StableBrowse MCP exposes 17 tools: 8 direct tools and 9 compound tools.
The important rule is not “use fewer tools.” The important rule is “use the right tool first.” The descriptions below are written as routing guidance for agents.
| Tool | Use when | Prefer instead |
|---|
create_session | Starting the browser. Usually call once at the beginning. | session only manages sessions after creation. |
navigate | Going to a known URL in the active page. | page.new only when a new tab is needed. |
snapshot | Discovering visible controls and refs for actions. | content or extract for reading long content. |
screenshot | Visual layout, images, canvas, charts, or pixel verification. | snapshot, content, or extract for text/control tasks. |
click | Clicking one known ref from the latest snapshot. | interact.find for target-by-text clicks. |
fill | Filling one known input ref. | fill_form for multiple fields. |
fill_form | Filling several fields from one snapshot. | fill only for a single field. |
evaluate | Custom JavaScript when typed tools cannot answer. | extract or content for normal page reading. |
action parameter.
| Tool | Best for | Common actions |
|---|
session | Session lifecycle, stealth debugging, humanization, saving state. | list, select, destroy, stealth_status, set_humanize, save_state |
page | Tabs, viewport size, iframe discovery. | list, select, new, close, resize, list_frames |
history | Waiting and navigation recovery. | go_back, go_forward, reload, wait_for, scroll_to_text, wait |
interact | Advanced page actions beyond direct click/fill. | find, choose, fill_form, press_key, scroll, handle_dialog |
content | Reading mostly-static content. | get_markdown, get_text, get_html, extract_links, read_pdf, save_pdf |
extract | Structured understanding of the current page. | page_summary, cards, section, search_page, form_fields, choice_groups, query_elements, table, structured |
network | Debugging API calls and client-side failures. | list, get, intercept, console_logs |
storage | Cookies, localStorage, sessionStorage. | list_cookies, set_cookie, clear_cookies, get_storage, set_storage |
knowledge | Site-specific hints and deterministic strategies. | sites, lookup, flows, flow, amazon_products |
Read a docs page
create_session -> navigate -> content.get_markdown -> final answer
extract.section when the user asks for a named section. Use search_page when looking for a phrase.
create_session -> navigate -> extract.cards -> final answer
maxCards to keep output small. Use contains to filter cards.
create_session -> navigate -> extract.form_fields -> snapshot -> fill_form
submitRef or submitKey on fill_form when possible.
snapshot with contains/roles -> click
interact.find.
extract.choice_groups -> interact.choose -> extract/page_summary or snapshot
interact.choose for multiple choices in one call.
Debug a broken page
network.console_logs -> network.list -> screenshot if visual evidence is needed
storage only if cookies or local/session storage are part of the issue.
Known site task
navigate -> knowledge.lookup -> targeted extract/interact calls
knowledge.amazon_products first.
Avoid these patterns
- Do not use screenshots for ordinary text extraction.
- Do not call
fill repeatedly for a multi-field form.
- Do not use broad
snapshot on huge pages if extract.cards, extract.section, or content.get_markdown can answer.
- Do not write custom
evaluate scripts until typed tools fail.
- Do not open new tabs unless the task needs multiple pages.
- Do not use fixed waits before trying
history.wait_for.
Parameter notes
| Parameter | Where it appears | Why it matters |
|---|
pageId | Most tools | Targets a non-active tab/page. Omit for active page. |
ref | Interaction tools | Comes from snapshot; stale refs require a fresh snapshot. |
maxChars | Content/snapshot tools | Keeps outputs inside useful token budgets. |
maxCards / limit | extract.cards, page_summary | Prevents oversized result lists. |
selector | Snapshot/extract/content tools | Narrows work to a DOM subtree. |
contains | Snapshot/content/extract tools | Focuses output around relevant text. |
Direct
create_sessionnavigatesnapshotscreenshotclickfillfill_formevaluate
Compound
sessionpagehistoryinteractcontentextractnetworkstorageknowledge
