Agent Browser Skill
Fast browser automation using accessibility tree snapshots with refs for deterministic element selection.
Why Use This Over Built-in Browser Tool
Use agent-browser when:
- •Automating multi-step workflows
- •Need deterministic element selection
- •Performance is critical
- •Working with complex SPAs
- •Need session isolation
Use built-in browser tool when:
- •Need screenshots/PDFs for analysis
- •Visual inspection required
- •Browser extension integration needed
Core Workflow
bash
# 1. Navigate and snapshot agent-browser open https://example.com agent-browser snapshot -i --json # 2. Parse refs from JSON, then interact agent-browser click @e2 agent-browser fill @e3 "text" # 3. Re-snapshot after page changes agent-browser snapshot -i --json
Key Commands
Navigation
bash
agent-browser open <url> agent-browser back | forward | reload | close
Snapshot (Always use -i --json)
bash
agent-browser snapshot -i --json # Interactive elements, JSON output agent-browser snapshot -i -c -d 5 --json # + compact, depth limit agent-browser snapshot -s "#main" -i # Scope to selector
Interactions (Ref-based)
bash
agent-browser click @e2 agent-browser fill @e3 "text" agent-browser type @e3 "text" agent-browser hover @e4 agent-browser check @e5 | uncheck @e5 agent-browser select @e6 "value" agent-browser press "Enter" agent-browser scroll down 500 agent-browser drag @e7 @e8
Get Information
bash
agent-browser get text @e1 --json agent-browser get html @e2 --json agent-browser get value @e3 --json agent-browser get attr @e4 "href" --json agent-browser get title --json agent-browser get url --json agent-browser get count ".item" --json
Check State
bash
agent-browser is visible @e2 --json agent-browser is enabled @e3 --json agent-browser is checked @e4 --json
Wait
bash
agent-browser wait @e2 # Wait for element agent-browser wait 1000 # Wait ms agent-browser wait --text "Welcome" # Wait for text agent-browser wait --url "**/dashboard" # Wait for URL agent-browser wait --load networkidle # Wait for network agent-browser wait --fn "window.ready === true"
Sessions (Isolated Browsers)
bash
agent-browser --session admin open site.com agent-browser --session user open site.com agent-browser session list # Or via env: AGENT_BROWSER_SESSION=admin agent-browser ...
State Persistence
bash
agent-browser state save auth.json # Save cookies/storage agent-browser state load auth.json # Load (skip login)
Screenshots & PDFs
bash
agent-browser screenshot page.png agent-browser screenshot --full page.png agent-browser pdf page.pdf
Network Control
bash
agent-browser network route "**/ads/*" --abort # Block
agent-browser network route "**/api/*" --body '{"x":1}' # Mock
agent-browser network requests --filter api # View
Cookies & Storage
bash
agent-browser cookies # Get all agent-browser cookies set name value agent-browser storage local key # Get localStorage agent-browser storage local set key val
Tabs & Frames
bash
agent-browser tab new https://example.com agent-browser tab 2 # Switch to tab agent-browser frame @e5 # Switch to iframe agent-browser frame main # Back to main
Snapshot Output Format
json
{
"success": true,
"data": {
"snapshot": "...",
"refs": {
"e1": {"role": "heading", "name": "Example Domain"},
"e2": {"role": "button", "name": "Submit"},
"e3": {"role": "textbox", "name": "Email"}
}
}
}
Best Practices
- •Always use
-iflag - Focus on interactive elements - •Always use
--json- Easier to parse - •Wait for stability -
agent-browser wait --load networkidle - •Save auth state - Skip login flows with
state save/load - •Use sessions - Isolate different browser contexts
- •Use
--headedfor debugging - See what's happening
Example: Search and Extract
bash
agent-browser open https://www.google.com agent-browser snapshot -i --json # AI identifies search box @e1 agent-browser fill @e1 "AI agents" agent-browser press Enter agent-browser wait --load networkidle agent-browser snapshot -i --json # AI identifies result refs agent-browser get text @e3 --json agent-browser get attr @e4 "href" --json
Example: Multi-Session Testing
bash
# Admin session agent-browser --session admin open app.com agent-browser --session admin state load admin-auth.json agent-browser --session admin snapshot -i --json # User session (simultaneous) agent-browser --session user open app.com agent-browser --session user state load user-auth.json agent-browser --session user snapshot -i --json
Installation
bash
npm install -g agent-browser agent-browser install # Download Chromium agent-browser install --with-deps # Linux: + system deps
Credits
Skill created by Yossi Elkrief (@MaTriXy)
agent-browser CLI by Vercel Labs