Permissions API

Concepts and usage

Historically different APIs handle their own permissions inconsistently — for example the Notifications API allows for explicit checking of permission status and requesting permission, whereas the Geolocation API doesn't (which causes problems if the user denied the initial permission request). The Permissions API provides the tools to allow developers to implement a better user experience as far as permissions are concerned.

The permissions property has been made available on the Navigator object, both in the standard browsing context and the worker context (WorkerNavigator — so permission checks are available inside workers), and returns a Permissions object that provides access to the Permissions API functionality.

Once you have this object you can then perform permission-related tasks, for example querying a permission using the Permissions.query() method to return a promise that resolves with the PermissionStatus for a specific API.

Not all APIs' permission statuses can be queried using the Permissions API. Notable APIs that are Permissions-aware include:

• Clipboard API
• Notifications API
• Push API
• Web MIDI API

More APIs will gain Permissions API support over time.

Examples

We have made a simple example available called Location Finder. You can run the example live, or view the source code on Github.

Read more about how it works in our article Using the Permissions API.

Interfaces

Navigator.permissions and WorkerNavigator.permissions Read only

Provides access to the Permissions object from the main context and worker context respectively.

Permissions

Provides the core Permission API functionality, such as methods for querying and revoking permissions.

PermissionStatus

Provides access to the current status of a permission, and an event handler to respond to changes in permission status.

Specification

Browser compatibility

See also

• Using the Permissions API
• Using the Permissions API to Detect How Often Users Allow or Deny Camera Access
• Notification.permission
• Privacy, permissions, and information security