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Put each URL in its own job in urlwatch’s urls.yaml file, separating jobs with a line containing only ---. Give each job a descriptive name, then run the urlwatch command on a schedule. Use urlwatch --edit to edit and validate the job file before relying on it.
Write one job for each URL
A basic job uses url for an ordinary HTTP check. This example monitors two pages in the same YAML file:
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name: "Example status page"
url: "https://status.example.com/"
---
name: "Example release notes"
url: "https://example.com/releases"
filter:
- xpath: '//main'
- html2text:Replace the example URLs with the pages you want to monitor. Each job needs exactly one job-defining key: url, navigate, or command. For standard HTTP checks, url retrieves the server response using HTTP GET by default. The separator must be on a line by itself. The urlwatch introduction describes this format, and the job documentation covers job types and options.
Use names that identify the page
A descriptive name helps distinguish change reports when several jobs run together. Names such as “Product status” or “Release notes” are more useful than a generic label.
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Choose the right job type
url: retrieves the HTTP response; use it for pages whose relevant content is available without browser-side JavaScript rendering.navigate: use for pages that require JavaScript rendering.command: runs a shell command when the content you want to monitor is produced by a command rather than a direct page request.
Set up and run the job file
- Install urlwatch using its installation instructions, then run it once to initialize or migrate its data.
- Run
urlwatch --editto create or edit jobs. Separate jobs with---, and ensure each has exactly one ofurl,navigate, orcommand. The editor checks the configuration before activation. - Run
urlwatchagain to check the jobs. Repeat the command using a scheduler to set the interval.
The interval comes from how often the command runs, not from a schedule embedded in each URL job. The project’s introduction recommends not running urlwatch more often than every 30 minutes and demonstrates cron; treat that as urlwatch’s guidance, not a universal rule for every site.
Reduce noisy change reports with filters
Filters select or transform page content before urlwatch compares it with the previous run. In the second example job, the XPath filter selects the page’s <main> content and html2text converts it to text. This can avoid reports triggered by changes outside the section you care about. The filter syntax and available filters are documented in the urlwatch filters guide.
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Choose a selector that matches the actual page. If it stops matching after a site redesign, the extracted content may change or become empty; inspect the page and adjust the filter rather than assuming urlwatch is still watching the intended section.
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Monitor the same URL in more than one way
Job identity is based on its URL, or on the navigate or command value for those job types. If you need multiple jobs for the same URL with different filters, urlwatch’s advanced guide documents adding unique URL fragments such as #1 and #2.
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History is associated with the URL. Changing a job’s URL creates a new job without the previous history. To change a location while retaining the job identity and history, use the documented urlwatch --change-location command.
Configure reports separately from monitored URLs
Keep the URL jobs in urls.yaml. Global settings and report destinations belong in urlwatch.yaml, which you can edit with urlwatch --edit-config. The configuration guide lists email and several chat or push reporters; the setup requirements vary by destination. You can also use job_defaults for settings shared across all jobs or for URL, browser, or shell jobs by category.
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Troubleshoot common configuration problems
- The file fails validation: edit it with
urlwatch --editand check that the separator is exactly---on its own line, indentation is consistent, and each job has only one job-defining key. - A job does not render the expected page content: a basic
urlcheck reads the server response. If the page depends on JavaScript, use thenavigatejob type instead. - Reports contain unrelated changes: add filters to select or normalize the relevant content, then verify that the filter still matches the page.
- A renamed or moved URL has no prior history: URL changes create a new job identity. Use
urlwatch --change-locationwhen the intent is to preserve history while changing the location. - Notifications do not go to the desired destination: configure a reporter in
urlwatch.yamlwithurlwatch --edit-config; reporters are separate from the URL job list.
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