What is a HAR file?
HAR stands for HTTP Archive Record and is a JSON structured file containing network traffic information about a browser’s interactions with a server as well as the content on a webpage.
When HAR files are useful
- Performance issues: slow page loading, timeouts when performing tasks, time spent negotiating proxy connections, time spent issuing requests, time spent receiving the response data, DNS lookups, and others
- Page Rendering: incorrectly formatted pages or missing information
How to Capture HAR files
Prior to performing a capture open an Incognito window or tab to eliminate capturing decrypted request-response communications or cookie from unrelated sites or events.
Chrome
- Access Menu > More tools > Developer tools (CTRL+SHIFT+I or F12)
- Select the Network tab, if not already selected.
- Ensure that the Preserve log box is checked.
- Check mark the Disable cache box.
- Reload or recreate the activity you wish to capture.
- Click the Download icon.
Firefox
- Access Menu > More tools > Web Developer Tools (CTRL+SHIFT+I or F12)
- Select the Network tab, if not already selected.
- Ensure that the Persist Logs box is checked.
- Check mark the Disable cache box.
- Reload or recreate the activity you wish to capture.
- Click the cog icon.
- Select Save All As HAR.
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