PluginArray

This is an experimental technology
Check the Browser compatibility table carefully before using this in production.

The PluginArray interface is used to store a list of Plugin objects describing the available plugins; it's returned by the window.navigator.plugins property. The PluginArray is not a JavaScript array, but has the length property and supports accessing individual items using bracket notation (plugins[2]), as well as via item(index) and namedItem("name") methods.

Note: Own properties of PluginArray objects are no longer enumerable in the latest browser versions.

Properties

PluginArray.lengthRead only
The number of plugins in the array.

Methods

PluginArray.item
Returns the Plugin at the specified index into the array.
PluginArray.namedItem
Returns the Plugin with the specified name.
PluginArray.refresh
Refreshes all plugins on the current page, optionally reloading documents.

Examples

The following example function returns the version of the Shockwave Flash plugin.

var pluginsLength = navigator.plugins.length;

document.body.innerHTML = pluginsLength + " Plugin(s)<br>"
  + '<table id="pluginTable"><thead>'
  +'<tr><th>Name</th><th>Filename</th><th>description</th><th>version</th></tr>'
  +'</thead><tbody></tbody></table>';

var table = document.getElementById('pluginTable');

for(var i = 0; i < pluginsLength; i++) {
  let newRow = table.insertRow();
  newRow.insertCell().textContent = navigator.plugins[i].name;
  newRow.insertCell().textContent = navigator.plugins[i].filename;
  newRow.insertCell().textContent = navigator.plugins[i].description;
  newRow.insertCell().textContent = navigator.plugins[i].version?navigator.plugins[i].version:"";
}

The following example displays information about the installed plugin(s).

var pluginsLength = navigator.plugins.length;

document.write(
  pluginsLength.toString() + " Plugin(s)<br>" +
  "Name | Filename | description<br>"
);

for(var i = 0; i < pluginsLength; i++) {
  document.write(
    navigator.plugins[i].name +
    " | " +
    navigator.plugins[i].filename +
    " | " +
    navigator.plugins[i].description +
    " | " +
    navigator.plugins[i].version +
    "<br>"
  );
}

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
HTML Living Standard
The definition of 'PluginArray' in that specification.
Living Standard Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
PluginArrayChrome Full support YesEdge Full support ≤18Firefox Full support YesIE ? Opera Full support YesSafari Full support YesWebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support YesOpera Android No support NoSafari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes
itemChrome Full support Yes
Notes
Full support Yes
Notes
Notes Starting with version 59, method parameters are required instead of optional.
Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support YesIE ? Opera Full support YesSafari Full support YesWebView Android Full support Yes
Notes
Full support Yes
Notes
Notes Starting with version 59, method parameters are required instead of optional.
Chrome Android Full support Yes
Notes
Full support Yes
Notes
Notes Starting with version 59, method parameters are required instead of optional.
Firefox Android Full support YesOpera Android No support NoSafari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes
Notes
Full support Yes
Notes
Notes Starting with Samsung Internet 7.0, method parameters are required instead of optional.
lengthChrome Full support YesEdge Full support 12Firefox Full support YesIE ? Opera Full support YesSafari Full support YesWebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support YesOpera Android No support NoSafari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes
namedItemChrome Full support Yes
Notes
Full support Yes
Notes
Notes Starting with version 59, method parameters are required instead of optional.
Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support YesIE ? Opera Full support YesSafari Full support YesWebView Android Full support Yes
Notes
Full support Yes
Notes
Notes Starting with version 59, method parameters are required instead of optional.
Chrome Android Full support Yes
Notes
Full support Yes
Notes
Notes Starting with version 59, method parameters are required instead of optional.
Firefox Android Full support YesOpera Android No support NoSafari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes
Notes
Full support Yes
Notes
Notes Starting with Samsung Internet 7.0, method parameters are required instead of optional.
refreshChrome Full support Yes
Notes
Full support Yes
Notes
Notes Starting with version 59, method parameters are required instead of optional.
Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support YesIE ? Opera Full support YesSafari Full support YesWebView Android Full support Yes
Notes
Full support Yes
Notes
Notes Starting with version 59, method parameters are required instead of optional.
Chrome Android Full support Yes
Notes
Full support Yes
Notes
Notes Starting with version 59, method parameters are required instead of optional.
Firefox Android Full support YesOpera Android No support NoSafari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes
Notes
Full support Yes
Notes
Notes Starting with Samsung Internet 7.0, method parameters are required instead of optional.

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
Compatibility unknown
Compatibility unknown
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.

In addition to listing each plugin as a pseudo-array by zero-indexed numeric properties, Firefox provides properties that are the plugin name directly on the PluginArray object.