nimble extract — reference
Fetches a URL and returns its content. The workhorse command — use for any URL where no agent exists.
Table of Contents
- Parameters
- Drivers
- CLI
- Python SDK
- Render tiers — escalate on failure
- Browser actions
- Network capture
- Parser schemas — structured extraction
- Geo targeting
- Async extract
- Batch extract
- Parallelization
- Response
Parameters
| Parameter | CLI flag | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
url |
--url |
string | — | Target URL (required) |
render |
--render |
bool | false | Enable headless browser (JS rendering) |
driver |
--driver |
string | vx6 |
Engine: vx6 · vx8 · vx8-pro · vx10 · vx10-pro — see Drivers table |
formats |
--format |
array | ["html"] |
Output format(s): "html", "markdown". CLI: string (--format markdown). SDK: array (formats=["markdown"]). |
parse |
--parse |
bool | false | Enable parser (use with parser) |
parser |
--parser |
JSON | — | Extraction schema — see parsing-schema.md |
browser_actions |
--browser-action |
JSON | — | Browser actions sequence — see browser-actions.md |
network_capture |
--network-capture |
JSON | — | XHR intercept rules — see network-capture.md |
is_xhr |
--is-xhr |
bool | false | Direct API call — no browser, no render |
country |
--country |
string | — | ISO Alpha-2 geo proxy (e.g. US, GB) |
state |
--state |
string | — | State-level geo targeting |
city |
--city |
string | — | City-level geo targeting |
locale |
--locale |
string | — | LCID locale (e.g. en-US, fr-FR) — pair with country |
method |
--method |
string | GET |
HTTP method: GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE |
tag |
--tag |
string | — | Request tag for analytics |
Drivers
| Driver | Description | Render | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
vx6 |
Fast HTTP (no JS) | No | Static HTML, APIs, high volume |
vx8 |
Headless browser | Yes | Dynamic sites, SPAs |
vx8-pro |
Headful browser | Yes | Complex interactions |
vx10 |
Stealth headless | Yes | Bot-protected sites |
vx10-pro |
Stealth headful | Yes | Most protected sites |
CLI
# Markdown output (default for most tasks)
nimble --transform "data.markdown" extract \
--url "https://example.com/page" --format markdown
# Save to file
nimble --transform "data.markdown" extract \
--url "https://example.com/page" --format markdown > .nimble/page.md
Python SDK
from nimble_python import Nimble
nimble = Nimble()
resp = nimble.extract(url="https://example.com/page", formats=["markdown"])
print(resp["data"]["markdown"])
Render tiers — escalate on failure
Failure signals: status 500 · empty data.html / data.markdown · "captcha" / "verify you are human" in content · login wall instead of target page
| Tier | CLI | When |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | extract --url "..." |
Static pages, docs, news, GitHub, Wikipedia, HN |
| 2 | extract --url "..." --render |
SPAs, dynamic content, JS-rendered pages |
| 2b | --render --render-options '{"render_type":"idle2","timeout":60000}' |
Slow SPAs, wait for network idle |
| 3 | --render --driver vx10-pro |
E-commerce, social, job boards — max stealth |
# Tier 1 — no render
nimble --transform "data.markdown" extract --url "https://example.com" --format markdown
# Tier 2 — render
nimble --transform "data.markdown" extract --url "https://example.com" --render --format markdown
# Tier 3 — stealth
nimble --transform "data.markdown" extract --url "https://example.com" --render --driver vx10-pro --format markdown
# Tier 2 — render
resp = nimble.extract(url="https://example.com", render=True, formats=["markdown"])
# Tier 3 — stealth
resp = nimble.extract(url="https://example.com", render=True, driver="vx10-pro", formats=["markdown"])
Browser actions
For interacting with a page before extracting — clicks, scrolls, form fills, infinite scroll. Requires render=True.
See browser-actions.md for all action types and params.
nimble --transform "data.markdown" extract \
--url "https://example.com/product" --render \
--browser-action '[
{"type": "click", "selector": ".tab-reviews", "required": false},
{"type": "wait_for_element", "selector": ".review-list"}
]' --format markdown
resp = nimble.extract(
url="https://example.com/product",
render=True,
browser_actions=[
{"type": "click", "selector": ".tab-reviews", "required": False},
{"type": "wait_for_element", "selector": ".review-list"},
],
formats=["markdown"],
)
Network capture
When page data comes from XHR/AJAX calls, or to call a known API endpoint directly with --is-xhr.
See network-capture.md for filter syntax and --is-xhr mode.
# Intercept an API call triggered by the page
nimble extract \
--url "https://example.com/products" --render \
--network-capture '[{"url": {"type": "contains", "value": "/api/products"}, "resource_type": ["xhr", "fetch"]}]' \
> .nimble/products-api.json
# Known public API endpoint — use --is-xhr (no browser, fastest)
nimble --transform "data.markdown" extract \
--url "https://api.example.com/v1/markets?q=elections&limit=50" \
--is-xhr --format markdown
# Intercept via render
resp = nimble.extract(
url="https://example.com/products",
render=True,
network_capture=[{"url": {"type": "contains", "value": "/api/products"}, "resource_type": ["xhr", "fetch"]}],
)
captures = resp["data"]["network_capture"]
# Direct API call — no browser
resp = nimble.extract(
url="https://api.example.com/v1/markets?q=elections&limit=50",
is_xhr=True,
)
Note:
is_xhrandrenderare mutually exclusive.
Parser schemas — structured extraction
When markdown doesn't contain fields cleanly. Results land in data.parsing.
See parsing-schema.md for selector types, extractors, and post-processors.
nimble extract --url "https://example.com/product" --render --parse \
--parser '{
"type": "schema",
"fields": {
"title": {"type": "terminal", "selector": {"type": "css", "css_selector": "h1"}, "extractor": {"type": "text"}},
"price": {"type": "terminal", "selector": {"type": "css", "css_selector": "[data-price]"}, "extractor": {"type": "text"}}
}
}'
resp = nimble.extract(
url="https://example.com/product",
render=True,
parse=True,
parser={
"type": "schema",
"fields": {
"title": {"type": "terminal", "selector": {"type": "css", "css_selector": "h1"}, "extractor": {"type": "text"}},
"price": {"type": "terminal", "selector": {"type": "css", "css_selector": "[data-price]"}, "extractor": {"type": "text"}},
},
},
)
print(resp["data"]["parsing"])
Geo targeting
# Country
nimble --transform "data.markdown" extract --url "https://example.com" --country US --format markdown
# City-level
nimble --transform "data.markdown" extract --url "https://example.com" --country US --state CA --city los_angeles --format markdown
# Localized (pair --locale with --country)
nimble --transform "data.markdown" extract --url "https://example.com/fr" --country FR --locale fr-FR --format markdown
resp = nimble.extract(url="https://example.com", country="US", formats=["markdown"])
resp = nimble.extract(url="https://example.com", country="US", state="CA", city="los_angeles", formats=["markdown"])
Async extract
For batch processing or long-running extractions. Returns immediately with a task ID; poll for results.
Additional async-only params:
| Parameter | CLI flag | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
storage_type |
--storage-type |
string | Cloud provider: s3 or gs |
storage_url |
--storage-url |
string | Destination (e.g. s3://my-bucket/path/) |
compress |
--compress |
bool | GZIP compress results before storing |
custom_name |
--custom-name |
string | Custom filename (default: task ID) |
callback_url |
--callback-url |
string | Webhook URL — called on completion |
Task states: pending → running → success / failed
# Submit async
nimble extract-async --url "https://example.com/page" --render --format markdown
# Poll status
nimble tasks get --task-id <task_id>
# Fetch results
nimble tasks results --task-id <task_id>
import asyncio
from nimble_python import AsyncNimble
async def extract():
nimble = AsyncNimble()
task = await nimble.extract_async(url="https://example.com/page", render=True, formats=["markdown"])
task_id = task["task"]["id"]
while True:
status = await nimble.tasks.get(task_id=task_id)
state = status["task"]["state"]
if state in ("success", "failed"):
break
await asyncio.sleep(5)
result = await nimble.tasks.results(task_id=task_id)
print(result["data"]["markdown"])
asyncio.run(extract())
Batch extract
Submit up to 1,000 URLs in a single request. Uses an inputs + shared_inputs pattern
— shared config applies to all items, per-item values override.
Parameters:
| Parameter | CLI flag | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
inputs |
--input |
array | required | Array of per-URL requests, each with at least url |
shared_inputs |
--shared-inputs |
JSON | — | Defaults applied to all items (render, format, driver, delivery) |
shared_inputs fields:
- Extraction defaults (overridable per item):
render,driver,formats,country,locale,parse,parser - Delivery params (batch-wide, not overridable):
storage_type,storage_url,storage_compress,storage_object_name,callback_url
CLI:
nimble extract-batch \
--shared-inputs 'render: true' --shared-inputs 'format: markdown' \
--input '{"url": "https://example.com/page-1"}' \
--input '{"url": "https://example.com/page-2"}' \
--input '{"url": "https://example.com/page-3"}'
Python SDK:
resp = nimble.extract_batch(
inputs=[
{"url": "https://example.com/page-1"},
{"url": "https://example.com/page-2"},
{"url": "https://example.com/page-3"},
],
shared_inputs={"render": True, "formats": ["markdown"]},
)
batch_id = resp["batch_id"]
Node SDK:
const resp = await nimble.extractBatch({
inputs: [
{ url: "https://example.com/page-1" },
{ url: "https://example.com/page-2" },
{ url: "https://example.com/page-3" },
],
sharedInputs: { render: true, formats: ["markdown"] },
});
const batchId = resp.batch_id;
Response:
{
"batch_id": "b7e1a2f3-...",
"batch_size": 3,
"tasks": [
{ "id": "task-001-uuid", "state": "pending", "batch_id": "b7e1a2f3-..." }
]
}
Polling: Use nimble batches progress --batch-id <batch_id> to check completion,
then nimble batches get --batch-id <batch_id> to get all task IDs, then
nimble tasks results --task-id <id> for each successful task.
See nimble-tasks reference for the full polling flow.
Delivery options:
- Polling — check status with batch/task IDs (default)
- Webhooks — pass
callback_urlinshared_inputs; Nimble POSTs on completion - Cloud storage — set
storage_type+storage_urlinshared_inputs
Parallelization
mkdir -p .nimble
nimble --transform "data.markdown" extract --url "https://example.com/1" --format markdown > .nimble/1.md &
nimble --transform "data.markdown" extract --url "https://example.com/2" --format markdown > .nimble/2.md &
nimble --transform "data.markdown" extract --url "https://example.com/3" --format markdown > .nimble/3.md &
wait
Response
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
data.html |
string | Extracted HTML content |
data.markdown |
string | Content as markdown (if format=markdown) |
data.parsing |
object | Structured data (if parse=True) |
data.network_capture |
array | Captured network requests (if network_capture set) |
status_code |
number | HTTP status code from target |
task_id |
string | Unique request identifier |
metadata.driver |
string | Driver used (e.g. vx6, vx10-pro) |
metadata.query_duration |
number | Extraction time in ms |