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Use Python’s requests library to send a webpage URL and capture options to a hosted screenshot service, then handle the response according to that provider’s API contract. In the example below, Screenshot API accepts a JSON POST and returns JSON containing a screenshot URL. APIs are not interchangeable: endpoints, authentication, parameter names, and response formats vary, so use the documentation for the service you choose.
What the request does
requests sends an HTTP request; the screenshot provider runs the browser that loads and captures the page. Your script supplies the target URL and any supported capture settings. It then checks for an HTTP error and reads the provider’s documented response.
This guide uses Screenshot API’s documented POST endpoint and bearer-token authentication. Its example request includes a viewport, PNG format, and full-page capture. Those field names and response details belong to Screenshot API; they are not a universal screenshot API standard.
Install requests and store your API key
Install the dependency in the Python environment where you will run the script:
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python -m pip install requestsSet the key in an environment variable instead of committing it to source code. For example, in a Unix-like shell:
export SCREENSHOT_API_KEY="your_api_key"On Windows PowerShell, set it for the current session with:
$env:SCREENSHOT_API_KEY="your_api_key"Screenshot API recommends sending the key in an authorization header rather than in the URL query string. Avoid printing the key or including it in error logs.
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Send a screenshot request with Python
This example posts JSON to Screenshot API, checks the HTTP status, parses the JSON response, and prints its documented screenshotUrl field:
import os
import requests
api_key = os.environ["SCREENSHOT_API_KEY"]
endpoint = "https://api.screenshot-api.org/api/v1/screenshot"
response = requests.post(
endpoint,
headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}"},
json={
"url": "https://example.com",
"viewport": {"width": 1280, "height": 720},
"format": "png",
"fullPage": True,
},
timeout=30,
)
response.raise_for_status()
result = response.json()
print(result["screenshotUrl"])The endpoint, header, request fields, and JSON result follow Screenshot API’s documented contract. The finite client-side timeout and raise_for_status() are practical safeguards in this example; the code has not been independently tested here. The timeout limits how long this Python request waits. It does not guarantee that the provider will finish every browser render within that interval.
Use the response format your provider documents
When success returns JSON
Screenshot API documents a JSON success response with a screenshotUrl field. Parse it with response.json(), as in the example. If your next step is to retrieve the image, use the returned URL according to the provider’s instructions and check that download response separately; do not assume every provider returns a permanent or publicly accessible URL.
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When success returns image bytes
Other screenshot services return the captured file directly. ScreenshotEngine, for example, documents successful HTTP 200 responses as raw bytes and advises checking Content-Type, not calling response.json() on the successful capture. For a raw-byte endpoint, the basic pattern is:
response.raise_for_status()
content_type = response.headers.get("Content-Type", "")
print(content_type)
with open("capture.png", "wb") as image_file:
image_file.write(response.content)Use the file extension that matches the actual response format. For large responses, stream the body to a file rather than holding the entire capture in memory. Do not paste this raw-byte handling into the Screenshot API JSON example: the response contracts differ.
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Screenshot API documents PNG, JPEG, WebP, and PDF output, along with capture controls such as:
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- Viewport: set width and height to control the browser’s visible area.
- Full-page capture: request the whole page rather than only the initial viewport.
- Device scale factor: adjust pixel density for the output.
- Wait behavior: choose a navigation wait strategy, wait for a selector, or add a delay after page load.
- Targeting and appearance: select an element, use dark mode, or block ads or cookie banners where supported.
- Image quality: configure quality for formats where the API supports it.
Some advanced Screenshot API options are POST-only. Check its current documentation for accepted names, defaults, format-specific behavior, and whether an option works with your chosen output. A selector that does not exist can fail the request rather than produce the intended crop.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Handle errors, quotas, and retries
Screenshot API’s documentation lists these response codes and meanings. The same code can have different meanings or handling requirements at another provider.
| HTTP status | Documented meaning | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 400 | Invalid request | Check the JSON structure, field names, types, and supported option combinations. |
| 401 | Missing or invalid API key | Confirm the environment variable is set and that the key is valid for this service. |
| 422 | Requested selector was not found | Verify the selector against the rendered page, or remove the selector option if it is not required. |
| 429 | Rate limit or monthly quota reached | Check the account’s quota and response headers before sending more requests. |
| 502 | Rendering failure | Check whether the target page is reachable and whether the provider reports a transient rendering issue. |
Screenshot API states that its free plan allows 60 requests per minute and 500 screenshots per month, and that response headers expose rate-limit and quota information. These are the vendor’s published free-plan figures for 2026, not general limits for screenshot APIs; check the provider’s current terms before relying on them.
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raise_for_status() raises an exception for unsuccessful HTTP status codes, but it does not decide whether a retry is appropriate. Treat authentication and invalid-request errors as issues to fix, not as reasons to retry unchanged requests. For throttling or rendering failures, follow the selected provider’s retry guidance, inspect any relevant response headers, and avoid uncontrolled retry loops. When logging failures, retain useful status and error details without exposing credentials.
When a different provider has a different contract
Cloudflare’s Browser Rendering API documents a screenshot operation at POST /accounts/{account_id}/browser-rendering/screenshot. Its reference specifies an API token and includes “Browser Rendering Write” among accepted permissions. Documented controls include navigation waits, viewport, full-page capture, clipping, and image encoding. That account-scoped operation is not a drop-in replacement for Screenshot API’s URL, bearer header, JSON fields, or response assumptions; follow Cloudflare’s own API reference when integrating it.
Or skip the browser setup
ScreenshotNeo offers a one-request alternative for captures, with PNG, JPEG, WebP, or PDF output. Its API accepts a URL and returns the capture; consult the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for authentication and request options.
import requests
r = requests.get(
"https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot",
params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://example.com"},
timeout=90,
)
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)ScreenshotNeo accepts cookie and consent banners before capture and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets; each step can be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and responses identify the page verdict and billing status in headers. An MCP server provides take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for AI agents and MCP clients. The Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 screenshots.
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FAQ
Can I use requests to capture a webpage directly?
No. requests makes the HTTP call; a hosted screenshot service performs the browser rendering and capture.
Why might a screenshot API return a URL instead of a PNG response?
Some APIs return JSON metadata that points to a screenshot, while others return the image bytes themselves. Your code must match the selected provider’s documented success response.
Quick Recap
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