XMLHttpRequest: send() method

Baseline Widely available

This feature is well established and works across many devices and browser versions. It’s been available across browsers since July 2015.

Note: This feature is available in Web Workers, except for Service Workers.

The XMLHttpRequest method send() sends the request to the server.

If the request is asynchronous (which is the default), this method returns as soon as the request is sent and the result is delivered using events. If the request is synchronous, this method doesn't return until the response has arrived.

send() accepts an optional parameter which lets you specify the request's body; this is primarily used for requests such as PUT. If the request method is GET or HEAD, the body parameter is ignored and the request body is set to null.

If no Accept header has been set using the setRequestHeader(), an Accept header with the type "*/*" (any type) is sent.

Syntax

js
send()
send(body)

Parameters

body Optional

A body of data to be sent in the XHR request. This can be:

If no value is specified for the body, a default value of null is used.

The best way to send binary content (e.g., in file uploads) is by using a TypedArray, a DataView or a Blob object in conjunction with the send() method.

Return value

None (undefined).

Exceptions

InvalidStateError DOMException

Thrown if send() has already been invoked for the request, and/or the request is complete.

NetworkError DOMException

Thrown if the resource type to be fetched is a Blob, and the method is not GET.

Example: GET

js
const xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
xhr.open("GET", "/server", true);

xhr.onload = () => {
  // Request finished. Do processing here.
};

xhr.send(null);
// xhr.send('string');
// xhr.send(new Blob());
// xhr.send(new Int8Array());
// xhr.send(document);

Example: POST

js
const xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
xhr.open("POST", "/server", true);

// Send the proper header information along with the request
xhr.setRequestHeader("Content-Type", "application/x-www-form-urlencoded");

xhr.onreadystatechange = () => {
  // Call a function when the state changes.
  if (xhr.readyState === XMLHttpRequest.DONE && xhr.status === 200) {
    // Request finished. Do processing here.
  }
};
xhr.send("foo=bar&lorem=ipsum");
// xhr.send(new Int8Array());
// xhr.send(document);

Specifications

Specification
XMLHttpRequest
# the-send()-method

Browser compatibility

desktop mobile
Chrome
Edge
Firefox
Opera
Safari
Chrome Android
Firefox for Android
Opera Android
Safari on iOS
Samsung Internet
WebView Android
WebView on iOS
send
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 1 (Release date: 2008-12-11)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 12 (Release date: 2015-07-29)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 1 (Release date: 2004-11-09)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 8 (Release date: 2005-04-19)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 1.2 (Release date: 2004-02-02)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 18 (Release date: 2012-06-27)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 4 (Release date: 2011-03-29)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 10.1 (Release date: 2010-11-09)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 1 (Release date: 2007-06-29)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 1 (Release date: 2013-04-27)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 4.4 (Release date: 2013-12-09)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 1 (Release date: 2007-06-29)
footnote Full support
ArrayBufferView as parameter to send()
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 22 (Release date: 2012-09-25)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 12 (Release date: 2015-07-29)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 20 (Release date: 2013-04-02)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 11.6 (Release date: 2011-12-06)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 7 (Release date: 2013-10-22)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 25 (Release date: 2013-02-27)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 20 (Release date: 2013-04-02)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 12 (Release date: 2012-02-25)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 7 (Release date: 2013-09-18)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 1.5 (Release date: 2013-09-25)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 4.4 (Release date: 2013-12-09)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 7 (Release date: 2013-09-18)
footnote Full support
ArrayBuffer as parameter to send()
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 9 (Release date: 2011-02-03)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 12 (Release date: 2015-07-29)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 9 (Release date: 2011-12-20)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 11.6 (Release date: 2011-12-06)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 6 (Release date: 2012-07-25)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 18 (Release date: 2012-06-27)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 9 (Release date: 2011-12-21)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 12 (Release date: 2012-02-25)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 6 (Release date: 2012-09-10)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 1 (Release date: 2013-04-27)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 4.4 (Release date: 2013-12-09)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 6 (Release date: 2012-09-10)
footnote Full support
Blob as parameter to send()
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 22 (Release date: 2012-09-25)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 12 (Release date: 2015-07-29)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 2 (Release date: 2006-10-24)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 12 (Release date: 2012-06-14)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 6 (Release date: 2012-07-25)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 25 (Release date: 2013-02-27)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 4 (Release date: 2011-03-29)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 12 (Release date: 2012-02-25)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 6 (Release date: 2012-09-10)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 1.5 (Release date: 2013-09-25)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 4.4 (Release date: 2013-12-09)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 6 (Release date: 2012-09-10)
footnote Full support
FormData as parameter to send()
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 6 (Release date: 2010-09-02)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 12 (Release date: 2015-07-29)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 2 (Release date: 2006-10-24)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 12 (Release date: 2012-06-14)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 6 (Release date: 2012-07-25)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 18 (Release date: 2012-06-27)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 4 (Release date: 2011-03-29)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 12 (Release date: 2012-02-25)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 6 (Release date: 2012-09-10)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 1 (Release date: 2013-04-27)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 4.4 (Release date: 2013-12-09)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 6 (Release date: 2012-09-10)
footnote Full support
URLSearchParams as parameter to send()
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 59 (Release date: 2017-06-05)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 17 (Release date: 2018-04-30)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 44 (Release date: 2016-01-26)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 46 (Release date: 2017-06-22)
footnote Full support
Safari – Partial support
Safari 10.1 – 14.1 (Release date: 2017-03-27)
footnote Partial support
footnote Doesn't send the correct Content-Type header by default. See bug 227477.
Safari – Full support
Safari 15 (Release date: 2021-09-20)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 59 (Release date: 2017-06-06)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 44 (Release date: 2016-01-26)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 43 (Release date: 2017-09-27)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Partial support
Safari on iOS 10.3 – 14.5 (Release date: 2017-03-27)
footnote Partial support
footnote Doesn't send the correct Content-Type header by default. See bug 227477.
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 15 (Release date: 2021-09-20)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 7 (Release date: 2018-03-16)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 59 (Release date: 2017-06-06)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Partial support
WebView on iOS 10.3 – 14.5 (Release date: 2017-03-27)
footnote Partial support
footnote Doesn't send the correct Content-Type header by default. See bug 227477.
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 15 (Release date: 2021-09-20)
footnote Full support

Legend

Tip: you can click/tap on a cell for more information.

Full support
Full support
Partial support
Partial support
Has more compatibility info.

See also