HTMLMediaElement.srcObject

The srcObject property of the HTMLMediaElement interface sets or returns the object which serves as the source of the media associated with the HTMLMediaElement. The object can be a MediaStream, a MediaSource, a Blob, or a File (which inherits from Blob).

Syntax

var sourceObject = HTMLMediaElement.srcObject;

HTMLMediaElement.srcObject = sourceObject;

Value

A MediaStream, MediaSource, Blob, or File object (though see the compatibility table for what is actually supported).

Usage notes

Older versions of the Media Source specification required using createObjectURL() to create an object URL then setting src to that URL. Now you can just set srcObject to the MediaStream directly.

Examples

Basic example

In this example, a MediaStream from a camera is assigned to a newly-created <video> element.

const mediaStream = await navigator.mediaDevices.getUserMedia({video: true});
const video = document.createElement('video');
video.srcObject = mediaStream;

In this example, a new MediaSource is assigned to a newly-created <video> element.

const mediaSource = new MediaSource();
const video = document.createElement('video');
video.srcObject = mediaSource;

Supporting fallback to the src property

The examples below support older browser versions that require you to create an object URL and assign it to src if srcObject isn't supported.

First, a MediaStream from a camera is assigned to a newly-created <video> element, with fallback for older browsers.

const mediaStream = await navigator.mediaDevices.getUserMedia({video: true});
const video = document.createElement('video');
if ('srcObject' in video) {
  video.srcObject = mediaStream;
} else {
  // Avoid using this in new browsers, as it is going away.
  video.src = URL.createObjectURL(mediaStream);
}

Second, a new MediaSource is assigned to a newly-created <video> element, with fallback for older browsers and browsers that don't yet support assignment of MediaSource directly.

const mediaSource = new MediaSource();
const video = document.createElement('video');
// Older browsers may not have srcObject
if ('srcObject' in video) {
  try {
    video.srcObject = mediaSource;
  } catch (err) {
    if (err.name != "TypeError") {
      throw err;
    }
    // Even if they do, they may only support MediaStream
    video.src = URL.createObjectURL(mediaSource);
  }
} else {
  video.src = URL.createObjectURL(mediaSource);
}

Specifications

Browser compatibility