navigation-patterns

Navigation Patterns

Patterns for URL navigation, multi-tab workflows, session lifecycle management, and browser profile persistence.

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1. Basic Navigation

The fundamental browser pattern: navigate, inspect, interact, close.

Step 1: Navigate to URL (session created automatically)
  mcp__browser-use__browser_navigate(url="https://example.com")
  → Save session_id from response

Step 2: Inspect the page
  mcp__browser-use__browser_get_state(session_id="abc123")
  → Returns selector_map with numbered elements

Step 3: Interact (optional)
  mcp__browser-use__browser_click(index=3, session_id="abc123")

Step 4: Always close
  mcp__browser-use__browser_close_session(session_id="abc123")

Verify page loaded: After browser_navigate, check the response title and url. If title is blank or URL redirected unexpectedly, call browser_get_state to inspect the actual page content before proceeding.

Wait for dynamic content: For SPAs (React, Vue, Angular), the DOM may not be ready immediately after navigate. If selector_map in browser_get_state is sparse or empty, call browser_get_state again after a short delay:

1. browser_navigate(url="https://spa-app.example.com")
2. browser_get_state(session_id) → sparse selector_map?
3. browser_get_state(session_id) → call again; SPA renders after first paint

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2. Back Navigation

Use browser_go_back to return to the previous page without creating a new navigation entry.

Pattern: Visit detail page, then return to list

1. browser_navigate(url="https://shop.example.com/products")    → session_id
2. browser_get_state(session_id) → find product links in selector_map
3. browser_click(index=5, session_id)                          → navigate to product detail
4. browser_extract_content(query="price and specs", session_id)
5. browser_go_back(session_id)                                  → back to product list
6. browser_get_state(session_id)                               → DOM refreshed
7. browser_click(index=6, session_id)                          → next product
... repeat ...
N. browser_close_session(session_id)