What should I preserve from a website?¶

Preserve enough to show exactly what was observed, where it appeared, when it was seen and how it was reached. A screenshot alone rarely preserves all four.

Preserve the location and context¶

Record the complete URL, including protocol, hostname, path, query string and any item or campaign identifier. Keep the original shortened or redirected link as well as the final destination.

Record the date, time and time zone; the device, browser or tool; whether an account was signed in; which account was used; how the page was reached; and any action required to reveal the content. Capture surrounding material that explains the page, such as contact details, payment instructions and linked accounts.

Preserve more than appearance where proportionate¶

The visible page is what a person saw. Other material can explain how it was delivered. Depending on authority, risk and need, that may include downloaded files, response headers, page source, redirect details, embedded-service identifiers or a specialist web capture.

A photograph of a shop window records what was displayed; it does not record the shop’s full address, the route taken there or what sits behind the display. A reliable web record needs both appearance and context.

Avoid unnecessary interaction. Submitting forms, purchasing, messaging or creating accounts may alter evidence, alert an operator or create legal and operational issues. Record who made the capture, the method used and how the material was stored.