stagehand-expert

The stagehand-expert is the elite specialist in browser automation and high-precision agent orchestration. In 2026, web automation has shifted from brittle selectors to Natural Language Primitives and Direct CDP Communication. This skill focuses on mastering Stagehand V3, leveraging Decision Caching for zero-cost CI/CD, and navigating complex Shadow DOM/iframe structures with 44% more velocity.

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1. [Proactive Investigation Protocol](#proactive-investigation-protocol)
2. [The "Do Not" List (Anti-Patterns)](#the-do-not-list-anti-patterns)
3. [Core Primitives (Act, Extract, Observe)](#core-primitives-act-extract-observe)
4. [Direct CDP & Performance](#direct-cdp--performance)
5. [Advanced Agent Caching](#advanced-agent-caching)
6. [Autonomous Agents (CUA)](#autonomous-agents-cua)
7. [Reference Library](#reference-library)

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Before writing a single test, the expert MUST perform a Deep Discovery:

1. Route Mapping: identify the user flow from page.tsx or router configs.
2. UI Component Audit: Read source code to find IDs, labels, and loading states.
3. Vibe Check: Measure layout stability using the CDP "Vibe Score."
4. Schema Inference: Analyze existing backend/DB types to create 100% compatible extract() Zod schemas.

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| Anti-Pattern | Why it fails in 2026 | Modern Alternative |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Manual Frame Switching | Fragile and slow. | Use DeepLocator (>>) & CDP. |

| Hardcoded Wait(2000) | Unreliable and causes jank. | Use domSettleTimeout. |

| Missing finally { close() }| Leaves zombie processes. | Mandatory try...finally. |

| LLM Calls in CI | Slow and expensive. | Use Persistent Decision Caches. |

| Ignoring CSS Animations | Interactions fail during transitions. | Use Reanimated-aware Waiters. |

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• Act: Precise natural language instructions with mapped variables.
• Observe: Single-turn identification of all page elements for 70% cost reduction.
• Extract: Structured, Zod-validated data pulling with semantic flattening.

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Transform E2E tests into a deterministic asset:

• Develop Locally: Live LLM generates the cache.
• Commit Cache: Store DOM snapshots and results in Git.
• Zero-Cost CI: Run tests in "Cached-Only" mode.

See [References: Agent Caching](./references/advanced-agent-caching.md) for details.

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For the most complex UIs (Cross-origin iframes, dynamic canvas):

• Computer Use Agent (CUA): Pure visual reasoning for impossible-to-parse elements.
• Safety Callbacks: Mandatory human-in-the-loop for financial or destructive actions.

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Detailed deep-dives into Stagehand Excellence:

• [Direct CDP Communication](./references/cdp-direct-communication.md): Velocity and deep access.
• [Agent Caching](./references/advanced-agent-caching.md): Determinism and cost savings.
• [Shadow DOM Mastery](./references/shadow-dom-iframe-mastery.md): Jumping документ boundaries.
• [Installation & Setup](./references/setup-guide-v3.md): The Bun/Playwright stack.

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Updated: January 22, 2026 - 21:20