For a PDF already open in a browser viewer, use page.screenshot() after the visible page has rendered, then inspect the resulting image in the browser mode you plan to use. This captures the current browser page view; it is not a documented way to capture every page of the PDF. Playwright’s Page API specifically warns that “Headless mode doesn’t support navigation to a PDF document.”
Capture the visible PDF viewer page
If your page has already opened a PDF in a browser’s built-in viewer and you want an image of what is currently visible, take an ordinary page screenshot after navigation and rendering:
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const { chromium } = require('playwright');
(async () => {
const browser = await chromium.launch();
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com/document.pdf');
// Confirm the PDF viewer has rendered in your target browser configuration.
await page.screenshot({ path: 'pdf-viewer.png' });
await browser.close();
})();Replace the example URL with your PDF URL. This is a starting point, not a universal recipe: built-in PDF viewer behavior can differ by browser and launch mode, and Playwright’s generic screenshot documentation does not guarantee access to the viewer’s internal controls or rendered surface. Open the saved image and confirm it contains the expected page.
What each Playwright screenshot method captures
| Method or option | What it is for | PDF viewer implication |
|---|---|---|
page.screenshot() |
An image of the current browser page. | Try it for the currently visible viewer area, then verify the output. |
page.screenshot({ fullPage: true }) |
The full scrollable web page. | It is not documented as capturing every sheet or page in a PDF document. |
page.locator('selector').screenshot() |
An image of a particular DOM element. | It works only if the target surface is exposed as a selectable element; the docs do not guarantee that native viewer surfaces are accessible this way. |
page.pdf() |
Generates a PDF from a webpage, using print CSS by default. | It does not create a PNG of a PDF viewer. |
The Page API and Screenshots documentation describe generic page and element screenshots, but do not promise that fullPage enumerates the pages of a browser PDF viewer. If you need every document page, use a workflow with explicit control over PDF page rendering, such as an HTML PDF viewer or separate page images.
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Direct PDF navigation in headless mode
The current Playwright Page API documentation says: “Headless mode doesn’t support navigation to a PDF document.” That warning concerns navigating directly to a PDF in headless mode. It does not establish that every screenshot operation or every browser mode fails when a PDF viewer is involved. If your job relies on a built-in viewer, verify behavior in the exact browser configuration used by your project.
Capture an ordinary HTML page or element
For a regular HTML page, the standard capture call is:
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await page.screenshot({ path: 'screenshot.png' });To capture the full scrollable HTML page:
await page.screenshot({ path: 'full-page.png', fullPage: true });To capture a DOM element:
await page.locator('selector').screenshot({ path: 'element.png' });Playwright supports PNG, JPEG, and WebP screenshots, along with screenshot scale options. These APIs apply to what the page exposes; they should not be treated as a guarantee about browser-native PDF viewer internals.
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When you need a PDF rather than an image
page.pdf() creates a PDF from a webpage; it is not a screenshot of a PDF that is open in the viewer. By default it uses print CSS. If you need the webpage’s screen styling in the generated PDF, emulate screen media first:
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await page.emulateMedia({ media: 'screen' });
await page.pdf({ path: 'webpage.pdf' });Visual regression testing
For Playwright Test visual regression checks, expect(page).toHaveScreenshot() is an assertion that waits for two consecutive screenshots to match before comparing with the expected snapshot. It is distinct from saving a one-off screenshot with page.screenshot().
Troubleshooting
- The direct PDF navigation fails in headless mode: this is consistent with the Page API’s documented limitation. Do not assume that changing screenshot options will make headless navigation to a PDF supported; use a workflow that explicitly renders the PDF pages or verify a suitable viewer setup.
- The screenshot is blank or does not show a rendered PDF page: the viewer may not have rendered, or its surface may not be exposed to the screenshot API in that configuration. Inspect the image and verify the result in the same browser mode the project uses.
fullPage: truecaptures only part of the document: full-page mode refers to the web page’s scrollable content, not a documented enumeration of PDF pages. Use explicit PDF page rendering if you need the whole document.- A locator screenshot cannot find the viewer surface: locator screenshots target DOM elements. Check what the page exposes; native viewer controls or surfaces are not guaranteed to be selectable.
- The output is a PDF instead of an image: use
page.screenshot()for an image.page.pdf()generates a PDF from webpage content.
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