Create Offline Copy of a Website

Sometimes you need to make a copy of a website for offline use.  There are a number of offline website downloader tools I’ve found helpful for this task.

Offline Website Downloaders

• Unix Command line wget -p -k http://www.example.com/
• Mac Application SiteSucker
• Windows Application HTTrack

Why Would You Do This?

Using these tools has allowed me to pull a site down locally so the information remains available even when I’m not online.  This has also been helpful for clients who need to reliably display their website in a setting where internet connections are not reliable.  Trade shows are notorious for overloaded internet connections so it is important to not be reliant on them.

wget on Mac

It is sad to say that while wget was once a default application on a Mac, it no longer is.  There are certainly ways to install it but you’re probably better off using the SiteSucker application listed above.

photo credit: Legozilla via photopin cc

Sal Ferrarello (@salcode)

Sal is a PHP developer with a focus on the WordPress platform. He is a conference speaker with a background including Piano Player, Radio DJ, Magician/Juggler, Beach Photographer, and High School Math Teacher. Sal can be found professionally at WebDevStudios, where he works as a senior backend engineer.