Push API

This is an experimental technology
Because this technology's specification has not stabilized, check the compatibility table for usage in various browsers. Also note that the syntax and behavior of an experimental technology is subject to change in future versions of browsers as the specification changes.

The Push API gives web applications the ability to receive messages pushed to them from a server, whether or not the web app is in the foreground, or even currently loaded, on a user agent. This lets developers deliver asynchronous notifications and updates to users that opt in, resulting in better engagement with timely new content.

Push concepts and usage

For an app to receive push messages, it has to have an active service worker. When the service worker is active, it can subscribe to push notifications, using PushManager.subscribe().

The resulting PushSubscription includes all the information that the application needs to send a push message: an endpoint and the encryption key needed for sending data.

The service worker will be started as necessary to handle incoming push messages, which are delivered to the ServiceWorkerGlobalScope.onpush event handler. This allows apps to react to push messages being received, for example, by displaying a notification (using ServiceWorkerRegistration.showNotification().)

Each subscription is unique to a service worker.  The endpoint for the subscription is a unique capability URL: knowledge of the endpoint is all that is necessary to send a message to your application. The endpoint URL therefore needs to be kept secret, or other applications might be able to send push messages to your application.

Activating a service worker to deliver a push message can result in increased resource usage, particularly of the battery. Different browsers have different schemes for handling this, there is currently no standard mechanism. Firefox allows a limited number (quota) of push messages to be sent to an application, although Push messages that generate notifications are exempt from this limit. The limit is refreshed each time the site is visited. In comparison, Chrome applies no limit, but requires that every push message causes a notification to be displayed.

Note: As of Gecko 44, the allowed quota of push messages per application is not incremented when a new notification fires, when another is still visible, for a period of three seconds. This handles cases where a burst of notifications is received, and not all generate a visible notification.

Note: Chrome versions earlier than 52 require you to set up a project on Google Cloud Messaging to send push messages, and use the associated project number and API key when sending push notifications. It also requires an app manifest, with some special parameters to use this service.

Interfaces

PushEvent
Represents a push action, sent to the global scope of a ServiceWorker. It contains information sent from an application to a PushSubscription.
PushManager
Provides a way to receive notifications from third-party servers, as well as request URLs for push notifications. This interface has replaced the functionality offered by the obsolete PushRegistrationManager interface.
PushMessageData
Provides access to push data sent by a server, and includes methods to manipulate the received data.
PushSubscription
Provides a subcription's URL endpoint, and allows unsubscription from a push service.

Service worker additions

The following additions to the Service Worker API have been specified in the Push API spec to provide an entry point for using Push messages. They also monitor and respond to push and subscription change events.

ServiceWorkerRegistration.pushManager Read only
Returns a reference to the PushManager interface for managing push subscriptions including subscribing, getting an active subscription, and accessing push permission status. This is the entry point into using Push messaging.
ServiceWorkerGlobalScope.onpush
An event handler fired whenever a push event occurs; that is, whenever a server push message is received.
ServiceWorkerGlobalScope.onpushsubscriptionchange
An event handler fired whenever a pushsubscriptionchange event occurs; for example, when a push subscription has been invalidated, or is about to be invalidated (e.g. when a push service sets an expiration time.)

Examples

Mozilla's ServiceWorker Cookbook contains many useful Push examples.

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
Push API Working Draft Initial definition

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari (WebKit)
Basic support 42.0 44.0 (44.0)[1][3] No support[2] ? ?
PushEvent.data,
PushMessageData
No support 44.0 (44.0)[3] No support No support No support
Feature Android Android Webview Firefox Mobile (Gecko) Firefox OS IE Mobile Opera Mobile Safari Mobile Chrome for Android
Basic support No support No support 48.0 (48.0)[4] No support ?[2] ? ? 42.0
PushEvent.data,
PushMessageData
No support No support 48.0 (48.0)[4] No support No support No support No support No support

See also

Document Tags and Contributors

 Last updated by: DailyAlice,