1530 Description Skill 63648ec6

Browser Automation with agent-browser

Core Workflow

Every browser automation follows this pattern:

1. Navigate: npx agent-browser open <url>
2. Snapshot: npx agent-browser snapshot -i (get element refs like @e1, @e2)
3. Interact: Use refs to click, fill, select
4. Re-snapshot: After navigation or DOM changes, get fresh refs

npx agent-browser open https://example.com/form
npx agent-browser snapshot -i
# Output: @e1 [input type="email"], @e2 [input type="password"], @e3 [button] "Submit"

npx agent-browser fill @e1 "user@example.com"
npx agent-browser fill @e2 "password123"
npx agent-browser click @e3
npx agent-browser wait --load networkidle
npx agent-browser snapshot -i  # Check result

Essential Commands

# Navigation
npx agent-browser open <url>              # Navigate (aliases: goto, navigate)
npx agent-browser close                   # Close browser

# Snapshot
npx agent-browser snapshot -i             # Interactive elements with refs (recommended)
npx agent-browser snapshot -s "#selector" # Scope to CSS selector

# Interaction (use @refs from snapshot)
npx agent-browser click @e1               # Click element
npx agent-browser fill @e2 "text"         # Clear and type text
npx agent-browser type @e2 "text"         # Type without clearing
npx agent-browser select @e1 "option"     # Select dropdown option
npx agent-browser check @e1               # Check checkbox
npx agent-browser press Enter             # Press key
npx agent-browser scroll down 500         # Scroll page

# Get information
npx agent-browser get text @e1            # Get element text
npx agent-browser get url                 # Get current URL
npx agent-browser get title               # Get page title

# Wait
npx agent-browser wait @e1                # Wait for element
npx agent-browser wait --load networkidle # Wait for network idle
npx agent-browser wait --url "**/page"    # Wait for URL pattern
npx agent-browser wait 2000               # Wait milliseconds

# Capture
npx agent-browser screenshot              # Screenshot to temp dir
npx agent-browser screenshot --full       # Full page screenshot
npx agent-browser pdf output.pdf          # Save as PDF

Common Patterns

Form Submission

npx agent-browser open https://example.com/signup
npx agent-browser snapshot -i
npx agent-browser fill @e1 "Jane Doe"
npx agent-browser fill @e2 "jane@example.com"
npx agent-browser select @e3 "California"
npx agent-browser check @e4
npx agent-browser click @e5
npx agent-browser wait --load networkidle

Authentication with State Persistence

# Login once and save state
npx agent-browser open https://app.example.com/login
npx agent-browser snapshot -i
npx agent-browser fill @e1 "$USERNAME"
npx agent-browser fill @e2 "$PASSWORD"
npx agent-browser click @e3
npx agent-browser wait --url "**/dashboard"
npx agent-browser state save auth.json

# Reuse in future sessions
npx agent-browser state load auth.json
npx agent-browser open https://app.example.com/dashboard

Data Extraction

npx agent-browser open https://example.com/products
npx agent-browser snapshot -i
npx agent-browser get text @e5           # Get specific element text
npx agent-browser get text body > page.txt  # Get all page text

# JSON output for parsing
npx agent-browser snapshot -i --json
npx agent-browser get text @e1 --json

Parallel Sessions

npx agent-browser --session site1 open https://site-a.com
npx agent-browser --session site2 open https://site-b.com

npx agent-browser --session site1 snapshot -i
npx agent-browser --session site2 snapshot -i

npx agent-browser session list

Visual Browser (Debugging)

npx agent-browser --headed open https://example.com
npx agent-browser highlight @e1          # Highlight element
npx agent-browser record start demo.webm # Record session

iOS Simulator (Mobile Safari)

# List available iOS simulators
npx agent-browser device list

# Launch Safari on a specific device
npx agent-browser -p ios --device "iPhone 16 Pro" open https://example.com

# Same workflow as desktop - snapshot, interact, re-snapshot
npx agent-browser -p ios snapshot -i
npx agent-browser -p ios tap @e1          # Tap (alias for click)
npx agent-browser -p ios fill @e2 "text"
npx agent-browser -p ios swipe up         # Mobile-specific gesture

# Take screenshot
npx agent-browser -p ios screenshot mobile.png

# Close session (shuts down simulator)
npx agent-browser -p ios close

Requirements: macOS with Xcode, Appium (npm install -g appium && appium driver install xcuitest)

Real devices: Works with physical iOS devices if pre-configured. Use --device "<UDID>" where UDID is from xcrun xctrace list devices.

Ref Lifecycle (Important)

Refs (@e1, @e2, etc.) are invalidated when the page changes. Always re-snapshot after:

• Clicking links or buttons that navigate
• Form submissions
• Dynamic content loading (dropdowns, modals)

npx agent-browser click @e5              # Navigates to new page
npx agent-browser snapshot -i            # MUST re-snapshot
npx agent-browser click @e1              # Use new refs

Semantic Locators (Alternative to Refs)

When refs are unavailable or unreliable, use semantic locators:

npx agent-browser find text "Sign In" click
npx agent-browser find label "Email" fill "user@test.com"
npx agent-browser find role button click --name "Submit"
npx agent-browser find placeholder "Search" type "query"
npx agent-browser find testid "submit-btn" click

Deep-Dive Documentation

Ready-to-Use Templates

./templates/form-automation.sh https://example.com/form
./templates/authenticated-session.sh https://app.example.com/login
./templates/capture-workflow.sh https://example.com ./output