PinchTab

What is PinchTab?

PinchTab is a standalone HTTP server that gives AI agents direct control over Chrome. It is a 12MB Go binary with an SMCP (Model Context Protocol) plugin, providing token-efficient browser automation via HTTP API or CLI.

How to use PinchTab?

Install via curl, npm, or Docker, then run pinchtab to start the server on http://localhost:9867. Control the browser using CLI commands (e.g., pinchtab nav, pinchtab click) or the HTTP API directly. For MCP integration, configure the SMCP plugin (see plugins/README.md for environment variables and paths).

Key features of PinchTab

• Token-efficient text extraction (~800 tokens per page)
• Headless or headed browser modes
• Multi-instance with isolated profiles
• Self-contained 12MB binary, no external dependencies
• Accessibility-first with stable element references
• ARM64-optimized including Raspberry Pi support

Use cases of PinchTab

• AI agent automation: navigate, click, fill forms, and press keys
• Token-efficient data extraction from web pages
• Multi-instance workflows with parallel isolated profiles
• Persistent browser sessions with profile reuse across restarts

FAQ from PinchTab

What is the difference between PinchTab server and bridge?

The server is the main control-plane process that manages profiles, instances, and routing. The bridge is a thin per-instance runtime used internally for managed child instances; most users only need the server.

How does PinchTab achieve token efficiency?

PinchTab extracts page text at ~800 tokens per page instead of using screenshots, which can be 5–13x cheaper in token usage.

What security measures does PinchTab include?

PinchTab defaults to local-first with server.bind = 127.0.0.1. It uses an API token for access control and IDPI (Input Domain Protection) with a local-only website allowlist as a defense layer against prompt injection.

Can PinchTab attach an externally managed Chrome instance?

Yes, the "attach" feature allows registering an externally managed Chrome process, but it is disabled by default for security.

Is PinchTab compatible with MCP?

Yes. The repository includes an SMCP plugin that exposes 15 tools (e.g., pinchtab__navigate, pinchtab__snapshot) for use with the Model Context Protocol.