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Guide

Run Demo Task on Playground

5 stepsAgent View (JSON)

Overview

Browserbase is a platform that makes the web as reliable and programmable as APIs by providing browser automation capabilities for agents and applications. The Playground is a testing environment where you can create, test, and deploy browser agent Functions directly from the dashboard without requiring code deployment. This workflow walks you through running a pre-built demo function to explore how Browserbase executes browser tasks, captures data, and handles execution lifecycle (start and stop). Understanding how to run and control tasks in the Playground is essential before building custom automation or deploying Functions to production.

Before you begin

  • You have a Browserbase account and are logged in to www.browserbase.com
  • You have access to the Browserbase dashboard with permission to view and run Functions
  • You are on the main Browserbase website or dashboard (www.browserbase.com)

Step by step

1
ClickPlayground

Navigate to the Browserbase Playground by clicking the 'Playground' link in the main navigation. This opens the testing environment where you can create, test, and manage browser automation Functions.

Tip. The Playground is the primary interface for testing Functions before deploying them to production. Bookmark this page for quick access during development.
Step 1
2
ClickFunction Name

Click the 'Function Name' dropdown (combobox) to view the list of available demo and custom Functions that you can run.

Tip. If you have created multiple Functions, you can search by typing in this dropdown to quickly find the one you need.
Step 2
3
ClickVisit Hacker News

Select 'Visit Hacker News' from the dropdown options. This is a pre-built demo Function that navigates to Hacker News and demonstrates Browserbase's web automation capabilities.

Tip. Demo Functions like 'Visit Hacker News' are excellent for learning how to structure your own Functions and understanding the Browserbase execution model.
Step 3
4
ClickRun ⌘

Click the 'Run ⌘' button to execute the selected 'Visit Hacker News' Function. This starts a browser session and begins the automation task. The button label indicates you can also use the Command key (⌘) as a keyboard shortcut.

Tip. You can use the keyboard shortcut Cmd+Enter (Mac) or Ctrl+Enter (Windows) to run the Function quickly after selecting it.
Step 4
5
ClickStop esc

Click the 'Stop esc' button to terminate the running task and end the browser session. This allows you to control the execution lifecycle and stop long-running or exploratory tasks.

Tip. You can also press the Escape key (esc) on your keyboard as a shortcut to stop the execution without clicking the button. This is useful for quickly interrupting tasks.
Warning. Stopping a task will immediately end the browser session and interrupt any ongoing operations. If you need to preserve data or screenshots from the task, ensure you review them before stopping.
Step 5

Confirm it worked

  1. 1The Playground interface is visible with the Function selector dropdown displayed
  2. 2The 'Visit Hacker News' function is selected in the Function Name dropdown
  3. 3The task execution starts and you can see the browser session begin (indicated by the 'Stop esc' button becoming active)
  4. 4After clicking Stop, the execution halts and the session terminates cleanly

Common issues

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