tabs.captureTab()

Creates a data URL encoding the image of an area of the given tab. You must have the <all_urls> permission to use this method.

This is an asynchronous function that returns a Promise.

Syntax

js
let capturing = browser.tabs.captureTab(
  tabId,               // optional integer
  options              // optional extensionTypes.ImageDetails
)

Parameters

tabId Optional

integer. ID of the tab to capture. Defaults to the active tab in the current window.

options Optional

extensionTypes.ImageDetails.

Return value

A Promise that will be fulfilled with a data URL which encodes the captured image. May be assigned to the 'src' property of an HTML Image element for display. If any error occurs the promise will be rejected with an error message.

Examples

Capture an image of the active tab in the current window, with default settings:

js
function onCaptured(imageUri) {
  console.log(imageUri);
}

function onError(error) {
  console.log(`Error: ${error}`);
}

browser.browserAction.onClicked.addListener(() => {
  let capturing = browser.tabs.captureTab();
  capturing.then(onCaptured, onError);
});

Browser compatibility

desktop mobile
Chrome
Edge
Firefox
Opera
Safari
Firefox for Android
Safari on iOS
captureTab
Chrome – No support
Chrome
footnote No support
Edge – No support
Edge
footnote No support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 59 (Release date: 2018-03-13)
footnote Full support
Opera – No support
Opera
footnote No support
Safari – No support
Safari
footnote No support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 82 (Release date: 2020-10-20)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – No support
Safari on iOS
footnote No support

Legend

Tip: you can click/tap on a cell for more information.

Full support
Full support
No support
No support

Note: This API is based on Chromium's chrome.tabs API. This documentation is derived from tabs.json in the Chromium code.