What is a HAR (HTTP Archive) file?
A HAR (HTTP Archive) file is a standardized JSON-formatted file (W3C specification) used to record web browser network interactions. It logs detailed request/response headers, cookies, query parameters, timing metrics, and payload bodies captured during browser sessions.
Because HAR files capture raw HTTP traffic, they frequently contain sensitive session cookies, bearer tokens, and credentials. EasyExtract processes HAR archives 100% locally in your browser to guarantee session privacy.
How to inspect a HAR file
- Export HAR from browser DevTools. Open Chrome or Firefox DevTools (F12), go to the Network tab, right-click any request, and select 'Save all as HAR with content'.
- Drop HAR file into EasyExtract. Drop the .har file onto the drop zone above. The browser reads the JSON structure in memory instantly.
- Inspect network metrics. Filter HTTP request status codes (2xx, 3xx, 4xx, 5xx), request methods (GET, POST), payload sizes, and latency timings.
- Export network log data. Download the parsed request table as a formatted CSV spreadsheet or copy the JSON summary for documentation.
What data is extracted from HAR files?
- HTTP Request URLs & Endpoints (host, path, query parameters).
- HTTP Methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, OPTIONS).
- Response Status Codes (200 OK, 404 Not Found, 500 Internal Server Error).
- Payload Sizes & Timing (network latency in milliseconds).
- MIME Types (JSON, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, WebP).
Supported formats and browser standards
Supports all W3C HAR 1.2 format files exported from Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Charles Proxy.
Privacy and security
Processing happens entirely inside your browser. No session cookies, headers, auth tokens, or network payload data are transmitted to any external server.
Known limitations
Extremely large HAR files exceeding 500 MB may consume significant browser memory during client-side JSON parsing.
Common use cases
- QA Testing & Debugging — Analyzing failed API calls and 500 server errors.
- Performance Auditing — Identifying slow network requests and large uncompressed assets.
- Security Audits — Checking for unauthorized API endpoints or missing CORS headers.
HAR Extractor vs JSON Field Extractor
While the JSON field extractor parses arbitrary JSON objects, this tool specifically targets W3C HAR schema structures. For log files, use our log field extractor.
For complete technical guides on network trace extraction and cookie stripping, read our comprehensive guides on how to extract and read HAR files safely and how to extract data from a HAR file.
Frequently asked questions
How do I open and extract files from a HAR archive?
Drop your .har file into the EasyExtract tool above. The parser reads all HTTP entries in browser memory and displays a clean table of requests. You can export request records to CSV or copy clean JSON summaries in one click without uploading your file.
What is a HAR file used for?
A HAR file logs all network requests and responses made by a web browser, used for performance tuning and API debugging.
Is it safe to inspect HAR files online?
With EasyExtract it is 100% safe because your HAR file is parsed locally in your browser — zero network data is uploaded.
Can I view HAR files on Mac or Linux without installing software?
Yes. Because EasyExtract runs client-side in standard WebAssembly and JavaScript, you can open and inspect Chrome, Firefox, or Safari HAR archives on macOS, Linux, Windows, or ChromeOS with zero installation.
How do I export a HAR file from Chrome?
Open DevTools (F12) -> Network tab -> click the Export HAR icon (down arrow) or right-click -> 'Save all as HAR with content'.
Can I export HAR request data to CSV?
Yes. Clicking 'Download Requests CSV' exports every request method, URL, status code, size, and time into a CSV file.
Does it support HAR files from Firefox and Safari?
Yes. All standard W3C HAR 1.2 compliant files from any browser or proxy are supported.