Client.postMessage()

The postMessage() method of the Client interface allows a service worker to send a message to a client (a Window, Worker, or SharedWorker). The message is received in the "message" event on navigator.serviceWorker.

Syntax

client.postMessage(message[, transfer]);
client.postMessage(message[, { transfer }]);

Parameters

message

The message to send to the client. This can be any structured-clonable type.

transfer Optional

A sequence of objects that are transferred with the message. The ownership of these objects is given to the destination side and they are no longer usable on the sending side.

Return value

undefined.

Examples

Sending a message from a service worker to a client:

addEventListener('fetch', event => {
  event.waitUntil(async function() {
    // Exit early if we don't have access to the client.
    // Eg, if it's cross-origin.
    if (!event.clientId) return;

    // Get the client.
    const client = await clients.get(event.clientId);
    // Exit early if we don't get the client.
    // Eg, if it closed.
    if (!client) return;

    // Send a message to the client.
    client.postMessage({
      msg: "Hey I just got a fetch from you!",
      url: event.request.url
    });

  }());
});

Receiving that message:

navigator.serviceWorker.addEventListener('message', event => {
  console.log(event.data.msg, event.data.url);
});

Specifications

Browser compatibility

Desktop Mobile
Chrome Edge Firefox Internet Explorer Opera Safari WebView Android Chrome Android Firefox for Android Opera Android Safari on IOS Samsung Internet
postMessage
45
17
44
Extended Support Releases (ESR) before Firefox 78 ESR do not support service workers and the Push API.
No
32
11.1
45
45
44
32
11.3
5.0

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https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Client/postMessage