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For new automated full-page screenshots, use Puppeteer: its documented Page.screenshot() API supports fullPage: true. PhantomJS was built for scripted headless browsing and screen capture, but its project says development is suspended and its GitHub repository has been read-only since May 30, 2023. That makes Puppeteer the more practical starting point—not a guarantee of faster or more faithful captures.
How do I take a full-page screenshot with Puppeteer?
Install Puppeteer in a Node.js project, navigate to the page, and call page.screenshot() with fullPage: true. The option defaults to false, so omit it and the capture is ordinarily limited to the viewport. See the Puppeteer screenshot guide, ScreenshotOptions reference, and Page.screenshot() API for current API details.
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Runnable Node.js example
In a new directory, install Puppeteer with npm install puppeteer. Save this as screenshot.js, replace the example URL if needed, then run node screenshot.js:
const puppeteer = require('puppeteer');
(async () => {
const browser = await puppeteer.launch();
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com', { waitUntil: 'networkidle0' });
await page.screenshot({ path: 'page.png', fullPage: true });
} finally {
await browser.close();
}
})();The script waits for network activity to settle, requests the full page, writes a PNG, and closes the browser even if capture fails. Network-idle waiting is a practical choice, not a promise that every site’s lazy content, embedded media, or client-side updates are ready. For pages that keep connections open or load content after interaction, choose a readiness condition suited to that page and inspect the resulting image.
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Capture one element instead
If you need only a specific element, Puppeteer documents ElementHandle.screenshot(). The screenshot guide says it attempts to scroll a hidden element into view before capturing it. This is different from full-page mode, which requests the page rather than a selected element.
What does full-page mode guarantee?
fullPage: true asks Puppeteer to capture the full page rather than only the visible viewport. It does not establish that every dynamic component has finished loading, that embedded media has painted, or that the screenshot will match a manual browsing session pixel for pixel. Check the output when the page contains lazy-loaded images, video, or content that appears after scripts run.
A Puppeteer issue opened July 18, 2024 reports missing embedded video thumbnails in one full-page capture setup. The reporter used Puppeteer 22.13.1, Node 20, and macOS, and said waiting for network idle did not resolve it. This is a report about one page and setup, not proof of a general defect or the status of current releases: Puppeteer issue #12778.
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No. The PhantomJS project repository says development is suspended until further notice, and GitHub marks it as archived and read-only since May 30, 2023. The README describes PhantomJS as a scriptable headless WebKit browser and lists screen capture as a use case; it names version 2.1 as the latest stable release. The project’s changelog dates PhantomJS 2.1.0 to January 23, 2016 (PhantomJS changelog).
Suspended development does not mean PhantomJS cannot run in every existing environment. It does mean the project is not an actively maintained default for new work. If you have a legacy capture pipeline, test its dependencies and target pages before deciding whether to keep it or migrate.
PhantomJS vs Puppeteer: which fits your use case?
| Question | PhantomJS | Puppeteer |
|---|---|---|
| Full-page screenshot support | Screen capture is a documented use case; the cited project README does not establish a current full-page API option. | Page.screenshot() documents fullPage: true; default is false. |
| Project status | Development suspended; repository archived and read-only May 30, 2023. README calls 2.1 the latest stable release. | The cited API documentation provides the screenshot options and method; this evidence does not establish a maintenance-status comparison. |
| Measured speed, fidelity, or compatibility | No controlled comparison established. | No controlled comparison established. |
For a new full-page screenshot workflow, choose Puppeteer because the full-page option is explicitly documented and PhantomJS development is suspended. Do not treat that recommendation as a benchmark: the available sources do not establish that Puppeteer is faster, more reliable, or compatible with more sites. For a particular production target, validate its rendering, browser requirements, and dynamic-content behavior in your own environment.
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ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server. A single GET request can return an image or PDF; for a clean screenshot, cookie banners and consent overlays, newsletter popups, and chat widgets can be removed before capture. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and responses identify the page verdict and billing status in headers. Its MCP server provides take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for AI agents.
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Here is a cURL call that saves a WebP screenshot; replace the URL with the page you want to capture. See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for parameters and setup:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://example.com -o shot.webpThe free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card required; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 screenshots. Sign up for 1,000 free screenshots a month, with no card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Puppeteer return screenshot data as well as save a file?
Yes. Its documented Page.screenshot() API has promise return forms for binary data and base64, in addition to options for writing a file.
Can I use Puppeteer to capture a single page element?
Yes. Puppeteer documents ElementHandle.screenshot() for element-level captures; see the screenshot guide for its behavior.
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