Get Source Code of Webpage

Search Engine Optimization

Get Source Code of Webpage


Enter a URL



About Get Source Code of Webpage

When working on web development, SEO, or debugging, accessing a webpage’s source code can be incredibly useful. Whether you're analyzing a competitor’s site, learning how a feature was built, or troubleshooting an issue, viewing the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript behind a webpage is essential.

In this guide, we’ll explore different ways to get the source code of a webpage—both manually and using tools—while ensuring you don’t violate copyright laws.

Why View a Webpage’s Source Code?

Here are some common reasons to check a website’s source code:
✔ SEO Analysis – Check meta tags, structured data, and hidden content.
✔ Web Development – Learn how a feature was coded.
✔ Debugging – Find broken scripts or CSS issues.
✔ Security Checks – Detect malicious scripts or hidden redirects.
✔ Competitor Research – Analyze their technical SEO setup.

 

How to Get the Source Code of a Webpage

1. Using Browser Developer Tools (Best for Live Inspection)

All major browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari) allow you to view the source code:

Google Chrome / Microsoft Edge

  • Right-click on the page → Select "View Page Source" (or press Ctrl+U).

  • For interactive inspection, press F12 or Ctrl+Shift+I → Opens DevTools.

Mozilla Firefox

  • Right-click → "View Page Source" (or Ctrl+U).

  • For DevTools, press Ctrl+Shift+I.

Safari (Mac)

  • Enable Developer Menu (Preferences → Advanced → Check "Show Develop menu").

  • Then, Develop → Show Page Source (or Option+Command+U).

 

2. Using Online Source Code Viewer Tools

If you need a quick way without opening DevTools, try these tools:

These tools let you paste a URL and fetch its HTML.

 

3. Browser Extensions for Enhanced Source Viewing

  • Web Developer Extension (Chrome/Firefox) – Adds a "View Source" button.

  • SEO Meta in 1 Click (Chrome) – Extracts meta tags easily.

What Can You Do with the Source Code?

✅ Check Meta Tags – Analyze <title><meta description>, and <h1> tags for SEO.
✅ Find Hidden Content – Detect cloaking or hidden text (black-hat SEO).
✅ Debug JavaScript/CSS – Identify broken scripts or styling issues.
✅ Extract Data – Scrape public data (ethically, without violating terms).

Legal & Ethical Considerations

⚠️ Do not copy or reuse code without permission – It may violate copyright laws.
⚠️ Respect robots.txt – Some sites block scraping.
⚠️ Avoid automated scraping without consent – Can lead to IP bans.

Viewing a webpage’s source code is a powerful skill for developers, SEO experts, and digital marketers. Whether you use browser DevTools, online tools, or command-line methods, always ensure you’re using the data ethically.

Need help analyzing a competitor’s source code? Try these methods and see what insights you can uncover!