Are you curious to see what's behind a web page? You can retrieve its source code to uncover all its little secrets!
In this article, we suggest you discover three simple and effective methods for 👉 download the source code of a website.
Method 1: The simple approach (for a single page)
This approach allows you to access the source code of a web page with a single click.
- Go to the page and make an appointment. right click
- Select the option «View page source code»
- A new tab will automatically open with the code!
You can use keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+U (Windows) Where Cmd+U (Mac) to go even faster.
⚠️ With this method, you only retrieve the HTML code of the page, not the CSS, JavaScript, etc. files.
Want to go further and retrieve images from a web page ? We invite you to read our article dedicated to this topic!
Method 2: The comprehensive approach (for an entire website)
You want to download the source code of an entire website This is entirely possible thanks to more advanced tools called «rippers» or «website scrapers».
👉 Website scrapers allow you to retrieve the complete website structure, including images, but also links to videos and attached files.
👉 One example is HTTrack, a tool capable of download an entire website.
HTTrack copies not only the HTML of the site, but also the CSS, JS, and image files, as well as all internal links (rewritten to work locally). You then get a functional copy of the site !
⚠️ But before using a ripper to retrieve data On a website, remember to check whether it is permitted! Some websites prohibit copying their content without permission.
Always check the terms and conditions of use (Terms of Use) and the robots.txt files before you start. And if you still have doubts, don't hesitate to ask for permission.
Method 3: The professional approach (for code repositories)
Developers often share their code on platforms such as GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket. There you can legally retrieve the source code of a website, or even an entire project!
Platforms such as GitHub host code repositories, i.e., projects containing all the files necessary for an application or website to function properly.
You can clone the repository with Git via an online order such as:
git clone https://github.com/nom-utilisateur/nom-du-projet.git👉 Git is a 100 % free tool used by developers to collaborate effectively. Convenient, it is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
the cloning a repository with Git allows you to:
- Download all project files
- Access the complete history of changes (commits)
- Stay up to date by synchronizing with the original repository (via git pull)
This solution is therefore the most reliable method, because the cloning a code repository gives you access to the code as it was designed by its author, free of charge and legally.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced user, you can download the source code of a website no problem.
Which of the methods suggested in this article do you plan to try? Have you already tried other methods? Share your experiences with us in the comments!
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