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The direct method: a comma-separated selector
Cheerio uses CSS selector syntax. To select several HTML tag names in one query, place the tags in a comma-separated list:
const cheerio = require('cheerio');
const $ = cheerio.load('<h1>Title</h1><p>Body</p><h2>Section</h2>');
const headings = $('h1, h2');The load() call creates a document-bound query function named $. The selector h1, h2 contains two alternatives, so the result includes every h1 and every h2 in the loaded document.
What the comma means—and what it does not mean
Comma-separated tags are alternatives
In $('h1, h2, h3'), the comma separates independent selector branches. An element only needs to match one branch to be selected. Add or remove tag names as your extraction task changes:
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const headings = $('h1, h2, h3');
const textBlocks = $('p, blockquote, li');
const media = $('img, video, audio');Adjacent selector parts are combined conditions
Do not confuse a comma with adjacent selector syntax. p.selected means a p element that also has the selected class. It is not equivalent to p, .selected, which means any paragraph or any element with that class.
const selectedParagraphs = $('p.selected'); // both conditions
const paragraphsOrSelected = $('p, .selected'); // either branchUse commas when you want different tag names. Use a compound selector when every match must satisfy multiple conditions.
A complete example you can adapt
This example loads a small document, selects three tag types, and prints each element’s tag name and text:
const cheerio = require('cheerio');
const html = `
<article>
<h1>Page title</h1>
<p>Introduction</p>
<h2>Details</h2>
<div>Other content</div>
</article>
`;
const $ = cheerio.load(html);
const wanted = $('h1, h2, p');
wanted.each((_, element) => {
console.log(element.tagName, $(element).text());
});The selector is the only part that changes when you need a different set of tags. For example, replace it with $('title, meta, link') to inspect those element types, or with $('table, ul, ol') to collect list and table containers.
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A global query searches the loaded document. When a page contains repeated components, scope the query to a container so that unrelated matches are excluded.
Pass a context
Cheerio’s query function accepts a selector and a context. Select the container first, then use that selection as the context for the tag list:
const article = $('.article');
const content = $('h2, p', article);Here, only h2 and p descendants of .article are considered.
Use .find() for descendant searches
The equivalent descendant query uses .find():
const content = $('.article').find('h2, p');.find('h2, p') searches for either tag inside the current selection. This is useful when you keep a reference to a component and perform several operations on its descendants.
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Scope nested components separately
If a document contains multiple articles, iterate over each one and run the same comma selector within that article:
$('.article').each((index, article) => {
const headingAndText = $(article).find('h2, p');
console.log('Article', index, headingAndText.text());
});Scoping this way prevents content from one component being mixed with another in your output.
Combine multiple tags with classes and attributes
Each branch in a comma-separated selector can have its own additional conditions. This lets you express “these tags, but only when they meet their respective rules”:
const targets = $('h1.page-title, h2.section-title, p.lede');The first branch selects an h1 with page-title; the second selects an h2 with section-title; the third selects a p with lede. A branch can also use an attribute selector:
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const resources = $('a[rel="nofollow"], img[loading="lazy"]');Keep each branch readable. If a selector becomes difficult to review, select a stable candidate set first and apply additional checks in JavaScript.
Handle untrusted values safely
Do not interpolate attacker-controlled text directly into selector syntax. A value inserted into an attribute selector can change the selector itself. Instead, select candidates with a fixed selector and compare the attribute value as data with .filter().
const wantedId = userProvidedId;
const matches = $('*[data-id]').filter((_, element) => {
return $(element).attr('data-id') === wantedId;
});The selector *[data-id] is constant. The untrusted value is used only in a JavaScript equality comparison, so quote characters or selector operators in the input cannot alter the query.
Extract values from the matched set
Read text
Calling .text() on a selection returns its combined text. For per-element processing, iterate with .each():
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$('h1, h2, h3').each((_, element) => {
labels.push($(element).text().trim());
});
console.log(labels);Read attributes by tag
Different tag branches often expose different attributes. Check the tag name before reading the relevant value:
const records = [];
$('a, img').each((_, element) => {
const node = $(element);
const tag = element.tagName;
records.push({
tag,
value: tag === 'a' ? node.attr('href') : node.attr('src'),
text: node.text().trim()
});
});This keeps the multi-tag selection in one query while preserving tag-specific extraction logic.
Keep the original element available
The callback receives the underlying element. Wrap it with $(element) whenever you need Cheerio methods such as .text(), .attr(), or .find().
Common mistakes and fixes
Only the last tag appears
Cause: the code called separate queries and overwrote the first variable, or used a selector without a comma.
Fix: keep the alternatives in one string, such as $('h1, h2, h3'), or store separate selections under different names.
The result is empty
Cause: the markup loaded by Cheerio does not contain the requested tags, the selector has a spelling error, or the query is scoped to the wrong context.
Fix: print or inspect the input HTML, test a simple selector such as $('body').length, then add the tag branches and context one at a time.
Unrelated content is included
Cause: a document-wide query is selecting matching tags outside the component you need.
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Fix: select the container first and call .find('tag1, tag2'), or pass the container as the query context.
A compound selector returns no matches
Cause: a selector such as p.selected requires both the tag and class on the same element.
Fix: use a comma if you meant alternatives, for example p, .selected, or correct the class and attribute conditions if both are required.
Input changes the selector’s meaning
Cause: user-controlled text was concatenated into a selector.
Fix: use a fixed candidate selector and compare the untrusted value in .filter(), as shown above.
Performance and maintainability considerations
A single comma-separated query is usually easier to maintain than several nearly identical loops. Keep the selector close to the extraction code, give the resulting selection a descriptive name, and scope it to the smallest useful container. Narrow contexts reduce accidental matches and make later markup changes easier to diagnose.
If each tag requires substantially different processing, one combined query can still be correct, but separate clearly named branches may be easier to read. Choose based on whether shared iteration logic outweighs tag-specific handling.
Version and scope note
This guidance reflects the Cheerio documentation available on September 29, 2026. Selector support can change between releases, so check the documentation for the exact Cheerio version pinned by your project. The documented API uses CSS selectors, load() to create the query function, comma-separated alternatives, contexts, and .find() for descendant searches.
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r = requests.get(
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params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"},
timeout=90,
)
r.raise_for_status()
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)Node.js
const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does the selector need spaces around the comma?
No. Both h1,h2 and h1, h2 express the same two alternatives; the spaced form is generally easier for people to read.
Can I add another tag later without changing the extraction loop?
Yes. Extend the selector string, for example from $('h1, h2') to $('h1, h2, h3'), while keeping the same iteration code if the processing is shared.
Which Cheerio version should I use?
Pin the version your project supports and consult that version’s documentation, because selector-engine behavior and APIs may change across releases.
The Bottom Line
For multiple tag names in Cheerio, use one comma-separated CSS selector—such as $('h1, h2, p')—and add a context or .find() when the search must stay inside a component.
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