# Website Content Crawler β€” Text, Markdown & HTML for AI/LLM (`hichemdev/website-content-crawler`) Actor Crawl any website and extract clean text, Markdown, and HTML from every page β€” ready for LLM, RAG, and AI ingestion. - **URL**: https://apify.com/hichemdev/website-content-crawler.md - **Developed by:** [Hichem Ben Moussa](https://apify.com/hichemdev) (community) - **Categories:** AI, Developer tools - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $1.00 / 1,000 pages This Actor is paid per event and usage. You are charged both the fixed price for specific events and for Apify platform usage. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## πŸ•ΈοΈ Website Content Crawler β€” Text, Markdown & HTML for AI/LLM **Crawl any website and get clean, structured content from every page β€” as Markdown, plain text, and HTML. Built to feed LLMs, RAG pipelines, chatbots, and search indexes.** Point it at one or more URLs, set how deep to crawl, and get back the *readable* content of each page with the navigation, ads, cookie banners, and boilerplate stripped out. No API keys, no glue code. --- ### ✨ What you get for every page | Field | Description | |---|---| | **url / loadedUrl** | The page address (after redirects) | | **title** | Page title | | **description** | Meta / OG description | | **markdown** | Clean Markdown of the main content β€” perfect for LLM ingestion | | **text** | Clean plain-text version | | **html** | Cleaned HTML of the main content block (optional) | | **canonicalUrl / languageCode** | Page metadata | | **crawl** | Depth + referrer URL | --- ### 🎯 Who it's for - **AI / LLM builders** β€” turn a documentation site or knowledge base into Markdown for **RAG** and fine-tuning. - **Chatbot & support teams** β€” index your help center so an assistant can answer from it. - **SEO & content teams** β€” audit every page's real text content at scale. - **Researchers & data teams** β€” snapshot a whole site into structured records. --- ### πŸš€ How to use it 1. Add one or more **Start URLs**. 2. Choose a **crawler type**: - **Raw HTTP (Cheerio)** β€” fast and cheap, ideal for static or server-rendered sites. - **Headless browser (Playwright)** β€” renders JavaScript, for single-page apps and JS-heavy sites. 3. Set **max pages** and **crawl depth**. 4. (Optional) Narrow the crawl with **include / exclude URL patterns**. 5. Click **Start**, then export as **JSON, CSV, Excel, or Markdown**. --- ### πŸ“₯ Example input ```json { "startUrls": [{ "url": "https://docs.apify.com" }], "crawlerType": "cheerio", "maxCrawlPages": 50, "maxCrawlDepth": 2, "stayWithinDomain": true, "saveMarkdown": true, "saveText": true, "saveHtml": false } ```` Narrow to just a blog: ```json { "startUrls": [{ "url": "https://example.com" }], "includeGlobs": ["https://example.com/blog/**"], "excludeGlobs": ["**/tag/**", "**/*.pdf"] } ``` *** ### πŸ“€ Example output One record per page: ```json { "url": "https://docs.apify.com/platform", "title": "Apify platform | Apify Documentation", "description": "Learn how the Apify platform works.", "canonicalUrl": "https://docs.apify.com/platform", "languageCode": "en", "markdown": "# Apify platform\n\nThe Apify platform helps you...", "text": "Apify platform\nThe Apify platform helps you...", "textLength": 1843, "crawl": { "depth": 1, "referrerUrl": "https://docs.apify.com", "loadedUrl": "https://docs.apify.com/platform" } } ``` Export in one click to **JSON, CSV, Excel, or Markdown**, or pull results via the **Apify API**. *** ### πŸ”Œ Integrations & scheduling - **Schedule** the crawler to keep your knowledge base / index fresh. - Pipe the Markdown straight into a **vector database** (Pinecone, Weaviate, pgvector) for RAG. - Combine with **LangChain / LlamaIndex** β€” the Markdown output drops right into a document loader. *** ### ❓ FAQ **Cheerio or Playwright β€” which do I pick?** Start with **Cheerio** (fast, cheap). If pages come back empty or missing content, the site renders with JavaScript β€” switch to **Playwright**. **How does it decide what's "main content"?** It removes nav, header, footer, sidebars, ads, and cookie banners, then extracts the primary `
` / `
` region (falling back to the body). You get the article, not the chrome. **Will it stay on my site?** By default it only follows links on the **same domain**. Use include/exclude globs for finer control. **Do I need a proxy?** Apify Proxy is on by default to reduce blocking. For open public sites you can turn it off to save cost. **Is crawling legal?** It fetches publicly available pages. You're responsible for respecting each site's terms and robots policies and for how you use the content. *** ### πŸ—ΊοΈ Roadmap - `robots.txt` and sitemap.xml support - Readability-grade main-content scoring - Per-page screenshots (Playwright mode) - Automatic language detection & chunking for RAG *** *Built and maintained by [hichemdev](https://apify.com/hichemdev). Found a bug or want a feature? Open an issue on the Actor's **Issues** tab.* # Actor input Schema ## `startUrls` (type: `array`): One or more URLs to start crawling from. The crawler follows links from these pages up to the crawl depth. ## `crawlerType` (type: `string`): How to fetch pages. "Raw HTTP (Cheerio)" is fast and cheap β€” best for static or server-rendered sites. "Headless browser (Playwright)" renders JavaScript β€” use it for single-page apps and JS-heavy sites. ## `maxCrawlPages` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of pages to crawl and store across all start URLs. ## `maxCrawlDepth` (type: `integer`): How many links deep to follow from the start URLs. 0 = only the start URLs; 1 = start URLs plus the pages they link to; and so on. ## `stayWithinDomain` (type: `boolean`): Only follow links that stay on the same domain as the start URL. ## `includeGlobs` (type: `array`): Optional glob patterns. If set, only URLs matching one of them are crawled, e.g. "https://example.com/blog/\*\*". ## `excludeGlobs` (type: `array`): Optional glob patterns for URLs to skip, e.g. "**/tag/**" or "\*\*/\*.pdf". ## `saveMarkdown` (type: `boolean`): Include clean Markdown of the main content β€” ideal for LLM / RAG ingestion. ## `saveText` (type: `boolean`): Include a clean plain-text version of the main content. ## `saveHtml` (type: `boolean`): Include the cleaned HTML of the main content block. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Proxy settings. Apify Proxy (automatic) helps avoid blocking. You can disable it for public sites to save cost. ## Actor input object example ```json { "startUrls": [ { "url": "https://apify.com" } ], "crawlerType": "cheerio", "maxCrawlPages": 10, "maxCrawlDepth": 1, "stayWithinDomain": true, "includeGlobs": [], "excludeGlobs": [], "saveMarkdown": true, "saveText": true, "saveHtml": false, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true } } ``` # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "startUrls": [ { "url": "https://apify.com" } ], "crawlerType": "cheerio", "maxCrawlPages": 10, "maxCrawlDepth": 1, "includeGlobs": [], "excludeGlobs": [] }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("hichemdev/website-content-crawler").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`πŸ’Ύ Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // πŸ“š Want to learn more πŸ“–? Go to β†’ https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "startUrls": [{ "url": "https://apify.com" }], "crawlerType": "cheerio", "maxCrawlPages": 10, "maxCrawlDepth": 1, "includeGlobs": [], "excludeGlobs": [], } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("hichemdev/website-content-crawler").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("πŸ’Ύ Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # πŸ“š Want to learn more πŸ“–? Go to β†’ https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "startUrls": [ { "url": "https://apify.com" } ], "crawlerType": "cheerio", "maxCrawlPages": 10, "maxCrawlDepth": 1, "includeGlobs": [], "excludeGlobs": [] }' | apify call hichemdev/website-content-crawler --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=hichemdev/website-content-crawler", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Website Content Crawler β€” Text, Markdown & HTML for AI/LLM", "description": "Crawl any website and extract clean text, Markdown, and HTML from every page β€” ready for LLM, RAG, and AI ingestion.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "hh1ZFOuFlx8SmMDmc" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/hichemdev~website-content-crawler/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-hichemdev-website-content-crawler", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/hichemdev~website-content-crawler/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-hichemdev-website-content-crawler", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/hichemdev~website-content-crawler/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-hichemdev-website-content-crawler", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "required": [ "startUrls" ], "properties": { "startUrls": { "title": "Start URLs", "type": "array", "description": "One or more URLs to start crawling from. The crawler follows links from these pages up to the crawl depth.", "items": { "type": "object", "required": [ "url" ], "properties": { "url": { "type": "string", "title": "URL of a web page", "format": "uri" } } } }, "crawlerType": { "title": "Crawler type", "enum": [ "cheerio", "playwright" ], "type": "string", "description": "How to fetch pages. \"Raw HTTP (Cheerio)\" is fast and cheap β€” best for static or server-rendered sites. \"Headless browser (Playwright)\" renders JavaScript β€” use it for single-page apps and JS-heavy sites.", "default": "cheerio" }, "maxCrawlPages": { "title": "Max pages", "minimum": 1, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of pages to crawl and store across all start URLs.", "default": 50 }, "maxCrawlDepth": { "title": "Max crawl depth", "minimum": 0, "type": "integer", "description": "How many links deep to follow from the start URLs. 0 = only the start URLs; 1 = start URLs plus the pages they link to; and so on.", "default": 1 }, "stayWithinDomain": { "title": "Stay within the same domain", "type": "boolean", "description": "Only follow links that stay on the same domain as the start URL.", "default": true }, "includeGlobs": { "title": "Include URL patterns (globs)", "type": "array", "description": "Optional glob patterns. If set, only URLs matching one of them are crawled, e.g. \"https://example.com/blog/**\".", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "excludeGlobs": { "title": "Exclude URL patterns (globs)", "type": "array", "description": "Optional glob patterns for URLs to skip, e.g. \"**/tag/**\" or \"**/*.pdf\".", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "saveMarkdown": { "title": "Save Markdown", "type": "boolean", "description": "Include clean Markdown of the main content β€” ideal for LLM / RAG ingestion.", "default": true }, "saveText": { "title": "Save plain text", "type": "boolean", "description": "Include a clean plain-text version of the main content.", "default": true }, "saveHtml": { "title": "Save cleaned HTML", "type": "boolean", "description": "Include the cleaned HTML of the main content block.", "default": false }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy", "type": "object", "description": "Proxy settings. Apify Proxy (automatic) helps avoid blocking. You can disable it for public sites to save cost.", "default": { "useApifyProxy": true } } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```