> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mucsi96.gitbook.io/w3c-webdriver/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mucsi96.gitbook.io/w3c-webdriver/capabilities.md).

# Capabilities

## Capabilities

Before we can send any command to the browser we drive we need to create a [WebDriver](https://www.w3.org/TR/webdriver) session. This should be always the first step of interaction using the protocol. To create a new session we need to provide some requirements like `browserName`, `browserVersion`, `platformName`. These requirements are called [`Capabilities`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/WebDriver/Capabilities). This is especially important when we interact not directly with a single browser but with a grid of browsers. Using `alwaysMatch` property we can provide some strict requirements. If the WebDriver sever can't provide the required features the session creation will fail. Using `firstMatch` property we can provide a list of requirements. During session creation the server will pick the first capability it's able to match. `firstMatch` can of course be combined with `alwaysMatch` to narrow down the selection.

**PROPERTIES**

* `alwaysMatch?`: [BrowserCapability](#browsercapability)
* `firstMatch?`: [BrowserCapability](#browsercapability)\[]

**EXAMPLES**

```typescript
const capabilities = {
  alwaysMatch: {
    browserName: 'firefox',
    browserVersion: '60'
  }
}
```

```typescript
const capabilities = {
  firstMatch: [
    { browserName: 'chrome' },
    { browserName: 'firefox' }
  ]
}
```

**SEE ALSO**

* [MDN web docs](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/WebDriver/Capabilities)

## BrowserCapability

**PROPERTIES**

* `browserName?`: string
* `browserVersion?`: string
* `platformName?`: string
* `acceptInsecureCerts?`: boolean
* `pageLoadStrategy`: `'none'` | `'eager'` | `'normal'`
* `unhandledPromptBehavior`: `'dismiss'` | `'accept'` | `'dismiss and notify'` | `'accept and notify'` | `'ignore'`
* `goog:chromeOptions?`: [ChromeOptions](#chromeoptions)
* `moz:firefoxOptions?`: [FirefoxOptions](#firefoxoptions)
* `se:ieOptions?`: [InternetExplorerOptions](#internetexploreroptions)
* `bstack:options?`: [BrowserStackOptions](#browserstackoptions)

## ChromeOptions

**PROPERTIES**

* `w3c?`: boolean
* `binary?`: string
* `args?`: string\[]

## FirefoxOptions

**PROPERTIES**

* `binary?`: string
* `args?`: string\[]
* `profile?`: string
* `log?`: object
  * `level?`: string
* `prefs?`: object

**SEE ALSO**

* [MDN web docs](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/WebDriver/Capabilities/firefoxOptions)

## InternetExplorerOptions

**PROPERTIES**

* `ignoreProtectedModeSettings`: boolean
* `ignoreZoomSetting`: boolean
* `ie.ensureCleanSession`: boolean

## BrowserStackOptions

**PROPERTIES**

* `os?`: string
* `osVersion?`: string
* `sessionName?`: string
* `buildName?`: string
* `projectName?`: string
* `debug?`: boolean
* `networkLogs?`: boolean
* `local?`: boolean
* `seleniumVersion?`: string
* `safari?`: object
  * `enablePopups?`: boolean
  * `useSimulator?`: boolean
  * `allowAllCookies?`: boolean
  * `driver?`: string


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://mucsi96.gitbook.io/w3c-webdriver/capabilities.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.