLI documentation gives --window-size=412,892 as an example. A viewport screenshot is not automatically a full-document screenshot: making the viewport very tall does not guarantee that content beyond it is captured. Full-page capture needs additional handling, such as scrolling, resizing, or browser automation/protocol commands.
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Use a safe command string on PHP versions before 7.4
Before PHP 7.4, proc_open() takes a command string rather than an argument array. Quote each individual argument with escapeshellarg(); do not concatenate an untrusted URL or other user-controlled text directly into a shell command.
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<?php
$chrome = '/path/to/chrome-or-chromium';
$url = 'https://example.com/';
$outputDir = '/absolute/path/to/output';
$command = implode(' ', array_map('escapeshellarg', [
$chrome,
'--headless',
'--screenshot',
'--window-size=1280,900',
$url,
]));
$descriptors = [
0 => ['pipe', 'r'],
1 => ['pipe', 'w'],
2 => ['pipe', 'w'],
];
$pipes = [];
$process = proc_open($command, $descriptors, $pipes, $outputDir);
if (!is_resource($process)) {
throw new RuntimeException('Could not start Chrome');
}
fclose($pipes[0]);
$stdout = stream_get_contents($pipes[1]);
$stderr = stream_get_contents($pipes[2]);
fclose($pipes[1]);
fclose($pipes[2]);
$exitCode = proc_close($process);
if ($exitCode !== 0) {
throw new RuntimeException("Chrome failed: $stderrn$stdout");
}
$screenshotPath = $outputDir . '/screenshot.png';
if (!is_file($screenshotPath)) {
throw new RuntimeException('Chrome exited without creating screenshot.png');
}
echo "Saved screenshot to {$screenshotPath}n";escapeshellarg() quotes one argument; it is not a general command sanitizer. Keep the executable and option list controlled by your application, validate URLs separately, and prefer array-form proc_open() when possible. See PHP’s escapeshellarg() manual.
Control capture timing and page completeness
Chrome’s CLI --timeout option sets a maximum time in milliseconds before screenshot capture proceeds, even if the page is still loading. It is a deadline, not proof that a particular page has finished rendering. For example, a page may still be loading images, fonts, scripts, or late network content when the deadline arrives.
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Choose a wait policy according to the target page. The CLI screenshot command offers no universal readiness test for every site, and the cited documentation does not establish a single delay that works reliably across pages. If a page requires waiting for a specific element, network state, or client-side rendering step, use browser automation or protocol commands that can express that condition. Treat full-page capture as a separate requirement rather than assuming the viewport flags provide it.
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Troubleshoot common failures
- PHP cannot start the browser: Check that the configured executable exists, is executable by the PHP account, and is compatible with the host. Capture and inspect
stderr; do not assume a fixed Chrome or Chromium path. - No screenshot appears: Confirm that the output directory exists and is writable, that it is the working directory passed to
proc_open(), and that Chrome exits successfully. Check forscreenshot.pngin that directory. - The image is the wrong size or cuts off content: Verify
--window-size=WIDTH,HEIGHT. These dimensions define the viewport; they do not by themselves implement full-page capture. - The page is blank or incomplete: Check the URL from the Debian host and inspect browser errors. Increase the capture deadline where appropriate, but remember that
--timeoutis only a maximum wait, not a page-readiness guarantee. - Command arguments break on older PHP: Use PHP 7.4+ array-form
proc_open()if available. Otherwise quote every individual argument withescapeshellarg()and avoid incorporating raw user input into a command string.
Reliability, performance, and cost considerations
Each capture starts or invokes a browser process, so account for browser startup and page-loading time in request deadlines and worker capacity. A complex, script-heavy page can take longer and use more resources than a simple page; the cited documentation does not establish a universal runtime or memory figure. For repeated or scheduled captures, run this work in a controlled background job rather than allowing arbitrary requests to launch unlimited browser processes.
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Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFrequently Asked Questions
Does this PHP example capture a full webpage?
No. The documented --screenshot command captures the viewport; full-page capture requires additional handling.
Can I use Chromium instead of Google Chrome?
Yes, if Chromium is installed and you set $chrome to its actual executable path on that Debian system.
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