🇺🇦
3 min read

When to use GET or POST for website screenshot and test API runs

Use GET for quick URL-based runs and POST when you need headers, cookies, steps, assertions, labels, or storage settings.

screenshot apirender api
On this page
  1. Use GET for simple calls and POST for real setup
  2. Why the method changes the product path
  3. Choose the first request shape based on the real job

Use this when

  • GET: fast call with a URL and a few query parameters.
  • POST: repeatable run with structured setup and future review in mind.
  • GET: good for quick experiments and simple output.
When to use GET or POST for website screenshot and test API runs

Use GET for simple calls and POST for real setup

GET fits quick URL-based runs where the page needs little or no context. It is a good first step for one-off captures, simple checks, or a fast proof that the endpoint works.

POST is the better default once the run needs headers, cookies, steps, assertions, labels, storage settings, or a structured body that should be readable later. That is usually where page checks stop being throwaway calls and become part of a workflow.

Why the method changes the product path

The method matters because it often signals the maturity of the work. A GET request usually means a quick run. A POST request usually means the team wants a real recipe that can be understood, reused, and eventually attached to a saved check.

Choosing the right method early keeps the API easier to use. It also keeps the product path clearer: simple render now, richer page check later, without forcing every caller into the same shape.

Choose the first request shape based on the real job

If the job is a fast one-off capture, start with GET. If the job already includes state, assertions, or ownership, start with POST and keep the structure explicit from the beginning.

That split matches how teams actually work. It avoids overbuilding simple calls while keeping more serious page checks readable and stable.

Related links

API docs

Guide questions

When is GET enough?
When the run is simple, mostly URL-based, and does not need much request context or later review.
When should I switch to POST?
Switch when the run needs headers, cookies, steps, assertions, labels, storage settings, or any structured setup that should stay readable over time.

Ready to apply this on a real page?

Turn the next important page into a saved result, a reviewed baseline or a recurring check instead of leaving it as a one-off issue.

Start using RenderLogSee use cases