← Back to Channels and integrations
OpenClaw browser

How browser actions work

Reliable browser work is a database of small rules: target the right tab, inspect before acting, use fresh refs, and recheck after meaningful page changes.

Action ruleTabs, snapshots, and refs beat improvised selector guessing almost every time.
Action loop

The reliable browser action sequence

  1. Target the right tab. Use the stable label or target the suggested tab handle, not a vague guess.
  2. Take a snapshot. Inspect what the page actually exposes for action right now.
  3. Use the refs. Act on the real current refs instead of inventing brittle selectors.
  4. Recheck after change. Refresh refs after navigation, modal changes, or significant UI updates.
Artifact choice

Which browser artifact answers which question?

SnapshotBest when you need the interactive structure and refs for the next action.
ScreenshotBest when the question is visual state, layout, or what the page looked like.
Labeled screenshotBest when you need the visual state and the current refs together.
Open deeper reference links for this page