Download HttpWatch
HttpWatch functions as an embedded network recorder for Internet Explorer and Firefox, capturing each HTTP and HTTPS exchange as the page loads. It presents headers, cookies, query strings, timing values, and response bodies inside a panel within the browser window itself. The recording mechanism requires no external proxy, and encrypted sessions are decrypted through the browser's SSL layer. A free edition provides core capture and log sharing, while the paid edition adds extended analysis and automation capabilities.
HttpWatch targets developers and administrators who must determine why a page loads slowly or behaves unexpectedly. It measures DNS resolution, connection establishment, SSL negotiation, server response, and content transfer for every resource. Warnings point to caching errors, redirect chains, compression omissions, and weak TLS settings. Recorded sessions can be filtered, searched, exported, or saved as log files for remote examination by another party.
A programming interface accompanies the browser extension and permits automated collection of performance data during test runs. Scripts can start recording, read timing values, and export results without manual interaction. This suits continuous integration environments where page performance must be tracked across builds. Native log files preserve complete sessions for later review, and export formats support comparison with earlier baselines or processing in external reporting systems.
| Embedded panel captures browser HTTP and HTTPS traffic | Correlate rendered page elements with underlying network calls |
| Record DNS, TCP, SSL, TTFB, download, total timings | Time chart reveals slow resources delaying page rendering |
| Decrypt HTTPS via browser SSL layer without proxy | Inspect SSL version, cipher suite, and weak settings |
| Expose full request and response headers per entry | Verify caching, compression, content type, authentication flows |
| List cookies with domains, paths, expiry, security flags | Parse URL query strings for session and tracking debugging |
| View HTML, CSS, JS, JSON, XML response bodies | Save binary streams to disk for external examination |
| Graphical timeline exposes concurrency, gaps, blocking relationships | Automatic warnings for cache, redirect, SSL, compression issues |
| HWL logs enable remote diagnosis without environment access | API integrates recording into automated test pipelines |
| Filter by URL, content type, status code, method | Export CSV, XML, HAR for spreadsheet and baseline comparison |
| Link captured requests to originating page elements | Open selected URLs directly in browser for inspection |