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Architecture Deep Dive
How URLPixel works under the hood
URLPixel Open Source uses a simple yet powerful architecture built on Express.js and Puppeteer. This design prioritizes simplicity and reliability while providing the core screenshot functionality that powers URLPixel.com.
Tech Stack
- • Node.js runtime environment
- • Express.js web framework
- • Puppeteer browser automation
- • Chrome headless browser
Key Features
- • Quality profiles (standard, high, retina)
- • Mobile and desktop viewports
- • Optional API key authentication
- • Base64 encoded responses
Request Flow
HTTP Request
Client sends POST request with URL and options
Processing
Express validates request and configures Puppeteer
Screenshot
Chrome captures and returns base64 image
Request Processing
URLPixel receives screenshot requests via a simple REST API endpoint. The Express.js server validates incoming requests and prepares configuration for the browser automation layer.
Request Validation
- • URL format validation and normalization
- • Quality profile selection (standard/high/retina/mobile)
- • Optional API key authentication
- • Rate limiting and security checks
Browser Automation
Puppeteer launches a headless Chrome instance configured for optimal screenshot capture. This approach ensures consistent rendering across different websites and content types.
Browser Configuration
- • Headless Chrome with optimized flags
- • Custom viewport sizing per quality profile
- • JavaScript execution and DOM rendering
- • Network request interception
Page Loading
- • Smart wait strategies for page readiness
- • Timeout handling for slow sites
- • Error recovery and fallback modes
- • Memory management and cleanup
Screenshot Generation
Chrome captures high-quality screenshots using configurable quality profiles. Each profile is optimized for different use cases, from fast previews to high-resolution captures.
Quality Profiles
Response Delivery
Screenshots are encoded as base64 strings and returned with metadata about the capture process. This approach ensures compatibility with any client while providing debugging information.
Response Format
- • Base64-encoded PNG image data
- • Capture timestamp and processing time
- • Image dimensions and quality profile used
- • Error details for failed captures
Performance
- • Browser instance pooling for speed
- • Configurable timeouts and limits
- • Memory optimization and cleanup
- • Horizontal scaling support
Security
- • Sandboxed browser execution
- • URL validation and filtering
- • Optional API key authentication
- • Resource usage limits
Ready for Production?
While URLPixel Open Source provides the core architecture, URLPixel.com adds enterprise features, global CDN, advanced analytics, and managed infrastructure for production use.
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