browserbase
Browserbase API for headless browser automation. Use when user mentions "headless browser", "browser automation", or "Browserbase".
Best use case
browserbase is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Browserbase API for headless browser automation. Use when user mentions "headless browser", "browser automation", or "Browserbase".
Teams using browserbase should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/browserbase/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How browserbase Compares
| Feature / Agent | browserbase | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Browserbase API for headless browser automation. Use when user mentions "headless browser", "browser automation", or "Browserbase".
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
## Troubleshooting
If requests fail, run `zero doctor check-connector --env-name BROWSERBASE_TOKEN` or `zero doctor check-connector --url https://api.browserbase.com/v1/sessions --method POST`
## How to Use
### 1. Create a Session
Create a new browser session:
Write `/tmp/request.json`:
```json
{
"projectId": "<your-project-id>"
}
```
```bash
curl -s -X POST "https://api.browserbase.com/v1/sessions" --header "Content-Type: application/json" --header "X-BB-API-Key: $BROWSERBASE_TOKEN" -d @/tmp/request.json
```
**With timeout and keepAlive:**
Write `/tmp/request.json`:
```json
{
"projectId": "<your-project-id>",
"timeout": 300,
"keepAlive": true
}
```
```bash
curl -s -X POST "https://api.browserbase.com/v1/sessions" --header "Content-Type: application/json" --header "X-BB-API-Key: $BROWSERBASE_TOKEN" -d @/tmp/request.json
```
**With proxy enabled (requires paid plan):**
Write `/tmp/request.json`:
```json
{
"projectId": "<your-project-id>",
"proxies": true
}
```
```bash
curl -s -X POST "https://api.browserbase.com/v1/sessions" --header "Content-Type: application/json" --header "X-BB-API-Key: $BROWSERBASE_TOKEN" -d @/tmp/request.json
```
> **Note:** Proxies are not available on the free plan. You'll receive a 402 error if you try to use this feature without upgrading.
**With specific region (us-west-2, us-east-1, eu-central-1, ap-southeast-1):**
Write `/tmp/request.json`:
```json
{
"projectId": "<your-project-id>",
"region": "us-west-2"
}
```
```bash
curl -s -X POST "https://api.browserbase.com/v1/sessions" --header "Content-Type: application/json" --header "X-BB-API-Key: $BROWSERBASE_TOKEN" -d @/tmp/request.json
```
**Response includes:**
- `id` - Session ID to use for connections
- `connectUrl` - WebSocket URL for Playwright/Puppeteer
- `seleniumRemoteUrl` - URL for Selenium connections
- `signingKey` - Key for HTTP connections
### 2. List Sessions
List all sessions with optional filters:
```bash
curl -s -X GET "https://api.browserbase.com/v1/sessions" --header "X-BB-API-Key: $BROWSERBASE_TOKEN"
```
**Filter by status (RUNNING, ERROR, TIMED_OUT, COMPLETED):**
```bash
curl -s -X GET "https://api.browserbase.com/v1/sessions?status=RUNNING" --header "X-BB-API-Key: $BROWSERBASE_TOKEN"
```
**Query by user metadata:**
> **Note:** The query syntax for user metadata filtering uses single quotes: `user_metadata['key']:'value'`. To avoid complex shell escaping, write the query to a file and use `--data-urlencode "q@filename"`.
Write `/tmp/query.txt` with content:
```
user_metadata['test']:'true'
```
Then query sessions:
```bash
curl -s -X GET -G "https://api.browserbase.com/v1/sessions" --data-urlencode "q@/tmp/query.txt" --header "X-BB-API-Key: $BROWSERBASE_TOKEN"
```
**More examples:**
Query by stagehand metadata - write `/tmp/query.txt`:
```
user_metadata['stagehand']:'true'
```
Query by environment - write `/tmp/query.txt`:
```
user_metadata['env']:'production'
```
Then run:
```bash
curl -s -X GET -G "https://api.browserbase.com/v1/sessions" --data-urlencode "q@/tmp/query.txt" --header "X-BB-API-Key: $BROWSERBASE_TOKEN"
```
### 3. Get Session Details
Get details of a specific session. Replace `<your-session-id>` with the actual session ID:
```bash
curl -s -X GET "https://api.browserbase.com/v1/sessions/<your-session-id>" --header "X-BB-API-Key: $BROWSERBASE_TOKEN"
```
### 4. Update Session (Release)
Request to release a session before its timeout to avoid additional charges. Replace `<your-session-id>` with the actual session ID:
Write `/tmp/request.json`:
```json
{
"status": "REQUEST_RELEASE"
}
```
```bash
curl -s -X POST "https://api.browserbase.com/v1/sessions/<your-session-id>" --header "Content-Type: application/json" --header "X-BB-API-Key: $BROWSERBASE_TOKEN" -d @/tmp/request.json
```
The session status will change to `COMPLETED` and `endedAt` timestamp will be set.
### 5. Get Debug/Live URLs
Get live debugging URLs for a running session. Replace `<your-session-id>` with the actual session ID:
```bash
curl -s -X GET "https://api.browserbase.com/v1/sessions/<your-session-id>/debug" --header "X-BB-API-Key: $BROWSERBASE_TOKEN"
```
> **Note:** Debug URLs may only be available after a browser client has connected to the session via WebSocket.
**Response includes:**
- `debuggerUrl` - Chrome DevTools debugger URL
- `debuggerFullscreenUrl` - Fullscreen debugger view
- `wsUrl` - WebSocket URL
- `pages` - Array of open pages with their debugger URLs
### 6. Get Session Logs
Retrieve logs from a session. Replace `<your-session-id>` with the actual session ID:
```bash
curl -s -X GET "https://api.browserbase.com/v1/sessions/<your-session-id>/logs" --header "X-BB-API-Key: $BROWSERBASE_TOKEN"
```
### 7. Get Session Recording
Get the rrweb recording of a session. Replace `<your-session-id>` with the actual session ID:
```bash
curl -s -X GET "https://api.browserbase.com/v1/sessions/<your-session-id>/recording" --header "X-BB-API-Key: $BROWSERBASE_TOKEN"
```
### 8. Get Session Downloads
Retrieve files downloaded during a session (returns ZIP file). Replace `<your-session-id>` with the actual session ID:
```bash
curl -s -X GET "https://api.browserbase.com/v1/sessions/<your-session-id>/downloads" --header "X-BB-API-Key: $BROWSERBASE_TOKEN" --output downloads.zip
```
### 9. Upload Files to Session
Upload files to use in a browser session. Replace `<your-session-id>` with the actual session ID:
```bash
curl -s -X POST "https://api.browserbase.com/v1/sessions/<your-session-id>/uploads" --header "X-BB-API-Key: $BROWSERBASE_TOKEN" -F "file=@/path/to/file.pdf"
```
## Contexts API
Contexts allow you to persist cookies, cache, and session storage across multiple browser sessions.
### Create a Context
Write `/tmp/request.json`:
```json
{
"projectId": "<your-project-id>"
}
```
```bash
curl -s -X POST "https://api.browserbase.com/v1/contexts" --header "Content-Type: application/json" --header "X-BB-API-Key: $BROWSERBASE_TOKEN" -d @/tmp/request.json
```
Save the returned `id` to use in sessions.
### Get Context Details
Retrieve details of a specific context. Replace `<your-context-id>` with the actual context ID:
```bash
curl -s -X GET "https://api.browserbase.com/v1/contexts/<your-context-id>" --header "X-BB-API-Key: $BROWSERBASE_TOKEN"
```
**Response includes:**
- `id` - Context identifier
- `createdAt` - Creation timestamp
- `updatedAt` - Last update timestamp
- `projectId` - The Project ID linked to the context
### Create Session with Context
Use an existing context to restore cookies and login state. Replace `<your-context-id>` with the actual context ID:
Write `/tmp/request.json`:
```json
{
"projectId": "<your-project-id>",
"browserSettings": {
"context": {
"id": "<your-context-id>",
"persist": true
}
}
}
```
```bash
curl -s -X POST "https://api.browserbase.com/v1/sessions" --header "Content-Type: application/json" --header "X-BB-API-Key: $BROWSERBASE_TOKEN" -d @/tmp/request.json
```
Set `persist: true` to save updates back to the context after the session ends.
### Delete Context
Delete a context when it's no longer needed. Replace `<your-context-id>` with the actual context ID:
```bash
curl -s -X DELETE "https://api.browserbase.com/v1/contexts/<your-context-id>" --header "X-BB-API-Key: $BROWSERBASE_TOKEN" -w "\nHTTP Status: %{http_code}"
```
Successful deletion returns HTTP 204 (No Content).
## Projects API
### Get Project Usage
Retrieve project-wide usage statistics (browser minutes and proxy bytes). Replace `<your-project-id>` with your actual project ID:
```bash
curl -s -X GET "https://api.browserbase.com/v1/projects/<your-project-id>/usage" --header "X-BB-API-Key: $BROWSERBASE_TOKEN"
```
## API Endpoints Reference
| Endpoint | Method | Description |
|----------|--------|-------------|
| `/v1/sessions` | POST | Create a new browser session |
| `/v1/sessions` | GET | List all sessions |
| `/v1/sessions/{id}` | GET | Get session details (returns array) |
| `/v1/sessions/{id}` | POST | Update session (release) |
| `/v1/sessions/{id}/debug` | GET | Get live debug URLs |
| `/v1/sessions/{id}/logs` | GET | Get session logs |
| `/v1/sessions/{id}/recording` | GET | Get session recording (rrweb) |
| `/v1/sessions/{id}/downloads` | GET | Get downloaded files (ZIP) |
| `/v1/sessions/{id}/uploads` | POST | Upload files to session |
| `/v1/contexts` | POST | Create a new context |
| `/v1/contexts/{id}` | GET | Get context details |
| `/v1/contexts/{id}` | DELETE | Delete a context |
| `/v1/projects/{id}/usage` | GET | Get project usage stats |
## Session Status Values
| Status | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `RUNNING` | Session is currently active |
| `COMPLETED` | Session ended successfully |
| `ERROR` | Session ended with an error |
| `TIMED_OUT` | Session exceeded timeout |
| `REQUEST_RELEASE` | Request to end session |
## Guidelines
1. **Session Lifecycle**: Sessions auto-terminate after timeout (default 5 minutes). Use `keepAlive: true` for longer sessions.
2. **Contexts**: Use contexts to persist login state and avoid repeated authentication.
3. **Proxies**: Enable proxies for geo-restricted content or to avoid rate limiting.
4. **Regions**: Choose a region close to your target websites for better performance.
5. **Debug URLs**: Use debug URLs for real-time human-in-the-loop debugging.
6. **Recordings**: Session replays use rrweb DOM reconstruction, not video files.
7. **Rate Limits**: Check your plan limits in the Browserbase dashboard.Related Skills
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