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To generate a PDF from the page Selenium has rendered, navigate to the URL, call Selenium’s print-page API, decode the returned Base64 string, and write the bytes to a .pdf file. In Python, the essential call is driver.print_page(print_options). This prints the current DOM as a PDF representation; it does not download a PDF that a server is already hosting.
Generate a PDF from the current page in Python
The following follows Selenium’s documented print-page flow. It starts Chrome in headless mode, opens a page, prints it, decodes the Base64 response, and saves page.pdf. See Selenium’s Print Page documentation and the browser example at Working with windows and tabs.
from base64 import b64decode
from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.common.print_page_options import PrintOptions
options = webdriver.ChromeOptions()
options.add_argument("--headless")
driver = webdriver.Chrome(options=options)
try:
driver.get("https://example.com")
print_options = PrintOptions()
pdf_base64 = driver.print_page(print_options)
with open("page.pdf", "wb") as output:
output.write(b64decode(pdf_base64))
finally:
driver.quit()Install Selenium with pip install selenium, and ensure a compatible Chromium browser and driver are available. Selenium Manager can resolve drivers in many current installations, but your CI image still needs a browser. The returned value is text containing Base64-encoded PDF data, so decode it before opening the destination in binary mode.
Wait until the page is ready
driver.get() waits for the browser’s normal page-load condition, but JavaScript applications may continue rendering afterward. Use an explicit wait for the content that must appear in the PDF.
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from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
from selenium.webdriver.support.ui import WebDriverWait
from selenium.webdriver.support import expected_conditions as EC
# after driver.get(...)
WebDriverWait(driver, 30).until(
EC.visibility_of_element_located((By.CSS_SELECTOR, "main.report"))
)
For charts, images, or fonts loaded asynchronously, wait for a page-specific “ready” element or for the relevant image elements to report complete in JavaScript. A fixed sleep can work as a last resort, but it makes runs slower when the page is already ready and unreliable when it is not.
Configure paper, orientation, margins, and backgrounds
Selenium’s PrintOptions exposes common print controls, including orientation, page dimensions, margins, backgrounds, and selected pages or page ranges. Exact property names can vary by language binding and Selenium release, so check the API reference that matches your installed binding.
from selenium.webdriver.common.print_page_options import PrintOptions
print_options = PrintOptions()
print_options.orientation = "landscape"
print_options.background = True
print_options.margin_top = 0.4
print_options.margin_bottom = 0.4
print_options.margin_left = 0.4
print_options.margin_right = 0.4
# A page range can be supplied when supported by your binding:
# print_options.page_ranges = ["1-3"]
pdf_base64 = driver.print_page(print_options)
Use the orientation value supported by your binding—typically portrait or landscape. Dimensions and margins are generally expressed in inches in Selenium’s print options. If your output ignores a setting, verify the installed Selenium version and the binding’s property names rather than assuming the browser supports every option identically.
Make CSS control the paper size
For predictable layouts, add print-specific CSS to the page:
<style>
@media print {
@page { size: A4; margin: 12mm; }
.page-break { break-before: page; }
nav, .screen-only { display: none !important; }
}
</style>Whether the browser honors CSS page-size preferences can depend on the print implementation and options. Test the generated document with the same browser version used in production.
Print only after dynamic content has settled
Selenium prints the state currently rendered in the browser. It will not magically include content that has not loaded, content hidden behind an interaction, or a virtualized list that has never been rendered.
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- Wait for a report container, chart canvas, or “loaded” marker.
- Scroll or trigger the application’s “load more” behavior before printing when content is lazy-rendered.
- Expand accordions and tabs if their contents must appear.
- Set a sufficiently large window size when responsive breakpoints change the document layout.
- Use print CSS to hide navigation, cookie notices, and controls that should not appear on paper.
Authentication must be completed before the print call. You can log in through Selenium, restore a session cookie, or navigate to a page that is already accessible to the browser context. Do not put credentials in a URL.
Printing versus downloading an existing PDF
Print the rendered HTML page
This workflow navigates to HTML and calls print_page(). The browser lays out the current page and returns newly generated PDF data.
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Download a PDF served by a URL
If a link responds with application/pdf, it is an existing file download, not a page-print operation. Use an HTTP client or a browser download workflow appropriate to your authentication and deployment environment. The Selenium print documentation does not establish one universal download recipe for authenticated files and all browsers, so keep download handling separate from PDF printing.
Chromium-specific control with the DevTools Protocol
When you need options beyond Selenium’s common print settings, Chromium’s DevTools Protocol provides Page.printToPDF. Its documented parameters include landscape mode, print backgrounds, page ranges, header and footer templates, explicit paper dimensions and margins, CSS page-size preference, streaming output, and tagged-PDF generation. See the Page domain reference.
result = driver.execute_cdp_cmd("Page.printToPDF", {
"printBackground": True,
"landscape": False,
"preferCSSPageSize": True,
"displayHeaderFooter": False
})
with open("page.pdf", "wb") as output:
output.write(b64decode(result["data"]))This is Chromium-specific, and some protocol parameters are experimental. Use it when you control Chromium and need those additional controls; use Selenium’s print API when WebDriver portability is more important.
| Approach | Best for | Portability | Notable controls |
|---|---|---|---|
Selenium print_page() |
Standard WebDriver automation | WebDriver-oriented; output can differ by browser | Orientation, dimensions, margins, backgrounds, page ranges |
Chromium Page.printToPDF |
Chromium-only pipelines needing fine control | Chromium-specific | Headers/footers, CSS page size, streaming, tagged PDF, ranges |
Selenium’s browser documentation notes that Chromium printing requires headless mode in its example. Verify the requirement against your targeted browser and current Selenium release. Selenium supports multiple browsers, but capabilities and output are not identical; its Supported Browsers page and the Firefox Python API describe browser-specific behavior. Firefox’s API describes a best-effort PDF based on supplied parameters, so validate pagination and fonts on the browser you deploy.
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from base64 import b64decode
from pathlib import Path
from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.common.print_page_options import PrintOptions
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
from selenium.webdriver.support.ui import WebDriverWait
from selenium.webdriver.support import expected_conditions as EC
def html_to_pdf(url: str, output_path: str) -> None:
options = webdriver.ChromeOptions()
options.add_argument("--headless")
driver = webdriver.Chrome(options=options)
try:
driver.get(url)
WebDriverWait(driver, 30).until(
EC.presence_of_element_located((By.CSS_SELECTOR, "body"))
)
print_options = PrintOptions()
print_options.background = True
data = driver.print_page(print_options)
Path(output_path).write_bytes(b64decode(data))
finally:
driver.quit()
html_to_pdf("https://example.com", "page.pdf")The body wait only confirms that a document exists. Replace it with a selector that represents the finished application state for real reports.
Troubleshooting common failures
“Print” is unavailable or returns an error
With Chromium, add headless mode and confirm that the browser and driver versions are compatible. In containers, also verify that the browser can start with the available sandbox and shared-memory settings.
The PDF is blank or missing sections
The print call captured the page before JavaScript finished, or the content is virtualized or hidden. Wait for a meaningful selector, trigger expansion or scrolling, and inspect the DOM immediately before printing.
Images or fonts are absent
Wait for those resources, check that the browser can reach their URLs, and avoid printing immediately after navigation. Cross-origin restrictions, blocked requests, or application code that only loads assets after scrolling can affect the result.
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Check responsive breakpoints, viewport size, @page rules, element overflow, and margins. Try landscape orientation or a larger paper size, then compare the result on the same browser version used in CI.
The file cannot be opened
Ensure Base64 is decoded and the file is opened with "wb". A valid PDF normally begins with the bytes represented by %PDF; logging the first decoded bytes can distinguish a decoding mistake from a rendering failure.
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Output differs between browsers
Printing is implemented by each browser and driver. Pin versions in CI, test representative pages, and avoid promising pixel-identical output across Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Performance, reliability, and security notes
- Reuse a browser session for multiple pages when isolation requirements permit; starting a browser for every document adds startup overhead.
- Use explicit timeouts for navigation and readiness waits, and always call
quit()in afinallyblock. - Write to a temporary file and rename it after successful decoding when downstream systems watch an output directory.
- Limit concurrent browsers according to available CPU and memory; PDF rendering can be resource-intensive for long pages and large images.
- Record the URL, browser version, Selenium version, print options, and failure stage so a malformed document can be reproduced.
- Protect session cookies and generated reports. Do not expose authenticated PDF URLs or credentials in logs.
Or skip the browser setup
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When to choose each method
- Choose Selenium when your test already owns the browser session, the page requires multi-step interaction, or you need browser-level assertions before creating the document.
- Choose Chromium CDP when the pipeline is intentionally Chromium-only and needs header/footer templates, streaming, tagged PDFs, or other protocol-level controls.
- Choose ScreenshotNeo when you want an API or AI-agent workflow, do not want to maintain browser infrastructure, or need consent and popup cleanup with billing that excludes failed captures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Selenium download a PDF from a webpage?
No. Selenium’s print API renders the current HTML page into new PDF data. Downloading an already hosted PDF is a separate file-download or HTTP request workflow.
Why must Chrome run headless for printing?
Selenium’s Chromium browser example states that printing requires headless mode. Confirm this requirement for the browser and Selenium release you deploy.
Can Selenium add headers and footers?
The standard print options cover common layout controls. Chromium’s DevTools Page.printToPDF adds header and footer templates, but it is Chromium-specific.
Which browsers support Selenium PDF printing?
Selenium exposes print APIs across bindings and browsers, but capabilities and output differ. Validate the exact browser, driver, and Selenium versions used in production.
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