Navigator.mediaSession

The read-only Navigator property mediaSession returns a MediaSession object that can be used to share with the browser metadata and other information about the current playback state of media being handled by a document. This information may, in turn, be shared with the device and/or operating system in order to a device's standard media control user experience to describe and control the playback of the media.

In addition, the MediaSession interface provides the setActionHandler() method, which lets you receive events when the user engages device controls such as either onscreen or physical play, pause, seek, and other similar controls. An internet radio app, for example, can use setActionHandler() to let fhe media controls on a keyboard or elsehwere on the user's device be used to control the app's media playback.

Syntax

let mediaSession = navigator.mediaSession;

Value

A MediaSession object the current document can use to share information about media it's playing and its current playback status. This information can include typical metadata such as the title, artist, and album name of the song being played as well as potentially one or more images containing things like album art, artist photos, and so forth.

Example

In this example, metadata is submitted to the mediaSession object. Note that the code begins by ensuring that the navigator.mediaSession property is available before attempting to use it.

if ("mediaSession" in navigator){
  navigator.mediaSession.metadata = new MediaMetadata({
    title: "Podcast Episode Title",
    artist: "Podcast Host",
    album: "Podcast Name",
    artwork: [{src: "podcast.jpg"}]
  });
}

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
Media Session Standard
The definition of 'navigator.mediaSession' in that specification.
Draft Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
mediaSession
Experimental
Chrome No support NoEdge No support NoFirefox Full support 71IE No support NoOpera No support NoSafari ? WebView Android No support NoChrome Android Full support 57Firefox Android ? Opera Android No support NoSafari iOS ? Samsung Internet Android Full support 7.0

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
Compatibility unknown
Compatibility unknown
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.