// Browser automation via CLI. Use when browsing websites, filling forms, extracting data from web pages, taking screenshots, or automating web interactions. Preferred over MCP browser tools for better context control.
| name | webctl |
| description | Browser automation via CLI. Use when browsing websites, filling forms, extracting data from web pages, taking screenshots, or automating web interactions. Preferred over MCP browser tools for better context control. |
| allowed-tools | Bash(webctl *), Bash(webctl), Bash(pip install *), Read |
If webctl is not installed, run: pip install webctl && webctl setup
# 1. Navigate — returns structured data + page summary
webctl navigate "https://example.com"
# 2. Interact using @refs or text descriptions
webctl click @e3
webctl type "Email" "user@example.com"
# 3. End session
webctl stop
| Goal | Command |
|---|---|
| Browse / interact with a page | navigate URL — returns structured data + page summary (add --snapshot for full a11y with @refs) |
| Read article content | navigate URL --read — returns readable markdown |
| Search a website | navigate URL --search "query" — types query + returns results |
| Filter specific elements | navigate URL --grep "€|price" — filtered a11y snapshot |
webctl navigate "https://example.com" # structured data + page summary (default)
webctl navigate "https://example.com" --snapshot # full a11y snapshot with @refs
webctl navigate "https://example.com" --grep "€|price" # filtered a11y snapshot
webctl navigate "https://example.com" --read # readable text content
webctl navigate "https://duckduckgo.com" --search "query" # search + results snapshot
The default returns structured data (JSON-LD, Open Graph — price, rating, etc.) plus a page summary. Add --snapshot for the full a11y snapshot with @refs for interaction.
webctl snapshot # all elements with @refs (default)
webctl snapshot --interactive-only # just buttons/links/inputs
webctl snapshot --read # readable text content
webctl snapshot --count # just counts (zero context)
webctl snapshot --grep "pattern" # filter by regex
webctl snapshot --within "role=main" # scope to container
webctl click @e3 # by @ref (fastest)
webctl click "Submit" # by text description
webctl click 'role=button name~="Submit"' # by query (fallback)
webctl click "Submit" --snapshot # click + return new page state
webctl click "Next" --snapshot --grep "result" # click + filtered snapshot
webctl type @e2 "user@example.com" # by @ref
webctl type "Email" "user@test.com" # by text description
webctl type "Country" "Germany" # auto-selects from dropdown
webctl type "Search" "query" --submit # type + press Enter
webctl type "Email" "x" --snapshot # type + return page state
webctl do '[["type","Email","user@test.com"],["type","Password","secret"],["click","Log in"]]' --snapshot
Actions: click, type, press, wait. Stops on first failure.
webctl press Enter
webctl press Escape
webctl press Tab
webctl wait stable # best for SPAs (DOM stabilization)
webctl wait network-idle # for traditional page loads (avoid for SPAs with WebSocket/SSE)
webctl wait 'exists:role=button name~="Continue"'
webctl wait 'url-contains:"/dashboard"'
webctl wait 'hidden:role=dialog'
webctl save # save to current session profile
webctl save my-auth # save as named profile (reusable with -s my-auth)
webctl stop # closes browser + daemon (default)
webctl stop --keep-daemon # only close browser
webctl start # visible browser
webctl start --mode unattended # headless
webctl navigate URL --mode attended # auto-start with visible browser
Actions (click, type) accept three target formats:
| Format | Example | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| @ref | @e3 | After a snapshot (fastest, most reliable) |
| Text | "Submit" | When you know the element text |
| Query | 'role=button name~="Submit"' | When text is ambiguous |
@refs are assigned by snapshot and navigate --snapshot/--search/--grep. They reset on each snapshot.
Text descriptions are fuzzy-matched against interactive elements. webctl prefers the right role for the action (click prefers buttons/links, type prefers textboxes).
Query syntax is the fallback: role=X name~="Y" (use name~= for contains, name= for exact).
These happen transparently — you don't need to handle them:
type on combobox auto-uses select_option; on checkbox auto-uses check/uncheckwebctl navigate "https://amazon.de/dp/B09HM94VDS"
# Structured data (price, rating) + snapshot with @refs for details
webctl stop
webctl navigate "https://spiegel.de" --read
# Returns structured data + readable markdown content
webctl stop
webctl navigate "https://duckduckgo.com" --search "query"
# Returns search results with @refs
webctl stop
webctl navigate "https://example.com/login"
webctl do '[["type","Email","user@example.com"],["type","Password","secret"],["click","Log in"]]' --snapshot
webctl wait 'url-contains:"/dashboard"'
webctl stop
webctl navigate "https://example.com/form"
webctl do '[["type","Name","John"],["type","Email","john@test.com"],["type","Country","Germany"],["click","Submit"]]' --snapshot
webctl stop
webctl navigate "https://example.com" --grep "€|price|shipping"
# Returns only elements matching the pattern, with @refs
webctl stop
For CAPTCHA, MFA, or manual steps (requires visible browser — don't use --mode unattended):
webctl start # visible browser
webctl navigate "https://example.com/login"
webctl type "Email" "user@example.com" --submit
webctl prompt-secret --prompt "Enter MFA code:" # pauses for human
webctl wait 'url-contains:"/dashboard"'
webctl stop