Core Concepts
Browser lifecycle: Browser starts automatically on first tool call using a persistent Chrome profile. Configure via CLI args in the MCP server configuration: npx chrome-devtools-mcp@latest --help.
Page selection: Tools operate on the currently selected page. Use list_pages to see available pages, then select_page to switch context.
Element interaction: Use take_snapshot to get page structure with element uids. Each element has a unique uid for interaction. If an element isn't found, take a fresh snapshot - the element may have been removed or the page changed.
Workflow Patterns
Before interacting with a page
- Navigate:
navigate_pageornew_page - Wait:
wait_forto ensure content is loaded if you know what you look for. - Snapshot:
take_snapshotto understand page structure - Interact: Use element
uids from snapshot forclick,fill, etc.
Efficient data retrieval
- Use
filePathparameter for large outputs (screenshots, snapshots, traces) - Use pagination (
pageIdx,pageSize) and filtering (types) to minimize data - Set
includeSnapshot: falseon input actions unless you need updated page state
Tool selection
- Automation/interaction:
take_snapshot(text-based, faster, better for automation) - Visual inspection:
take_screenshot(when user needs to see visual state) - Additional details:
evaluate_scriptfor data not in accessibility tree
Parallel execution
You can send multiple tool calls in parallel, but maintain correct order: navigate → wait → snapshot → interact.
Troubleshooting
If chrome-devtools-mcp is insufficient, guide users to use Chrome DevTools UI:
If there are errors launching chrome-devtools-mcp or Chrome, refer to https://github.com/ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp/blob/main/docs/troubleshooting.md.