Articles by Vitalii Holben
How to cache screenshots and stop paying for the same capture twice
About 30-40% of screenshot API requests are duplicates — same URL, same parameters, same result. Here's how I built caching into screenshotrun and three strategies you can use on your side to cut your API bill and speed up delivery: TTL-based cache, content hashing, and event-driven refresh via webhooks. Code examples in PHP/Laravel and Node.js included.
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When a Screenshot Tells You What a Log Can't: 5 Situations That Matter
Logs record what the system did. Screenshots show what the user saw. The difference seems obvious — but a lot of teams quietly lose this information without noticing. Here are five situations in product, marketing, and client work where a screenshot gives you the answer a log simply can't.
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How to add website preview thumbnails to your link directory with a screenshot API
Learn how to automatically generate website preview thumbnails for your link directory using a screenshot API. Step-by-step PHP and Node.js code with caching, real output screenshots, and tips for handling cookie banners and large directories.
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How to take a website screenshot with Python
Learn how to capture website screenshots with Python using three approaches: Selenium, Playwright, and a screenshot API. Step-by-step code, real output screenshots, full-page captures, mobile viewports, and honest comparison of pros and cons for each method.
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5 Ways Developers Use Screenshot APIs (Beyond Simple Page Captures)
Most people think of screenshot APIs as a simple URL-to-image tool. But developers who've actually integrated one into their stack use it for OG image generation, link preview thumbnails, visual regression testing, compliance archiving, and competitor monitoring. Here are five real scenarios where a screenshot API saves hours of work.
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How to take a website screenshot with Node.js
Learn how to capture website screenshots in Node.js using Playwright, Puppeteer, and a screenshot API. Step-by-step code examples with real output: full-page captures, custom viewports, mobile emulation, cookie banner handling, and production gotchas.
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How to take a website screenshot with PHP
How to capture website screenshots from PHP using headless Chrome via Puppeteer and Node.js. Step-by-step setup from installing dependencies to a reusable PHP function with viewport and full-page options.
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How to Generate Open Graph Images with a Screenshot API
Learn how to automatically generate OG images from HTML templates using a screenshot API. Includes code examples for JavaScript, Laravel, and curl, plus tips on caching, storage, and debugging.
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Best Screenshot API in 2026: Honest Comparison for Developers
Not all screenshot APIs are built the same. We compared the most popular options on the market — pricing, webhooks, rendering engines, free tiers, and real cost per screenshot — so you can pick the one that actually fits your project without overpaying for features you don't need.
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