Weave Code
Chrome Laravel Package
chrome-php/chrome
Control headless Chrome from PHP. chrome-php/chrome launches Chromium/Chrome, lets you navigate pages, evaluate JavaScript, take screenshots/PDFs, intercept network events, and automate workflows via the DevTools protocol—ideal for scraping, testing, and rendering.
Instrument headless chrome/chromium instances from PHP
Frequently asked questions about Chrome
- What Laravel versions does chrome-php/chrome support?
- The package works with Laravel 10/11, but **PHP 8.6+ is now required**. Laravel 11 on PHP 8.6+ is fully supported, while older Laravel versions (PHP 8.2–8.5) may need to use v1.16.0 or pin PHP 8.6. Verify your deployment’s PHP version first.
- How do I install chrome-php/chrome in Laravel?
- Run `composer require chrome-php/chrome` in your project. Ensure PHP 8.6+ is installed, as older versions will break due to `trim()` changes. For Docker, include Chromium in your image (e.g., `chromium:latest`).
- Can I use this package for server-side scraping in Laravel?
- Yes, it’s ideal for scraping. Launch Chromium via `BrowserFactory`, navigate pages with `createPage()`, and extract data using `evaluate()`. For async scraping, pair it with ReactPHP or Swoole. Cache Chrome instances to improve performance.
- Will this work in production? What about memory leaks?
- It works in production, but monitor memory usage. Set `maxMemory` in the browser config to limit resource usage, and kill stale processes if needed. Docker containers help isolate Chromium’s resource demands.
- How do I take screenshots or generate PDFs with this package?
- Use `$page->screenshot()->saveToFile('path.png')` for screenshots and `$page->pdf(['options'])->saveToFile('path.pdf')` for PDFs. Both methods return promises; chain `.then()` for async workflows or use `getReturnValue()` for sync.
- What if my Laravel app uses PHP 8.2 or lower? Can I downgrade?
- Downgrade to **v1.16.0** of the package to support PHP 8.2–8.5, but note this may lack PHP 8.6+ optimizations. Alternatively, update your Laravel app to PHP 8.6+ or consider alternatives like `playwright-php` (PHP 8.1+).
- How do I debug Chrome instances launched by this package?
- Disable headless mode by passing `['headless' => false]` to `createBrowser()`. This opens a visible Chrome window for debugging. Use `CHROME_PATH` to specify a custom executable if needed.
- Is there a way to intercept network requests like Puppeteer?
- Yes, use `$browser->on('request', function($request) { ... })` to intercept network events. This lets you modify requests, block resources, or log traffic—similar to Puppeteer’s request handling.
- What are the alternatives if chrome-php/chrome doesn’t fit my stack?
- Consider `playwright-php` (PHP 8.1+, multi-browser), `symfony/dom-crawler` (lightweight HTML parsing), or Node.js `puppeteer` (if PHP isn’t a constraint). For Laravel-specific needs, check `spatie/laravel-browser-kit` for simpler SSR.
- How do I integrate this with Laravel’s service container?
- Bind the `BrowserFactory` in `AppServiceProvider`’s `register()` method, then inject it into controllers or commands. Example: `app()->bind(BrowserFactory::class, fn() => new BrowserFactory());`. Use facades or dependency injection for cleaner code.
Weaver
How can I help you explore Laravel packages today?