ThePush 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 activeservice worker. When the service worker is active, it can subscribe to push notifications, usingPushManager.subscribe().

The resultingPushSubscription 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 theonpush event handler. This allows apps to react to push messages being received, for example, by displaying a notification (usingServiceWorkerRegistration.showNotification().)

Each subscription is unique to a service worker. The endpoint for the subscription is a uniquecapability 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 Chrome there are no limits.

Interfaces

PushEvent

Represents a push action, sent to theglobal scope of aServiceWorker. It contains information sent from an application to aPushSubscription.

PushManager

Provides a way to receive notifications from third-party servers, as well as request URLs for push notifications.

PushMessageData

Provides access to push data sent by a server, and includes methods to manipulate the received data.

PushSubscription

Provides a subscription's URL endpoint, and allows unsubscribing from a push service.

PushSubscriptionOptions

Represents the options associated with the push subscription.

Service worker additions

The following additions to theService 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.pushManagerRead only

Returns a reference to thePushManager 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.

onpush

An event handler fired whenever apush event occurs; that is, whenever a server push message is received.

onpushsubscriptionchange

An event handler fired whenever apushsubscriptionchange 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'sServiceWorker Cookbook contains many useful Push examples.

Specifications

Browser compatibility

api.PushEvent

api.PushMessageData

See also

• Sending VAPID identified WebPush Notifications via Mozilla's Push Service
• Push notifications overview
• Service Worker API