Use Puppeteer’s page.pdf() when you want a paginated document with print layout, paper-size and margin controls, or page ranges. Use page.screenshot() when you need an image of the rendered page, whether a viewport, full page, or selected region. A PDF uses print CSS by default; if the intended record is the screen rendering, switch to screen media before making the PDF.
Choose the artifact that fits the record
| Need | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A readable, paginated document | page.pdf() |
PDF options include page format and dimensions, orientation, margins, scale, page ranges, headers and footers, and print backgrounds. |
| A visual image of the rendered page | page.screenshot() |
Save an image of the viewport, the full page with fullPage, or a selected region with clip. |
| A PDF intended to resemble screen styling | page.pdf() after page.emulateMediaType('screen') |
PDF generation uses print CSS unless you explicitly emulate screen media. |
These are different output formats, not a universal fidelity ranking. Puppeteer’s documentation does not establish that one is always better for archiving. Both methods save a static output: neither records interactive behavior nor guarantees that the original page can be reconstructed later.
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What a PDF preserves—and what to configure
page.pdf() lays out the page for printing by default, so print-specific CSS can change what appears compared with a browser window. PDF colors are also modified for printing by default. If screen media is what you intend to save, call page.emulateMediaType('screen') before page.pdf(). For exact CSS colors, the Puppeteer documentation points to -webkit-print-color-adjust.
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PDF output is useful when the saved record should behave like a document: choose paper dimensions, orientation and margins; select page ranges; and add headers or footers. The printBackground option defaults to false, so set it to true if background graphics are part of the record. preferCSSPageSize lets CSS @page sizing take priority over the PDF format settings. Tagged PDF generation is documented as experimental.
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What a screenshot preserves—and what to configure
page.screenshot() saves an image of the rendered page. By default, it captures the viewport; set fullPage: true to capture the entire page, or use clip to capture a specified region. Screenshot options include image type and quality; quality applies to formats other than PNG. omitBackground can produce a transparent image.
A screenshot is the more direct choice when the intended record is visual evidence rather than a paginated document. It does not provide PDF pagination, page ranges, or paper-size layout controls. Decide whether you need just the visible viewport or the full document before capture: those are different image records.
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Capture a PDF or screenshot with Puppeteer
The following Node.js examples show the essential pattern: navigate to the page, then save the chosen output. Replace the example URL with the page you need to capture. Install Puppeteer in your project before running them. The API references consulted identify version 25.12.0 where version metadata is available; verify option details against the Puppeteer version installed in your project.
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PDF using print CSS
import puppeteer from 'puppeteer';
const browser = await puppeteer.launch();
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com', { waitUntil: 'networkidle0' });
await page.pdf({
path: 'page.pdf',
format: 'A4',
printBackground: true
});
} finally {
await browser.close();
}PDF using screen media
Use this variant when you want the PDF to use screen media rules instead of the default print media rules.
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import puppeteer from 'puppeteer';
const browser = await puppeteer.launch();
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com', { waitUntil: 'networkidle0' });
await page.emulateMediaType('screen');
await page.pdf({
path: 'page-screen.pdf',
format: 'A4',
printBackground: true
});
} finally {
await browser.close();
}Viewport, full-page, and clipped screenshots
import puppeteer from 'puppeteer';
const browser = await puppeteer.launch();
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com', { waitUntil: 'networkidle0' });
// Viewport image
await page.screenshot({ path: 'viewport.png' });
// Entire page image
await page.screenshot({ path: 'full-page.png', fullPage: true });
// A selected region; set coordinates and dimensions for your page
await page.screenshot({
path: 'region.png',
clip: { x: 0, y: 0, width: 800, height: 600 }
});
} finally {
await browser.close();
}Practical checks for a useful archive
- Choose print or screen rendering deliberately for PDFs; the default is print CSS.
- Enable
printBackgroundwhen background graphics matter, because its default is off. - Specify the PDF dimensions, orientation, margins, or page range that suit the intended document.
- For images, decide whether the record is the viewport, the full page, or a clipped region.
- Inspect the saved output for missing content, unexpected print styling, or omitted backgrounds. A successful API call alone does not establish that the artifact contains everything you intended to preserve.
- Keep the scope of the record clear: these outputs are static and do not preserve the page’s interactive behavior or guarantee future reconstruction.
Troubleshoot common output problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to change |
|---|---|---|
| PDF styling differs from the browser view | page.pdf() uses print CSS by default. |
Call page.emulateMediaType('screen') before page.pdf() if screen media is the intended output. |
| PDF is missing background graphics | printBackground defaults to false. |
Set printBackground: true. |
| PDF colors look different from the page | PDF colors are modified for printing by default. | Check whether print or screen media is intended, and consult the CSS -webkit-print-color-adjust behavior for exact colors. |
| Screenshot contains only the visible portion | The capture is a viewport screenshot, not a full-page capture. | Set fullPage: true, or use clip if only a region is needed. |
| PDF page sizing does not follow the site’s CSS page size | The PDF is using PDF sizing rather than prioritizing the CSS @page size. |
Set preferCSSPageSize when CSS page sizing should take priority. |
Performance, reliability, and preservation limits
The cited Puppeteer documentation describes output options, not a head-to-head speed or reliability benchmark. Capture time and successful rendering depend on the target page and the conditions under which it loads; no universal timing or reliability figure is established here. The examples wait for networkidle0 before capture, but that is a navigation choice, not proof that every page-specific element or delayed interaction has finished loading.
For preservation work, retain the output in the format suited to later use and inspect it after capture. A PDF or screenshot is a snapshot, not a complete archival package: it does not preserve interactive behavior and should not be treated as a guarantee that the page can be rebuilt or verified later.
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FAQ
Can Puppeteer save a PDF using screen CSS?
Yes. Call page.emulateMediaType('screen') before page.pdf(); otherwise the PDF method uses print CSS.
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Does a screenshot create a PDF?
No. page.screenshot() captures an image. Use page.pdf() for PDF output.
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