Web Share API

Concepts and usage

The Web Share API allows a site to share text, links, files, and other content to user-selected share targets, utilizing the sharing mechanisms of the underlying operating system. These share targets typically include the system clipboard, email, contacts or messaging applications, and Bluetooth or Wi-Fi channels.

The API has just two methods. The navigator.canShare() method may be used to first validate whether some data is "shareable", prior to passing it to navigator.share() for sending.

The navigator.share() method invokes the native sharing mechanism of the underlying operating system and passes the specified data. It requires transient activation, and hence must be triggered off a UI event like a button click. Further, the method must specify valid data that is supported for sharing by the native implementation.

The Web Share API is gated by the web-share Permissions Policy. If the policy is supported but has not been granted, both methods will indicate that the data is not shareable.

Interfaces

Extensions to other interfaces

navigator.canShare()

Returns a boolean indicating whether the specified data is shareable.

navigator.share()

Returns a Promise that resolves if the passed data was successfully sent to a share target. This method must be called on a button click or other user activation (requires transient activation).

Example

The code below shows how you can share a link using navigator.share(), triggered off a button click.

const shareData = {
  title: "MDN",
  text: "Learn web development on MDN!",
  url: "https://developer.mozilla.org",
};

const btn = document.querySelector("button");
const resultPara = document.querySelector(".result");

// Share must be triggered by "user activation"
btn.addEventListener("click", async () => {
  try {
    await navigator.share(shareData);
    resultPara.textContent = "MDN shared successfully";
  } catch (err) {
    resultPara.textContent = `Error: ${err}`;
  }
});

The above example is taken from our Web share test (see the source code). You can also see this as a live example in navigator.share().

Specifications

Browser compatibility

api.Navigator.share

api.Navigator.canShare

See also

• Web Share Target API