Clients

The Clients interface provides access to Client objects. Access it via self.clients within a service worker.

Methods

Clients.get()
Returns a Promise for a Client matching a given id.
Clients.matchAll()
Returns a Promise for an array of Client objects. An options argument allows you to control the types of clients returned.
Clients.openWindow()
Opens a new browser window for a given url and returns a Promise for the new WindowClient.
Clients.claim()
Allows an active service worker to set itself as the controller for all clients within its scope.

Examples

The following example shows an existing chat window or creates a new one when the user clicks a notification.

addEventListener('notificationclick', event => {
  event.waitUntil(async function() {
    const allClients = await clients.matchAll({
      includeUncontrolled: true
    });

    let chatClient;

    // Let's see if we already have a chat window open:
    for (const client of allClients) {
      const url = new URL(client.url);

      if (url.pathname == '/chat/') {
        // Excellent, let's use it!
        client.focus();
        chatClient = client;
        break;
      }
    }

    // If we didn't find an existing chat window,
    // open a new one:
    if (!chatClient) {
      chatClient = await clients.openWindow('/chat/');
    }

    // Message the client:
    chatClient.postMessage("New chat messages!");
  }());
});

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
Service Workers
The definition of 'Clients' in that specification.
Working Draft Initial definition

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
Clients
Experimental
Chrome Full support 40Edge Full support ≤79Firefox Full support 44
Notes
Full support 44
Notes
Notes Extended Support Releases (ESR) before Firefox 78 ESR do not support service workers and the Push API.
IE No support NoOpera Full support 27Safari No support NoWebView Android Full support 40Chrome Android Full support 40Firefox Android Full support 44Opera Android Full support 27Safari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android Full support 4.0
claim
Experimental
Chrome Full support 42Edge Full support ≤79Firefox Full support 44
Notes
Full support 44
Notes
Notes Extended Support Releases (ESR) before Firefox 78 ESR do not support service workers and the Push API.
IE No support NoOpera Full support 29Safari No support NoWebView Android Full support 42Chrome Android Full support 42Firefox Android Full support 44Opera Android Full support 29Safari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android Full support 4.0
get
Experimental
Chrome Full support 51Edge Full support ≤79Firefox Full support 45
Notes
Full support 45
Notes
Notes Extended Support Releases (ESR) before Firefox 78 ESR do not support service workers and the Push API.
IE No support NoOpera Full support 38Safari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android Full support 51Firefox Android Full support 45Opera Android Full support 41Safari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android Full support 5.0
matchAll
Experimental
Chrome Full support 47
Notes
Full support 47
Notes
Notes Client objects returned in most recent focus order.
Edge Full support ≤79
Notes
Full support ≤79
Notes
Notes Client objects returned in most recent focus order.
Firefox Full support 44
Notes
Full support 44
Notes
Notes Extended Support Releases (ESR) before Firefox 78 ESR do not support service workers and the Push API.
Full support 54
Notes
Notes Client objects returned in most recent focus order.
IE No support NoOpera Full support 32Safari No support NoWebView Android Full support 47
Notes
Full support 47
Notes
Notes Client objects returned in most recent focus order.
Chrome Android Full support 47
Notes
Full support 47
Notes
Notes Client objects returned in most recent focus order.
Firefox Android Full support 44
Full support 44
Full support 54
Notes
Notes Client objects returned in most recent focus order.
Opera Android Full support 32Safari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android Full support 4.0
Notes
Full support 4.0
Notes
Notes Client objects returned in most recent focus order.
openWindow
Experimental
Chrome Full support 40
Full support 40
Full support 42
Notes
Notes Can only open URLs on the same origin.
Full support 43
Notes
Notes Can open any URL.
Full support 51
Notes
Notes URLs may open inside an existing browsing context provided by a standalone web app
Edge Full support ≤79
Full support ≤79
Full support ≤79
Notes
Notes Can only open URLs on the same origin.
Full support ≤79
Notes
Notes Can open any URL.
Full support ≤79
Notes
Notes URLs may open inside an existing browsing context provided by a standalone web app
Firefox Full support 45
Notes
Full support 45
Notes
Notes Extended Support Releases (ESR) before Firefox 78 ESR do not support service workers and the Push API.
IE No support NoOpera Full support 38Safari No support NoWebView Android Full support 40
Full support 40
Full support 42
Notes
Notes Can only open URLs on the same origin.
Full support 43
Notes
Notes Can open any URL.
Full support 51
Notes
Notes URLs may open inside an existing browsing context provided by a standalone web app
Chrome Android Full support 40
Full support 40
Full support 42
Notes
Notes Can only open URLs on the same origin.
Full support 43
Notes
Notes Can open any URL.
Full support 51
Notes
Notes URLs may open inside an existing browsing context provided by a standalone web app
Firefox Android Full support 45Opera Android Full support 41Safari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android Full support 4.0
Full support 4.0
Full support 5.0
Notes
Notes URLs may open inside an existing browsing context provided by a standalone web app

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.

See also