browser-use skill

---
name: browser-use
description: Automates browser interactions for web testing, form filling, screenshots, and data extraction. Use when the user needs to navigate websites, interact with web pages, fill forms, take screenshots, or extract information from web pages.
allowed-tools: Bash(browser-use:*)
---

# Browser Automation with browser-use CLI

The `browser-use` command provides fast, persistent browser automation. It maintains browser sessions across commands, enabling complex multi-step workflows.

## Quick Start

```bash
browser-use open https://example.com           # Navigate to URL
browser-use state                              # Get page elements with indices
browser-use click 5                            # Click element by index
browser-use type "Hello World"                 # Type text
browser-use screenshot                         # Take screenshot
browser-use close                              # Close browser
```

## Core Workflow

1. **Navigate**: `browser-use open <url>` - Opens URL (starts browser if needed)
2. **Inspect**: `browser-use state` - Returns clickable elements with indices
3. **Interact**: Use indices from state to interact (`browser-use click 5`, `browser-use input 3 "text"`)
4. **Verify**: `browser-use state` or `browser-use screenshot` to confirm actions
5. **Repeat**: Browser stays open between commands

## Browser Modes

```bash
browser-use --browser chromium open <url>      # Default: headless Chromium
browser-use --browser chromium --headed open <url>  # Visible Chromium window
browser-use --browser real open <url>          # User's Chrome with login sessions
browser-use --browser remote open <url>        # Cloud browser (requires API key)
```

- **chromium**: Fast, isolated, headless by default
- **real**: Uses your Chrome with cookies, extensions, logged-in sessions
- **remote**: Cloud-hosted browser with proxy support (requires BROWSER_USE_API_KEY)

## Commands

### Navigation
```bash
browser-use open <url>                    # Navigate to URL
browser-use back                          # Go back in history
browser-use scroll down                   # Scroll down
browser-use scroll up                     # Scroll up
```

### Page State
```bash
browser-use state                         # Get URL, title, and clickable elements
browser-use screenshot                    # Take screenshot (outputs base64)
browser-use screenshot path.png           # Save screenshot to file
browser-use screenshot --full path.png    # Full page screenshot
```

### Interactions (use indices from `browser-use state`)
```bash
browser-use click <index>                 # Click element
browser-use type "text"                   # Type text into focused element
browser-use input <index> "text"          # Click element, then type text
browser-use keys "Enter"                  # Send keyboard keys
browser-use keys "Control+a"              # Send key combination
browser-use select <index> "option"       # Select dropdown option
```

### Tab Management
```bash
browser-use switch <tab>                  # Switch to tab by index
browser-use close-tab                     # Close current tab
browser-use close-tab <tab>               # Close specific tab
```

### JavaScript & Data
```bash
browser-use eval "document.title"         # Execute JavaScript, return result
browser-use extract "all product prices"  # Extract data using LLM (requires API key)
```

### Python Execution (Persistent Session)
```bash
browser-use python "x = 42"               # Set variable
browser-use python "print(x)"             # Access variable (outputs: 42)
browser-use python "print(browser.url)"   # Access browser object
browser-use python --vars                 # Show defined variables
browser-use python --reset                # Clear Python namespace
browser-use python --file script.py       # Execute Python file
```

The Python session maintains state across commands. The `browser` object provides:
- `browser.url` - Current page URL
- `browser.title` - Page title
- `browser.goto(url)` - Navigate
- `browser.click(index)` - Click element
- `browser.type(text)` - Type text
- `browser.screenshot(path)` - Take screenshot
- `browser.scroll()` - Scroll page
- `browser.html` - Get page HTML

### Agent Tasks (Requires API Key)
```bash
browser-use run "Fill the contact form with test data"    # Run AI agent
browser-use run "Extract all product prices" --max-steps 50
```

Agent tasks use an LLM to autonomously complete complex browser tasks. Requires `BROWSER_USE_API_KEY` or configured LLM API key (OPENAI_API_KEY, ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, etc).

### Session Management
```bash
browser-use sessions                      # List active sessions
browser-use close                         # Close current session
browser-use close --all                   # Close all sessions
```

### Server Control
```bash
browser-use server status                 # Check if server is running
browser-use server stop                   # Stop server
browser-use server logs                   # View server logs
```

## Global Options

| Option | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `--session NAME` | Use named session (default: "default") |
| `--browser MODE` | Browser mode: chromium, real, remote |
| `--headed` | Show browser window (chromium mode) |
| `--profile NAME` | Chrome profile (real mode only) |
| `--json` | Output as JSON |
| `--api-key KEY` | Override API key |

**Session behavior**: All commands without `--session` use the same "default" session. The browser stays open and is reused across commands. Use `--session NAME` to run multiple browsers in parallel.

## Examples

### Form Submission
```bash
browser-use open https://example.com/contact
browser-use state
# Shows: [0] input "Name", [1] input "Email", [2] textarea "Message", [3] button "Submit"
browser-use input 0 "John Doe"
browser-use input 1 "[email protected]"
browser-use input 2 "Hello, this is a test message."
browser-use click 3
browser-use state  # Verify success
```

### Multi-Session Workflows
```bash
browser-use --session work open https://work.example.com
browser-use --session personal open https://personal.example.com
browser-use --session work state    # Check work session
browser-use --session personal state  # Check personal session
browser-use close --all             # Close both sessions
```

### Data Extraction with Python
```bash
browser-use open https://example.com/products
browser-use python "
products = []
for i in range(20):
    browser.scroll('down')
browser.screenshot('products.png')
"
browser-use python "print(f'Captured {len(products)} products')"
```

### Using Real Browser (Logged-In Sessions)
```bash
browser-use --browser real open https://gmail.com
# Uses your actual Chrome with existing login sessions
browser-use state  # Already logged in!
```

## Tips

1. **Always run `browser-use state` first** to see available elements and their indices
2. **Use `--headed` for debugging** to see what the browser is doing
3. **Sessions persist** - the browser stays open between commands
4. **Use `--json` for parsing** output programmatically
5. **Python variables persist** across `browser-use python` commands within a session
6. **Real browser mode** preserves your login sessions and extensions

## Troubleshooting

**Browser won't start?**
```bash
browser-use server stop               # Stop any stuck server
browser-use --headed open <url>       # Try with visible window
```

**Element not found?**
```bash
browser-use state                     # Check current elements
browser-use scroll down               # Element might be below fold
browser-use state                     # Check again
```

**Session issues?**
```bash
browser-use sessions                  # Check active sessions
browser-use close --all               # Clean slate
browser-use open <url>                # Fresh start
```

## Cleanup

**Always close the browser when done.** Run this after completing browser automation:

```bash
browser-use close
```