sbvirtualdisplay
A customized pyvirtualdisplay for SeleniumBase.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need to run browser tests with extensions or require a full graphical context on a headless system and Xvfb is available. The low install friction, permissive license, and stable codebase make it a safe choice for this specific use case. Not necessary if your browser's native headless mode meets your needs or if you lack Xvfb on your target platform.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Xvfb must be installed on the system (typically available on Linux; not native to macOS or Windows).
- Low friction: pure Python wheel with no runtime dependencies.
- Maintenance is dormant, though the repository remains active with a recent commit on 2024-12-16.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license (permissive) places no restrictions on use, modification, or distribution. Safe for commercial and proprietary projects.
last release 2024-12-16 (606 days) · last repo commit 2024-12-16 · 19 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 754,768 downloads/mo, #5,142 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
from sbvirtualdisplay import Display
display = Display(visible=0, size=(1440, 1880))
display.start()
# Run browser tests
display.stop()
# Or as context manager:
with Display(visible=0, size=(1440, 1880)):
# Run browser tests- Whether Xvfb availability on macOS and Windows is practical or if this is Linux-only in practice despite classifier claims.
- Performance overhead of virtual display versus native headless browser modes in typical test scenarios.
What it is and what it does
sbVirtualDisplay is a thin wrapper around PyVirtualDisplay customized for SeleniumBase test automation. It creates a virtual X11 display on headless systems, allowing browser tests to run in a graphical environment even when no physical display is present. This is useful when browser headless modes are insufficient—for instance, Chrome's headless mode does not support extensions, so if you need to test with extensions on a headless Linux machine, a virtual display lets you run the browser in normal (non-headless) mode.
The package is pure Python with no runtime dependencies, making installation straightforward. It supports Python 3.8 through 3.13 and works on Linux, macOS, and Windows (though Xvfb, the underlying X11 virtual framebuffer, is the critical system requirement). Maintenance is dormant but stable; the codebase is marked Production/Stable.
Use it for
- Running Selenium tests with Chrome extensions on a headless Linux CI/CD server where headless mode is not an option.
- Automating browser interactions in a containerized environment without a display manager.
- Testing browser UI behavior that requires a full graphical context rather than a headless rendering mode.
- Integrating with SeleniumBase test suites that need virtual display support for complex automation scenarios.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need to run browser tests with extensions or require a full graphical context on a headless system and Xvfb is available.
The low install friction, permissive license, and stable codebase make it a safe choice for this specific use case. Not necessary if your browser's native headless mode meets your needs or if you lack Xvfb on your target platform.
Install
sbvirtualdisplay on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction: pure Python wheel with no runtime dependencies. Maintenance is dormant, though the repository remains active with a recent commit on 2024-12-16. Suitable for stable, established use cases.
Xvfb must be installed on the system (typically available on Linux; not native to macOS or Windows).
License in practice
MIT license (permissive) places no restrictions on use, modification, or distribution. Safe for commercial and proprietary projects.
Quickstart
from sbvirtualdisplay import Display
display = Display(visible=0, size=(1440, 1880))
display.start()
# Run browser tests
display.stop()
# Or as context manager:
with Display(visible=0, size=(1440, 1880)):
# Run browser testsVerify before relying
- Whether Xvfb availability on macOS and Windows is practical or if this is Linux-only in practice despite classifier claims.
- Performance overhead of virtual display versus native headless browser modes in typical test scenarios.
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.8 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Dormant 606 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 754,768 / month, #5,142 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableEnvironment :: ConsoleEnvironment :: MacOS XEnvironment :: Web EnvironmentEnvironment :: Win32 (MS Windows)Framework :: PytestIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: Information TechnologyLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseOperating System :: MacOS :: MacOS XOperating System :: Microsoft :: WindowsOperating System :: POSIX :: LinuxProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: InternetTopic :: Scientific/EngineeringTopic :: Software DevelopmentTopic :: Software Development :: LibrariesTopic :: Software Development :: Quality AssuranceTopic :: Software Development :: TestingTopic :: Software Development :: Testing :: AcceptanceTopic :: Software Development :: Testing :: Traffic GenerationTopic :: Utilities |
Evidence: sbvirtualdisplay-1.4.0-py3-none-any.whl
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See also PyVirtualDisplay · xvfbwrapper · pytest-xvfb · pyppeteer · vncdotool · mycdp · selenium-stealth · seleniumbase · zendriver · selenium