Headers.get()

The get() method of the Headers interface returns a byte string of all the values of a header within a Headers object with a given name. If the requested header doesn't exist in the Headers object, it returns null.

For security reasons, some headers can only be controlled by the user agent. These headers include the forbidden header names and forbidden response header names.

Syntax

myHeaders.get(name);

Parameters

name
The name of the HTTP header whose values you want to retrieve from the Headers object. If the given name is not the name of an HTTP header, this method throws a TypeError. The name is case-insensitive.

Returns

A ByteString sequence representing the values of the retrieved header or null if this header is not set.

Example

Creating an empty Headers object is simple:

var myHeaders = new Headers(); // Currently empty
myHeaders.get('Not-Set'); // Returns null

You could add a header to this using Headers.append, then retrieve it using get():

myHeaders.append('Content-Type', 'image/jpeg');
myHeaders.get('Content-Type'); // Returns "image/jpeg"

If the header has multiple values associated with it, the byte string will contain all the values, in the order they were added to the Headers object:

myHeaders.append('Accept-Encoding', 'deflate');
myHeaders.append('Accept-Encoding', 'gzip');
myHeaders.get('Accept-Encoding'); // Returns "deflate,gzip"

Note: Headers.getAll used to have this functionality, with Headers.get returning only the first value added to the Headers object. The latest spec has removed getAll(), and updated get() to return all values.

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
Fetch
The definition of 'get()' in that specification.
Living Standard

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
get
Experimental
Chrome Full support 42
Full support 42
Full support 41
Disabled
Disabled From version 41: this feature is behind the Experimental Web Platform Features preference. To change preferences in Chrome, visit chrome://flags.
Edge Full support 14Firefox Full support 52
Notes
Full support 52
Notes
Notes Prior to Firefox 52, get() only returned the first value in the specified header, with getAll() returning all values. From 52 onwards, get() now returns all values and getAll() has been deleted.
Full support 39
Full support 34
Disabled
Disabled From version 34: this feature is behind the dom.fetch.enabled preference. To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
IE No support NoOpera Full support 29
Full support 29
Full support 28
Disabled
Disabled From version 28: this feature is behind the Experimental Web Platform Features preference.
Safari Full support 10.1WebView Android Full support 42Chrome Android Full support 42
Full support 42
Full support 41
Disabled
Disabled From version 41: this feature is behind the Experimental Web Platform Features preference. To change preferences in Chrome, visit chrome://flags.
Firefox Android No support NoOpera Android Full support 29
Full support 29
Full support 28
Disabled
Disabled From version 28: this feature is behind the Experimental Web Platform Features preference.
Safari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android Full support 4.0

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.
User must explicitly enable this feature.
User must explicitly enable this feature.

See also