Webrecorder

Webrecorder is an open-source platform for web archiving that enables the creation of high-fidelity captures of web pages, including dynamic and interactive sites. By recording the network activity and rendered content as a user navigates a site, Webrecorder aims to preserve the appearance and behavior of websites for future replay.

The platform typically includes a browser-based recorder that can capture pages, forms, media, and client-side applications as they are interacted with. Captures are stored in standard web archiving formats such as WARC and can be packaged into portable bundles for offline playback, sharing, or long-term preservation. A playback viewer allows researchers to explore archived content in a faithful, interactive manner.

Webrecorder is designed as an extensible toolset with client-side components and optional server-side components for storage, management, and collaboration. The project emphasizes openness and interoperability and maintains an active open-source codebase.

Uses include libraries, archives, museums, researchers, and institutions seeking to preserve web material that traditional crawlers may miss, particularly pages driven by JavaScript, dynamic content, or user-generated interactions.

The project contributes to the broader field of web archiving and digital preservation by enabling more complete captures of the contemporary web.