Use Playwright to capture the page, then choose how to run that capture repeatedly: a timer in a continuously running Node.js process for approximate intervals, or an external scheduler for independent, durable runs. The capture function below handles one screenshot; scheduling is a separate decision.
Capture a website screenshot with Playwright
Install Playwright in a Node.js project, save this as capture.js, and run it with node capture.js. The script creates the output directory, captures the full scrollable page, and closes the browser even if navigation or screenshot capture fails.
const { chromium } = require('playwright');
const fs = require('node:fs/promises');
async function capture() {
await fs.mkdir('screenshots', { recursive: true });
const browser = await chromium.launch();
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com');
const filename = `screenshots/capture-${Date.now()}.png`;
await page.screenshot({ path: filename, fullPage: true });
console.log(`Saved ${filename}`);
} finally {
await browser.close();
}
}
capture().catch((error) => {
console.error('Screenshot capture failed:', error);
process.exitCode = 1;
});Replace the example URL with the site you are authorized to capture. The timestamp helps prevent successive runs from overwriting one another; it is a naming choice, not a Playwright requirement. The Playwright Page API documents navigation and page screenshots.
Choose how the captures repeat
Playwright takes the screenshot; it does not by itself create a recurring schedule. Choose an in-process timer for a simple worker that stays running, or an external scheduler when executions should be independent of the lifetime of your Node.js process.
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| Approach | Use it when | Important trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Node.js timer | A continuously running process should capture again after an approximate interval. | The timer stops when its process stops, and callback timing depends on event-loop work. |
| External scheduler or CI runner | You need scheduled executions that can run independently of an application process. | Configure persistence, failure reporting, retries, and output storage in the scheduler you select; behavior varies by service. |
Use a timer in a long-running Node.js process
This pattern waits for each capture to finish before scheduling the next one, so a slow run does not create overlapping captures. A per-run catch logs a failure without ending later scheduled attempts.
const intervalMs = 60 * 60 * 1000; // approximately every hour
async function runScheduledCapture() {
try {
await capture();
} catch (error) {
console.error('Scheduled screenshot failed:', error);
}
}
// Start with a capture now, then repeat after each completed run.
void (async function schedule() {
while (true) {
await runScheduledCapture();
await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, intervalMs));
}
})();The example waits one interval after a run completes, so the start-to-start period is the capture duration plus the configured delay. If you instead use setInterval, Node.js schedules repeated callback execution, but does not guarantee execution at the exact requested millisecond; event-loop work affects timing. See the Node.js Timers API. Keep a timer handle if you need to cancel a timer-based schedule; in this loop, add an explicit stop condition or cancellation mechanism if the worker needs graceful shutdown.
Use an external scheduler for independent runs
Keep the capture function in a script that exits after one run, then configure a task runner, operating-system scheduler, or CI scheduler to invoke it at the cadence you need. This avoids relying on one process to remain alive, but the scheduler’s persistence, retry behavior, and calendar guarantees depend on the specific service. Store images somewhere that persists beyond a temporary runner if you need an archive, and configure failure notifications where the scheduler supports them.
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Choose what to capture and how to save it
The Page API can save an image to a file or return image data for further processing. For one page element, use a locator screenshot instead of capturing the whole page.
- Viewport screenshot:
await page.screenshot({ path: 'screenshots/page.png' }); - Full scrollable page:
await page.screenshot({ path: 'screenshots/full-page.png', fullPage: true }); - One element:
await page.locator('main').screenshot({ path: 'screenshots/main.png' }); - Image buffer:
const image = await page.screenshot();Omitpathwhen you want to upload or transform the returned buffer rather than write the file directly.
For repeated captures, decide whether filenames should identify the run time, a fixed latest image, or both. A fixed filename is useful for a “current state” target but replaces the previous file; timestamped names preserve separate runs and require a retention policy if the archive should not grow without limit.
Wait for the page state you actually need
page.goto() navigates to the URL, but a page may still render client-side content, load images lazily, or update after navigation. When the screenshot must include a particular region or application state, wait for a meaningful locator or condition before capturing rather than assuming every page is ready at the same moment.
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await page.goto('https://example.com');
await page.locator('main').waitFor({ state: 'visible' });
await page.screenshot({ path: 'screenshots/ready.png', fullPage: true });This example waits for main to become visible; choose a selector and readiness condition appropriate to the target. There is no universal wait that guarantees every site’s dynamic content has finished. A fixed delay may be needed for a known delayed update, but a meaningful page condition is usually more precise.
Make recurring captures reliable and comparable
- Always close resources: keep browser shutdown in a
finallyblock so failures do not leave the browser open. - Prevent overlap: await each run before beginning the next, or ensure the external scheduler cannot launch concurrent jobs if that matters to your archive.
- Log useful context: record the target, run time, output location, and errors so a missing or unexpected image can be diagnosed.
- Keep the environment stable for comparisons: browser version, host OS, settings, hardware, power source, and headless mode can change rendering. Playwright calls out these sources of visual variation in its visual comparison documentation.
- Plan storage: choose durable output storage for scheduled runners and define how long timestamped captures should be retained.
- Check permission and frequency: confirm that repeated requests are appropriate for the site and comply with its terms; a suitable cadence is target-specific.
Archive screenshots or test for visual changes?
If the goal is an image archive, call page.screenshot() on each scheduled run and manage filenames and retention. If the goal is to detect a change from an approved baseline, Playwright Test’s toHaveScreenshot() is the relevant assertion; it requires the Playwright test runner and baseline images. A scheduled capture is not itself a visual regression assertion.
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Troubleshoot common failures
The script exits before a screenshot appears
Look at the logged error and confirm the target is reachable from the machine running Node.js, the URL is correct, and the Playwright browser can launch in that environment. The capture code sets a nonzero process exit code on failure so one-off runs and schedulers can recognize an unsuccessful execution.
The screenshot is blank or missing dynamic content
Wait for a target-specific visible locator or application state before capturing. Check that the selector matches the page and that the needed content is not hidden or delayed. A navigation completing does not establish that every asynchronous update has appeared.
Runs overwrite earlier images
Use a unique filename such as the timestamped path in the example, or intentionally keep a fixed “latest” filename and separately archive older runs. Ensure the output directory exists and is writable.
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The scheduled job does not run again
A timer is local to its Node.js process. If that process exits, its schedule ends; if the event loop is busy, callbacks may not occur at the requested exact time. For independent scheduled executions, use an external scheduler and verify its run history and process/output configuration.
Images differ even when the page seems unchanged
Compare captures in the same browser and operating-system environment, with consistent settings and headless mode. Rendering can also vary with hardware and power conditions, so pixel-level differences do not always indicate a website change.
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ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server for developers. One GET request returns an image or PDF, without requiring you to launch and maintain a Playwright browser for each capture. See the ScreenshotNeo site and API documentation.
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://example.com -o shot.webpFor recurring captures, invoke this request from your chosen scheduler and use the scheduler and storage setup appropriate to your needs. ScreenshotNeo removes cookie banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before the shot; bot checks, blank pages, failed loads, timeouts, and cache hits are not billed. Its MCP server lets AI agents use screenshot tools, and the Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card required; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Playwright need its test runner to save a screenshot?
No. A standalone Node.js script can use Playwright’s Page API to navigate and save a screenshot.
Does a scheduled screenshot automatically tell me when a page changes?
No. Capturing an image archives the page state; visual change detection requires a comparison, such as Playwright Test’s screenshot assertion against a baseline.
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