RTCDataChannel.bufferedAmount

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

The read-only RTCDataChannel property bufferedAmount returns the number of bytes of data currently queued to be sent over the data channel. The queue may build up as a result of calls to the send() method. This only includes data buffered by the user agent itself; it doesn't include any framing overhead or buffering done by the operating system or network hardware.

The user agent may implement the process of actually sending data in any way it chooses; this may be done periodically during the event loop or truly asynchronously. As messages are actually sent, this value is reduced accordingly.

Closing the data channel doesn't reset this count, even though the user agent purges the queued messages. However, even after closing the channel, attempts to send messages continue to add to the bufferedAmount value, even though the messages are neither sent nor buffered.

Whenever this value decreases to fall to or below the value specified in the bufferedAmountLowThreshold property, the user agent fires the bufferedamountlow event. This event may be used, for example, to implement code which queues more messages to be sent whenever there's room to buffer them.

Syntax

var amount = aDataChannel.bufferedAmount;

Value

The number of bytes of data currently queued to be sent over the data channel but have not yet been sent.

Example

The snippet below includes a function which changes the contents of a block with the ID "bufferSize" to a string indicating the number of bytes currently buffered on an RTCDataChannel.

var dc = peerConnection.createDataChannel("File Transfer");

/* ... */

function showBufferedAmount(channel) {
  let el = document.getElementbyId("bufferSize");

  el.innerHTML = channel.bufferedAmount + " bytes";
}

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
WebRTC 1.0: Real-time Communication Between Browsers
The definition of 'RTCDataChannel.bufferedAmount' in that specification.
Candidate Recommendation Initial specification.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
bufferedAmount
Experimental
Chrome Full support 56Edge Full support ≤79Firefox Full support 18IE No support NoOpera Full support 43Safari Full support YesWebView Android Full support 56Chrome Android Full support 56Firefox Android Full support 18Opera Android Full support 43Safari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android Full support 6.0

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 also