What is the difference between Chrome Notifications API and the Push Notification API when developing Web notifications. When each one should be used and how are they different?
NOTIFICATION API
The Notifications API lets a web page or app send notifications that are displayed outside the page at the system level; this lets web apps send information to a user even if the application is idle or in the background. This article looks at the basics of using this API in your own apps.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Notifications_API/Using_the_Notifications_API
PUSH API
The Push API gives web applications the ability to receive messages pushed to them from a server, whether or not the web app is in the foreground, or even currently loaded, on a user agent. This lets developers deliver asynchronous notifications and updates to users that opt in, resulting in better engagement with timely new content.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/Web/API/Push_API
Check these links for more info:
https://www.w3.org/TR/push-api/
https://www.w3.org/TR/notifications/
It can be confusing, but if I get this right, looking for a clear answer myself, it is like this:
Notifications API = used to send notifications when the user IS ON your site/app, even when idle or in the background.
Push API = used to send notifications when the user IS NOT ON your site/app at the moment.
Browser compatibility
https://caniuse.com/notifications
https://caniuse.com/push-api
NOTE: For Safari on macOS Apple has it's own push notification API:
https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/NetworkingInternet/Conceptual/NotificationProgrammingGuideForWebsites/Introduction/Introduction.html
Safari on iOS still doesn't support any of the two APIs (Feb 2021).
Related
I've build a Javascript WebApp that is designed to work on tablets (using Web App Manifest file) and offline (aside from getting initial data from PHP backend). The app has custom notification system imitating Notifications API. Each notification is sent at given time (using setInterval). This leads to couple of problems:
there is no sound as the notifications are not effect of user interaction,
notifications can't be shown when the device is asleep.
First problem can be solved using Notifications API, but I'm not sure what could be done about the second. Keep in mind that the app should work offline - this eliminates the use of Push Notifications API.
Is using web application's container such as Cordova my only option?
By using the API navigator.bluetooth.requestDevice(), a web page could ask a user for his permission to pair and establish connection with a bluetooth device. After approving the request, assume the user reloads the web page. Is there a way for the web to connect to that paired device without asking for permission again?
I know we can do that in web-usb with API navigator.usb.getDevices(), but I can not find a way to do that in web-bluetooth. Anyone please help.
Thanks
The Web Bluetooth specification mentions that the navigator.permissions.query() method can be used to request BluetoothDevice objects for which permission was granted prior to a page reload.
However, Chrome does not currently implement persistent Web Bluetooth permissions the way that is done for WebUSB nor does it implement querying Web Bluetooth permissions through the navigator.permission API. Both of these tasks are tracked by issue 577953.
I am wondering if I can use web push notifications to update a web page without displaying a notification for the user to interact with. Essentially I want to refresh data after an event on the server.
If this is possible, is it still necessary to receive permission from the user to send these push updates?
Yes, you can send push messages without showing a notification, but there are limitations on both Firefox and Chrome on the raw number of "invisible" push messages and the rate at which you send them.
You can experiment a bit with the quotas in different browers using the Push Quota ServiceWorker Cookbook example.
Im trying to use the web notification API (https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Notification) to show browser notification, something like the example of this link (in marked answer) Chrome desktop notification example
However, Im looking for something that will automatically show certain such notification on daily basis, on a particular time. Like i see such notification for facebook in chrome browser. Is that possible? how can i achieve that? I know there might some browser limitation, however i'll be happy if i can do that for chrome and firefox.
You would need to use the Push API, service workers, and some corresponding server infrastructure. That way, if users opt-in, you can wake up your service worker at a particular time and deliver a message to the user.
I'm trying to understand how to send notifications using the browser when my website is closed.
I see that Facebook does it but I can't get how.
Any help is welcome.
You are looking for the Push API:
The Push API gives web applications the ability to receive messages pushed to them from a server, whether or not the web app is in the foreground, or even currently loaded, on a user agent. This lets developers deliver asynchronous notifications and updates to users that opt in, resulting in better engagement with timely new content.
And the Notifications API:
The Notification interface of the Notifications API is used to configure and display desktop notifications to the user.
You must use these in combination with a Service Worker. From the Push API documentation:
For an app to receive push messages, it has to have an active service worker. When the service worker is active, it can subscribe to push notifications using PushManager.subscribe().
You can use Roost. Roost is a push notification platform for websites. You can see its documentation to perform both client-side and server-side integrations, so that you can customize your Roost notifications as needed.