Evaluating javascript expressions

While Ayakashi comes bundled with all kinds of high level actions it also allows executing arbitrarily javascript expressions in the context of the currently active page.

const title = await ayakashi.evaluate(function() {
    return document.title;
});

Passing parameters

const title = await ayakashi.evaluate(function(property) {
    return document[property];
}, "title");

Any number of parameters can be passed and they will be available in the function in the order that they are passed.

const title = await ayakashi.evaluate(function(arg1, arg2, arg3) {
    // arg1 === 1
    // arg2 === 2
    // arg3 === 3
}, 1, 2, 3);

Current scope is not transferred

Since evaluate will serialize the function and its arguments and then execute it inside the chromium instance, the current scope is lost and is not transferred.
The following won’t work:

const myVariable = "hello";

await ayakashi.evaluate(function() {
    console.log(myVariable); // => Error!
});

Any type of argument can be passed

You can pass any type of argument to the evaluated function and it will be properly serialized.

• primitive values (numbers, strings etc)
• objects and arrays
• functions
• regexes

Evaluating asynchronous functions

Asynchronous functions work by using evaluateAsync() instead of evaluate() and by returning a promise:

await ayakashi.evaluateAsync(function() {
    return new Promise(function(resolve) {
        setTimeout(function() {
            resolve();
        }, 1000);
    });
});

Wrapping evaluations in a custom action

If you keep using an evaluate(), consider wrapping it in a custom action.

Evaluating large functions

evaluate() works great for small functions but if you find yourself evaluating large functions consider creating a library and load it as a preloader.
This will help diminish the serialization and transferring cost (since it will only happen once) and also improve the readability of your scraper.
You can learn how here.