diff --git a/src/libtmux/snapshot.py b/src/libtmux/snapshot.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f0340cc09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libtmux/snapshot.py
@@ -0,0 +1,720 @@
+"""Hierarchical snapshots of tmux objects.
+
+libtmux.snapshot
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+This module provides read-only snapshot classes for tmux objects that preserve
+the object structure and relationships while preventing modifications or
+tmux command execution.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import contextlib
+import copy
+import typing as t
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from datetime import datetime
+from types import TracebackType
+
+from libtmux._internal.query_list import QueryList
+from libtmux.pane import Pane
+from libtmux.server import Server
+from libtmux.session import Session
+from libtmux.window import Window
+
+if t.TYPE_CHECKING:
+    pass
+
+
+@dataclass
+class PaneSnapshot(Pane):
+    """A read-only snapshot of a tmux pane.
+
+    This maintains compatibility with the original Pane class but prevents modification.
+    """
+
+    # Fields only present in snapshot
+    pane_content: list[str] | None = None
+    created_at: datetime = field(default_factory=datetime.now)
+    window_snapshot: WindowSnapshot | None = None
+    _read_only: bool = field(default=False, repr=False)
+
+    def __post_init__(self) -> None:
+        """Make instance effectively read-only after initialization."""
+        object.__setattr__(self, "_read_only", True)
+
+    def __setattr__(self, name: str, value: t.Any) -> None:
+        """Prevent attribute modification after initialization."""
+        if hasattr(self, "_read_only") and self._read_only:
+            error_msg = f"Cannot modify '{name}' on read-only PaneSnapshot"
+            raise AttributeError(error_msg)
+        super().__setattr__(name, value)
+
+    def __enter__(self) -> PaneSnapshot:
+        """Context manager entry point."""
+        return self
+
+    def __exit__(
+        self,
+        exc_type: type[BaseException] | None,
+        exc_val: BaseException | None,
+        exc_tb: TracebackType | None,
+    ) -> None:
+        """Context manager exit point."""
+        pass
+
+    def cmd(self, *args: t.Any, **kwargs: t.Any) -> t.NoReturn:
+        """Prevent executing tmux commands on a snapshot."""
+        error_msg = "PaneSnapshot is read-only and cannot execute tmux commands"
+        raise NotImplementedError(error_msg)
+
+    def capture_pane(self, *args: t.Any, **kwargs: t.Any) -> list[str]:
+        """Return the previously captured content instead of capturing new content."""
+        if self.pane_content is None:
+            return []
+        return self.pane_content
+
+    @property
+    def window(self) -> WindowSnapshot | None:
+        """Return the WindowSnapshot parent, or None."""
+        return self.window_snapshot
+
+    @property
+    def session(self) -> SessionSnapshot | None:
+        """Return SessionSnapshot via window_snapshot's session_snapshot, or None."""
+        if self.window_snapshot is not None:
+            return self.window_snapshot.session_snapshot
+        return None
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_pane(
+        cls,
+        pane: Pane,
+        capture_content: bool = True,
+        window_snapshot: WindowSnapshot | None = None,
+    ) -> PaneSnapshot:
+        """Create a PaneSnapshot from a live Pane.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        pane : Pane
+            Live pane to snapshot
+        capture_content : bool, optional
+            Whether to capture the current text from the pane
+        window_snapshot : WindowSnapshot, optional
+            Parent window snapshot to link back to
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        PaneSnapshot
+            A read-only snapshot of the pane
+        """
+        # Try capturing the pane's content
+        pane_content = None
+        if capture_content:
+            with contextlib.suppress(Exception):
+                pane_content = pane.capture_pane()
+
+        # Gather fields from the parent Pane class
+        # We need to use object.__setattr__ to bypass our own __setattr__ override
+        snapshot = cls(server=pane.server)
+
+        # Copy all relevant attributes from the original pane
+        for name, value in vars(pane).items():
+            if not name.startswith("_"):  # Skip private attributes
+                object.__setattr__(snapshot, name, copy.deepcopy(value))
+
+        # Set snapshot-specific fields
+        object.__setattr__(snapshot, "pane_content", pane_content)
+        object.__setattr__(snapshot, "window_snapshot", window_snapshot)
+        object.__setattr__(snapshot, "created_at", datetime.now())
+
+        return snapshot
+
+
+@dataclass
+class WindowSnapshot(Window):
+    """A read-only snapshot of a tmux window.
+
+    This maintains compatibility with the original Window class but prevents modification.
+    """
+
+    # Fields only present in snapshot
+    created_at: datetime = field(default_factory=datetime.now)
+    session_snapshot: SessionSnapshot | None = None
+    panes_snapshot: list[PaneSnapshot] = field(default_factory=list)
+    _read_only: bool = field(default=False, repr=False)
+
+    def __post_init__(self) -> None:
+        """Make instance effectively read-only after initialization."""
+        object.__setattr__(self, "_read_only", True)
+
+    def __setattr__(self, name: str, value: t.Any) -> None:
+        """Prevent attribute modification after initialization."""
+        if hasattr(self, "_read_only") and self._read_only:
+            error_msg = f"Cannot modify '{name}' on read-only WindowSnapshot"
+            raise AttributeError(error_msg)
+        super().__setattr__(name, value)
+
+    def __enter__(self) -> WindowSnapshot:
+        """Context manager entry point."""
+        return self
+
+    def __exit__(
+        self,
+        exc_type: type[BaseException] | None,
+        exc_val: BaseException | None,
+        exc_tb: TracebackType | None,
+    ) -> None:
+        """Context manager exit point."""
+        pass
+
+    def cmd(self, *args: t.Any, **kwargs: t.Any) -> t.NoReturn:
+        """Prevent executing tmux commands on a snapshot."""
+        error_msg = "WindowSnapshot is read-only and cannot execute tmux commands"
+        raise NotImplementedError(error_msg)
+
+    @property
+    def panes(self) -> QueryList[PaneSnapshot]:
+        """Return the list of pane snapshots."""
+        return QueryList(self.panes_snapshot)
+
+    @property
+    def session(self) -> SessionSnapshot | None:
+        """Return the SessionSnapshot parent, or None."""
+        return self.session_snapshot
+
+    @property
+    def active_pane(self) -> PaneSnapshot | None:
+        """Return the active pane from the pane snapshots."""
+        active_panes = [
+            p for p in self.panes_snapshot if getattr(p, "pane_active", "0") == "1"
+        ]
+        return active_panes[0] if active_panes else None
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_window(
+        cls,
+        window: Window,
+        capture_content: bool = True,
+        session_snapshot: SessionSnapshot | None = None,
+    ) -> WindowSnapshot:
+        """Create a WindowSnapshot from a live Window.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        window : Window
+            Live window to snapshot
+        capture_content : bool, optional
+            Whether to capture the current content of all panes
+        session_snapshot : SessionSnapshot, optional
+            Parent session snapshot to link back to
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        WindowSnapshot
+            A read-only snapshot of the window
+        """
+        # Create a new window snapshot instance
+        snapshot = cls(server=window.server)
+
+        # Copy all relevant attributes from the original window
+        for name, value in vars(window).items():
+            if not name.startswith("_") and name not in ["panes", "session"]:
+                object.__setattr__(snapshot, name, copy.deepcopy(value))
+
+        # Set snapshot-specific fields
+        object.__setattr__(snapshot, "created_at", datetime.now())
+        object.__setattr__(snapshot, "session_snapshot", session_snapshot)
+
+        # Now snapshot all panes
+        panes_snapshot = []
+        for p in window.panes:
+            pane_snapshot = PaneSnapshot.from_pane(
+                p, capture_content=capture_content, window_snapshot=snapshot
+            )
+            panes_snapshot.append(pane_snapshot)
+
+        object.__setattr__(snapshot, "panes_snapshot", panes_snapshot)
+
+        return snapshot
+
+
+@dataclass
+class SessionSnapshot(Session):
+    """A read-only snapshot of a tmux session.
+
+    This maintains compatibility with the original Session class but prevents modification.
+    """
+
+    # Make server field optional by giving it a default value
+    server: t.Any = None  # type: ignore
+
+    # Fields only present in snapshot
+    created_at: datetime = field(default_factory=datetime.now)
+    server_snapshot: ServerSnapshot | None = None
+    windows_snapshot: list[WindowSnapshot] = field(default_factory=list)
+    _read_only: bool = field(default=False, repr=False)
+
+    def __post_init__(self) -> None:
+        """Make instance effectively read-only after initialization."""
+        object.__setattr__(self, "_read_only", True)
+
+    def __setattr__(self, name: str, value: t.Any) -> None:
+        """Prevent attribute modification after initialization."""
+        if hasattr(self, "_read_only") and self._read_only:
+            error_msg = f"Cannot modify '{name}' on read-only SessionSnapshot"
+            raise AttributeError(error_msg)
+        super().__setattr__(name, value)
+
+    def __enter__(self) -> SessionSnapshot:
+        """Context manager entry point."""
+        return self
+
+    def __exit__(
+        self,
+        exc_type: type[BaseException] | None,
+        exc_val: BaseException | None,
+        exc_tb: TracebackType | None,
+    ) -> None:
+        """Context manager exit point."""
+        pass
+
+    def cmd(self, *args: t.Any, **kwargs: t.Any) -> t.NoReturn:
+        """Prevent executing tmux commands on a snapshot."""
+        error_msg = "SessionSnapshot is read-only and cannot execute tmux commands"
+        raise NotImplementedError(error_msg)
+
+    @property
+    def windows(self) -> QueryList[WindowSnapshot]:
+        """Return the list of window snapshots."""
+        return QueryList(self.windows_snapshot)
+
+    @property
+    def server(self) -> ServerSnapshot | None:
+        """Return the ServerSnapshot parent, or None."""
+        return self.server_snapshot
+
+    @property
+    def active_window(self) -> WindowSnapshot | None:
+        """Return the active window snapshot, if any."""
+        for window in self.windows_snapshot:
+            if getattr(window, "window_active", "0") == "1":
+                return window
+        return None
+
+    @property
+    def active_pane(self) -> PaneSnapshot | None:
+        """Return the active pane from the active window, if it exists."""
+        active_win = self.active_window
+        return active_win.active_pane if active_win else None
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_session(
+        cls,
+        session: Session,
+        *,
+        capture_content: bool = False,
+        server_snapshot: ServerSnapshot | None = None,
+    ) -> SessionSnapshot:
+        """Create a SessionSnapshot from a live Session.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        session : Session
+            Live session to snapshot
+        capture_content : bool, optional
+            Whether to capture the current content of all panes
+        server_snapshot : ServerSnapshot, optional
+            Parent server snapshot to link back to
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        SessionSnapshot
+            A read-only snapshot of the session
+        """
+        # Create a new empty instance using __new__ to bypass __init__
+        snapshot = cls.__new__(cls)
+
+        # Initialize _read_only to False to allow setting attributes
+        object.__setattr__(snapshot, "_read_only", False)
+
+        # Copy all relevant attributes from the original session
+        for name, value in vars(session).items():
+            if not name.startswith("_") and name not in ["server", "windows"]:
+                object.__setattr__(snapshot, name, copy.deepcopy(value))
+
+        # Set snapshot-specific fields
+        object.__setattr__(snapshot, "created_at", datetime.now())
+        object.__setattr__(snapshot, "server_snapshot", server_snapshot)
+
+        # Initialize empty lists
+        object.__setattr__(snapshot, "windows_snapshot", [])
+
+        # Now snapshot all windows
+        windows_snapshot = []
+        for w in session.windows:
+            window_snapshot = WindowSnapshot.from_window(
+                w, capture_content=capture_content, session_snapshot=snapshot
+            )
+            windows_snapshot.append(window_snapshot)
+
+        object.__setattr__(snapshot, "windows_snapshot", windows_snapshot)
+
+        # Finally, set _read_only to True to prevent future modifications
+        object.__setattr__(snapshot, "_read_only", True)
+
+        return snapshot
+
+
+@dataclass
+class ServerSnapshot(Server):
+    """A read-only snapshot of a tmux server.
+
+    This maintains compatibility with the original Server class but prevents modification.
+    """
+
+    # Fields only present in snapshot
+    created_at: datetime = field(default_factory=datetime.now)
+    sessions_snapshot: list[SessionSnapshot] = field(default_factory=list)
+    windows_snapshot: list[WindowSnapshot] = field(default_factory=list)
+    panes_snapshot: list[PaneSnapshot] = field(default_factory=list)
+    _read_only: bool = field(default=False, repr=False)
+
+    def __post_init__(self) -> None:
+        """Make instance effectively read-only after initialization."""
+        object.__setattr__(self, "_read_only", True)
+
+    def __setattr__(self, name: str, value: t.Any) -> None:
+        """Prevent attribute modification after initialization."""
+        if hasattr(self, "_read_only") and self._read_only:
+            error_msg = f"Cannot modify '{name}' on read-only ServerSnapshot"
+            raise AttributeError(error_msg)
+        super().__setattr__(name, value)
+
+    def __enter__(self) -> ServerSnapshot:
+        """Context manager entry point."""
+        return self
+
+    def __exit__(
+        self,
+        exc_type: type[BaseException] | None,
+        exc_val: BaseException | None,
+        exc_tb: TracebackType | None,
+    ) -> None:
+        """Context manager exit point."""
+        pass
+
+    def cmd(self, *args: t.Any, **kwargs: t.Any) -> t.NoReturn:
+        """Prevent executing tmux commands on a snapshot."""
+        error_msg = "ServerSnapshot is read-only and cannot execute tmux commands"
+        raise NotImplementedError(error_msg)
+
+    def is_alive(self) -> bool:
+        """Return False as snapshot servers are not connected to a live tmux instance."""
+        return False
+
+    def raise_if_dead(self) -> t.NoReturn:
+        """Raise exception as snapshots are not connected to a live server."""
+        error_msg = "ServerSnapshot is not connected to a live tmux server"
+        raise NotImplementedError(error_msg)
+
+    @property
+    def sessions(self) -> QueryList[SessionSnapshot]:
+        """Return the list of session snapshots."""
+        return QueryList(self.sessions_snapshot)
+
+    @property
+    def windows(self) -> QueryList[WindowSnapshot]:
+        """Return the list of all window snapshots across all sessions."""
+        return QueryList(self.windows_snapshot)
+
+    @property
+    def panes(self) -> QueryList[PaneSnapshot]:
+        """Return the list of all pane snapshots across all windows and sessions."""
+        return QueryList(self.panes_snapshot)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_server(
+        cls, server: Server, include_content: bool = True
+    ) -> ServerSnapshot:
+        """Create a ServerSnapshot from a live Server.
+
+        Examples
+        --------
+        >>> server_snap = ServerSnapshot.from_server(server)
+        >>> isinstance(server_snap, ServerSnapshot)
+        True
+        >>> # Check if it preserves the class hierarchy relationship
+        >>> isinstance(server_snap, type(server))
+        True
+        >>> # Snapshot is read-only
+        >>> try:
+        ...     server_snap.cmd("list-sessions")
+        ... except NotImplementedError:
+        ...     print("Cannot execute commands on snapshot")
+        Cannot execute commands on snapshot
+        >>> # Check that server is correctly snapshotted
+        >>> server_snap.socket_name == server.socket_name
+        True
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        server : Server
+            Live server to snapshot
+        include_content : bool, optional
+            Whether to capture the current content of all panes
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        ServerSnapshot
+            A read-only snapshot of the server
+        """
+        # Create a new server snapshot instance
+        snapshot = cls()
+
+        # Copy all relevant attributes from the original server
+        for name, value in vars(server).items():
+            if not name.startswith("_") and name not in [
+                "sessions",
+                "windows",
+                "panes",
+            ]:
+                object.__setattr__(snapshot, name, copy.deepcopy(value))
+
+        # Set snapshot-specific fields
+        object.__setattr__(snapshot, "created_at", datetime.now())
+
+        # Now snapshot all sessions
+        sessions_snapshot = []
+        windows_snapshot = []
+        panes_snapshot = []
+
+        for s in server.sessions:
+            session_snapshot = SessionSnapshot.from_session(
+                s, capture_content=include_content, server_snapshot=snapshot
+            )
+            sessions_snapshot.append(session_snapshot)
+
+            # Also collect all windows and panes for quick access
+            windows_snapshot.extend(session_snapshot.windows_snapshot)
+            for w in session_snapshot.windows_snapshot:
+                panes_snapshot.extend(w.panes_snapshot)
+
+        object.__setattr__(snapshot, "sessions_snapshot", sessions_snapshot)
+        object.__setattr__(snapshot, "windows_snapshot", windows_snapshot)
+        object.__setattr__(snapshot, "panes_snapshot", panes_snapshot)
+
+        return snapshot
+
+
+def filter_snapshot(
+    snapshot: ServerSnapshot | SessionSnapshot | WindowSnapshot | PaneSnapshot,
+    filter_func: t.Callable[
+        [ServerSnapshot | SessionSnapshot | WindowSnapshot | PaneSnapshot], bool
+    ],
+) -> ServerSnapshot | SessionSnapshot | WindowSnapshot | PaneSnapshot | None:
+    """Filter a snapshot hierarchy based on a filter function.
+
+    This will prune the snapshot tree, removing any objects that don't match the filter.
+    The filter is applied recursively down the hierarchy, and parent-child relationships
+    are maintained in the filtered snapshot.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    snapshot : ServerSnapshot | SessionSnapshot | WindowSnapshot | PaneSnapshot
+        The snapshot to filter
+    filter_func : Callable
+        A function that takes a snapshot object and returns True to keep it
+        or False to filter it out
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    ServerSnapshot | SessionSnapshot | WindowSnapshot | PaneSnapshot | None
+        A new filtered snapshot, or None if everything was filtered out
+    """
+    # Handle filtering ServerSnapshot
+    if isinstance(snapshot, ServerSnapshot):
+        filtered_sessions = []
+
+        # Filter each session
+        for sess in snapshot.sessions_snapshot:
+            filtered_sess = filter_snapshot(sess, filter_func)
+            if filtered_sess is not None:
+                filtered_sessions.append(filtered_sess)
+
+        # If the server itself fails filter or everything is filtered out, return None
+        if not filter_func(snapshot) and not filtered_sessions:
+            return None
+
+        # Create a new server snapshot with filtered sessions
+        server_copy = copy.deepcopy(snapshot)
+        server_copy.sessions_snapshot = filtered_sessions
+
+        # Also update windows and panes lists to reflect filtered data
+        server_copy.windows_snapshot = []
+        server_copy.panes_snapshot = []
+        for sess in filtered_sessions:
+            server_copy.windows_snapshot.extend(sess.windows_snapshot)
+            for w in sess.windows_snapshot:
+                server_copy.panes_snapshot.extend(w.panes_snapshot)
+
+        return server_copy
+
+    # Handle filtering SessionSnapshot
+    elif isinstance(snapshot, SessionSnapshot):
+        filtered_windows = []
+
+        # Filter each window
+        for w in snapshot.windows_snapshot:
+            filtered_w = filter_snapshot(w, filter_func)
+            if filtered_w is not None:
+                filtered_windows.append(filtered_w)
+
+        # If the session itself fails filter or everything is filtered out, return None
+        if not filter_func(snapshot) and not filtered_windows:
+            return None
+
+        # Create a new session snapshot with filtered windows
+        session_copy = copy.deepcopy(snapshot)
+        session_copy.windows_snapshot = filtered_windows
+        return session_copy
+
+    # Handle filtering WindowSnapshot
+    elif isinstance(snapshot, WindowSnapshot):
+        filtered_panes = []
+
+        # Filter each pane - panes are leaf nodes
+        filtered_panes = [p for p in snapshot.panes_snapshot if filter_func(p)]
+
+        # If the window itself fails filter or everything is filtered out, return None
+        if not filter_func(snapshot) and not filtered_panes:
+            return None
+
+        # Create a new window snapshot with filtered panes
+        window_copy = copy.deepcopy(snapshot)
+        window_copy.panes_snapshot = filtered_panes
+        return window_copy
+
+    # Handle filtering PaneSnapshot (leaf node)
+    elif isinstance(snapshot, PaneSnapshot):
+        if filter_func(snapshot):
+            return snapshot
+        return None
+
+    # Unhandled type
+    return snapshot
+
+
+def snapshot_to_dict(
+    snapshot: ServerSnapshot | SessionSnapshot | WindowSnapshot | PaneSnapshot | t.Any,
+) -> dict[str, t.Any]:
+    """Convert a snapshot to a dictionary, avoiding circular references.
+
+    This is useful for serializing snapshots to JSON or other formats.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    snapshot : ServerSnapshot | SessionSnapshot | WindowSnapshot | PaneSnapshot | Any
+        The snapshot to convert to a dictionary
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    dict
+        A dictionary representation of the snapshot
+    """
+    # Base case: For non-snapshot objects, just return them directly
+    if not isinstance(
+        snapshot, (ServerSnapshot, SessionSnapshot, WindowSnapshot, PaneSnapshot)
+    ):
+        return t.cast(dict[str, t.Any], snapshot)
+
+    # Convert dataclass to dict
+    result: dict[str, t.Any] = {}
+
+    # Get all fields from the instance
+    for name, value in vars(snapshot).items():
+        # Skip internal and parent reference fields - we want a tree, not a graph with cycles
+        if name.startswith("_") or name in [
+            "server",
+            "server_snapshot",
+            "session_snapshot",
+            "window_snapshot",
+        ]:
+            continue
+
+        # Handle lists of snapshots
+        if (
+            isinstance(value, list)
+            and value
+            and isinstance(
+                value[0],
+                (ServerSnapshot, SessionSnapshot, WindowSnapshot, PaneSnapshot),
+            )
+        ):
+            result[name] = [snapshot_to_dict(item) for item in value]
+        # Handle nested snapshots
+        elif isinstance(
+            value, (ServerSnapshot, SessionSnapshot, WindowSnapshot, PaneSnapshot)
+        ):
+            result[name] = snapshot_to_dict(value)
+        # Handle QueryList (convert to regular list first)
+        elif hasattr(value, "list") and callable(getattr(value, "list", None)):
+            try:
+                # If it's a QueryList, convert to list of dicts
+                items = value.list()
+                result[name] = []
+                for item in items:
+                    if isinstance(
+                        item,
+                        (ServerSnapshot, SessionSnapshot, WindowSnapshot, PaneSnapshot),
+                    ):
+                        result[name].append(snapshot_to_dict(item))
+                    else:
+                        result[name] = str(value)
+            except Exception:
+                # If not a QueryList, just use the string representation
+                result[name] = str(value)
+        # Handle non-serializable objects
+        elif isinstance(value, datetime):
+            result[name] = str(value)
+        # Handle remaining basic types
+        else:
+            result[name] = value
+
+    return result
+
+
+def snapshot_active_only(
+    full_snapshot: ServerSnapshot,
+) -> ServerSnapshot:
+    """Return a filtered snapshot containing only active sessions, windows, and panes.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    full_snapshot : ServerSnapshot
+        The complete server snapshot to filter
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    ServerSnapshot
+        A filtered snapshot with only active components
+    """
+
+    def is_active(
+        obj: ServerSnapshot | SessionSnapshot | WindowSnapshot | PaneSnapshot,
+    ) -> bool:
+        """Return True if the object is active."""
+        if isinstance(obj, PaneSnapshot):
+            return getattr(obj, "pane_active", "0") == "1"
+        elif isinstance(obj, WindowSnapshot):
+            return getattr(obj, "window_active", "0") == "1"
+        # Servers and sessions are always considered active
+        return isinstance(obj, (ServerSnapshot, SessionSnapshot))
+
+    filtered = filter_snapshot(full_snapshot, is_active)
+    if filtered is None:
+        error_msg = "No active objects found!"
+        raise ValueError(error_msg)
+    return t.cast(ServerSnapshot, filtered)
diff --git a/tests/test_snapshot.py b/tests/test_snapshot.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..49e3adf78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_snapshot.py
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Test the snapshot functionality of libtmux."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+# Add the src directory to the Python path
+sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).parent / "src"))
+
+from libtmux.server import Server
+from libtmux.snapshot import (
+    ServerSnapshot,
+    snapshot_active_only,
+    snapshot_to_dict,
+)
+
+
+def main():
+    """Demonstrate the snapshot functionality."""
+    # Create a test server
+    server = Server()
+
+    # Take a complete snapshot of the server
+    print("Creating a complete snapshot of the server...")
+    server_snapshot = ServerSnapshot.from_server(server)
+
+    # Print some information about the snapshot
+    print(f"Server snapshot created at: {server_snapshot.created_at}")
+    print(f"Number of sessions: {len(server_snapshot.sessions)}")
+
+    # Test that the snapshot is read-only
+    try:
+        server_snapshot.cmd("list-sessions")
+    except NotImplementedError as e:
+        print(f"Expected error when trying to execute a command: {e}")
+
+    # If there are sessions, print information about the first one
+    if server_snapshot.sessions:
+        session = server_snapshot.sessions[0]
+        print(f"\nFirst session ID: {session.id}")
+        print(f"First session name: {session.name}")
+        print(f"Number of windows: {len(session.windows)}")
+
+        # If there are windows, print information about the first one
+        if session.windows:
+            window = session.windows[0]
+            print(f"\nFirst window ID: {window.id}")
+            print(f"First window name: {window.name}")
+            print(f"Number of panes: {len(window.panes)}")
+
+            # If there are panes, print information about the first one
+            if window.panes:
+                pane = window.panes[0]
+                print(f"\nFirst pane ID: {pane.id}")
+                print(
+                    f"First pane content (up to 5 lines): {pane.pane_content[:5] if pane.pane_content else 'No content captured'}"
+                )
+
+    # Demonstrate filtering
+    print("\nFiltering snapshot to get only active components...")
+    try:
+        filtered_snapshot = snapshot_active_only(server)
+        print(f"Active sessions: {len(filtered_snapshot.sessions)}")
+
+        active_windows = 0
+        active_panes = 0
+        for session in filtered_snapshot.sessions:
+            active_windows += len(session.windows)
+            for window in session.windows:
+                active_panes += len(window.panes)
+
+        print(f"Active windows: {active_windows}")
+        print(f"Active panes: {active_panes}")
+    except ValueError as e:
+        print(f"No active components found: {e}")
+
+    # Demonstrate serialization
+    print("\nSerializing snapshot to dictionary...")
+    snapshot_dict = snapshot_to_dict(server_snapshot)
+    print(f"Dictionary has {len(snapshot_dict)} top-level keys")
+    print(f"Top-level keys: {', '.join(sorted(key for key in snapshot_dict.keys()))}")
+
+    # Output to JSON (just to show it's possible)
+    json_file = "server_snapshot.json"
+    with open(json_file, "w") as f:
+        json.dump(snapshot_dict, f, indent=2, default=str)
+    print(f"Snapshot saved to {json_file}")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()