# webContents `webContents` is an [EventEmitter](http://nodejs.org/api/events.html#events_class_events_eventemitter). It is responsible for rendering and controlling a web page and is a property of the [`BrowserWindow`](browser-window.md) object. An example of accessing the `webContents` object: ```javascript var BrowserWindow = require('browser-window'); var win = new BrowserWindow({width: 800, height: 1500}); win.loadUrl("http://github.com"); var webContents = win.webContents; ``` ## Events The `webContents` object emits the following events: ### Event: 'did-finish-load' Emitted when the navigation is done, i.e. the spinner of the tab has stopped spinning, and the `onload` event was dispatched. ### Event: 'did-fail-load' Returns: * `event` Event * `errorCode` Integer * `errorDescription` String * `validatedUrl` String This event is like `did-finish-load` but emitted when the load failed or was cancelled, e.g. `window.stop()` is invoked. The full list of error codes and their meaning is available [here](https://code.google.com/p/chromium/codesearch#chromium/src/net/base/net_error_list.h). ### Event: 'did-frame-finish-load' Returns: * `event` Event * `isMainFrame` Boolean Emitted when a frame has done navigation. ### Event: 'did-start-loading' Corresponds to the points in time when the spinner of the tab started spinning. ### Event: 'did-stop-loading' Corresponds to the points in time when the spinner of the tab stopped spinning. ### Event: 'did-get-response-details' Returns: * `event` Event * `status` Boolean * `newUrl` String * `originalUrl` String * `httpResponseCode` Integer * `requestMethod` String * `referrer` String * `headers` Object Emitted when details regarding a requested resource are available. `status` indicates the socket connection to download the resource. ### Event: 'did-get-redirect-request' Returns: * `event` Event * `oldUrl` String * `newUrl` String * `isMainFrame` Boolean * `httpResponseCode` Integer * `requestMethod` String * `referrer` String * `headers` Object Emitted when a redirect is received while requesting a resource. ### Event: 'dom-ready' Returns: * `event` Event Emitted when the document in the given frame is loaded. ### Event: 'page-favicon-updated' Returns: * `event` Event * `favicons` Array - Array of Urls Emitted when page receives favicon urls. ### Event: 'new-window' Returns: * `event` Event * `url` String * `frameName` String * `disposition` String - Can be `default`, `foreground-tab`, `background-tab`, `new-window` and `other`. * `options` Object - The options which will be used for creating the new `BrowserWindow`. Emitted when the page requests to open a new window for a `url`. It could be requested by `window.open` or an external link like ``. By default a new `BrowserWindow` will be created for the `url`. Calling `event.preventDefault()` will prevent creating new windows. ### Event: 'will-navigate' Returns: * `event` Event * `url` String Emitted when a user or the page wants to start navigation. It can happen when the `window.location` object is changed or a user clicks a link in the page. This event will not emit when the navigation is started programmatically with APIs like `webContents.loadUrl` and `webContents.back`. Calling `event.preventDefault()` will prevent the navigation. ### Event: 'crashed' Emitted when the renderer process has crashed. ### Event: 'plugin-crashed' Returns: * `event` Event * `name` String * `version` String Emitted when a plugin process has crashed. ### Event: 'destroyed' Emitted when `webContents` is destroyed. ### Event: 'devtools-opened' Emitted when DevTools is opened. ### Event: 'devtools-closed' Emitted when DevTools is closed. ### Event: 'devtools-focused' Emitted when DevTools is focused / opened. ### Event: 'login' Returns: * `event` Event * `request` Object * `method` String * `url` URL * `referrer` URL * `authInfo` Object * `isProxy` Boolean * `scheme` String * `host` String * `port` Integer * `realm` String * `callback` Function Emitted when `webContents` wants to do basic auth. The usage is the same with [the `login` event of `app`](app.md#event-login). ## Instance Methods The `webContents` object has the following instance methods: ### `webContents.session` Returns the `session` object used by this webContents. See [session documentation](session.md) for this object's methods. ### `webContents.loadUrl(url[, options])` * `url` URL * `options` Object (optional), properties: * `httpReferrer` String - A HTTP Referrer url. * `userAgent` String - A user agent originating the request. * `extraHeaders` String - Extra headers separated by "\n" Loads the `url` in the window, the `url` must contain the protocol prefix, e.g. the `http://` or `file://`. ### `webContents.getUrl()` ```javascript var BrowserWindow = require('browser-window'); var win = new BrowserWindow({width: 800, height: 600}); win.loadUrl("http://github.com"); var currentUrl = win.webContents.getUrl(); ``` Returns URL of the current web page. ### `webContents.getTitle()` Returns the title of the current web page. ### `webContents.isLoading()` Returns whether web page is still loading resources. ### `webContents.isWaitingForResponse()` Returns whether the web page is waiting for a first-response from the main resource of the page. ### `webContents.stop()` Stops any pending navigation. ### `webContents.reload()` Reloads the current web page. ### `webContents.reloadIgnoringCache()` Reloads current page and ignores cache. ### `webContents.canGoBack()` Returns whether the browser can go back to previous web page. ### `webContents.canGoForward()` Returns whether the browser can go forward to next web page. ### `webContents.canGoToOffset(offset)` * `offset` Integer Returns whether the web page can go to `offset`. ### `webContents.clearHistory()` Clears the navigation history. ### `webContents.goBack()` Makes the browser go back a web page. ### `webContents.goForward()` Makes the browser go forward a web page. ### `webContents.goToIndex(index)` * `index` Integer Navigates browser to the specified absolute web page index. ### `webContents.goToOffset(offset)` * `offset` Integer Navigates to the specified offset from the "current entry". ### `webContents.isCrashed()` Whether the renderer process has crashed. ### `webContents.setUserAgent(userAgent)` * `userAgent` String Overrides the user agent for this web page. ### `webContents.getUserAgent()` Returns a `String` representing the user agent for this web page. ### `webContents.insertCSS(css)` * `css` String Injects CSS into the current web page. ### `webContents.executeJavaScript(code[, userGesture])` * `code` String * `userGesture` Boolean (optional) Evaluates `code` in page. In the browser window some HTML APIs like `requestFullScreen` can only be invoked by a gesture from the user. Setting `userGesture` to `true` will remove this limitation. ### `webContents.setAudioMuted(muted)` + `muted` Boolean Mute the audio on the current web page. ### `webContents.isAudioMuted()` Returns whether this page has been muted. ### `webContents.undo()` Executes the editing command `undo` in web page. ### `webContents.redo()` Executes the editing command `redo` in web page. ### `webContents.cut()` Executes the editing command `cut` in web page. ### `webContents.copy()` Executes the editing command `copy` in web page. ### `webContents.paste()` Executes the editing command `paste` in web page. ### `webContents.pasteAndMatchStyle()` Executes the editing command `pasteAndMatchStyle` in web page. ### `webContents.delete()` Executes the editing command `delete` in web page. ### `webContents.selectAll()` Executes the editing command `selectAll` in web page. ### `webContents.unselect()` Executes the editing command `unselect` in web page. ### `webContents.replace(text)` * `text` String Executes the editing command `replace` in web page. ### `webContents.replaceMisspelling(text)` * `text` String Executes the editing command `replaceMisspelling` in web page. ### `webContents.hasServiceWorker(callback)` * `callback` Function Checks if any ServiceWorker is registered and returns a boolean as response to `callback`. ### `webContents.unregisterServiceWorker(callback)` * `callback` Function Unregisters any ServiceWorker if present and returns a boolean as response to `callback` when the JS promise is fulfilled or false when the JS promise is rejected. ### `webContents.print([options])` `options` Object (optional), properties: * `silent` Boolean - Don't ask user for print settings, defaults to `false` * `printBackground` Boolean - Also prints the background color and image of the web page, defaults to `false`. Prints window's web page. When `silent` is set to `false`, Electron will pick up system's default printer and default settings for printing. Calling `window.print()` in web page is equivalent to calling `webContents.print({silent: false, printBackground: false})`. **Note:** On Windows, the print API relies on `pdf.dll`. If your application doesn't need the print feature, you can safely remove `pdf.dll` to reduce binary size. ### `webContents.printToPDF(options, callback)` `options` Object, properties: * `marginsType` Integer - Specify the type of margins to use * 0 - default * 1 - none * 2 - minimum * `pageSize` String - Specify page size of the generated PDF. * `A4` * `A3` * `Legal` * `Letter` * `Tabloid` * `printBackground` Boolean - Whether to print CSS backgrounds. * `printSelectionOnly` Boolean - Whether to print selection only. * `landscape` Boolean - `true` for landscape, `false` for portrait. `callback` Function - `function(error, data) {}` * `error` Error * `data` Buffer - PDF file content. Prints window's web page as PDF with Chromium's preview printing custom settings. By default, an empty `options` will be regarded as: ```javascript { marginsType: 0, printBackground: false, printSelectionOnly: false, landscape: false } ``` ```javascript var BrowserWindow = require('browser-window'); var fs = require('fs'); var win = new BrowserWindow({width: 800, height: 600}); win.loadUrl("http://github.com"); win.webContents.on("did-finish-load", function() { // Use default printing options win.webContents.printToPDF({}, function(error, data) { if (error) throw error; fs.writeFile("/tmp/print.pdf", data, function(error) { if (error) throw error; console.log("Write PDF successfully."); }) }) }); ``` ### `webContents.addWorkSpace(path)` * `path` String Adds the specified path to DevTools workspace. ### `webContents.removeWorkSpace(path)` * `path` String Removes the specified path from DevTools workspace. ### `webContents.openDevTools([options])` * `options` Object (optional). Properties: * `detach` Boolean - opens DevTools in a new window Opens the developer tools. ### `webContents.closeDevTools()` Closes the developer tools. ### `webContents.isDevToolsOpened()` Returns whether the developer tools are opened. ### `webContents.toggleDevTools()` Toggles the developer tools. ### `webContents.isDevToolsFocused()` Returns whether the developer tools is focused. ### `webContents.inspectElement(x, y)` * `x` Integer * `y` Integer Starts inspecting element at position (`x`, `y`). ### `webContents.inspectServiceWorker()` Opens the developer tools for the service worker context. ### `webContents.send(channel[, args...])` * `channel` String * `args...` (optional) Send `args...` to the web page via `channel` in an asynchronous message, the web page can handle it by listening to the `channel` event of the `ipc` module. An example of sending messages from the main process to the renderer process: ```javascript // In the main process. var window = null; app.on('ready', function() { window = new BrowserWindow({width: 800, height: 600}); window.loadUrl('file://' + __dirname + '/index.html'); window.webContents.on('did-finish-load', function() { window.webContents.send('ping', 'whoooooooh!'); }); }); ``` ```html ``` **Note:** 1. The IPC message handler in web pages does not have an `event` parameter, which is different from the handlers in the main process. 2. There is no way to send synchronous messages from the main process to a renderer process, because it would be very easy to cause dead locks. ### `webContents.enableDeviceEmulation(parameters)` `parameters` Object, properties: * `screenPosition` String - Specify the screen type to emulate (default: `desktop`) * `desktop` * `mobile` * `screenSize` Object - Set the emulated screen size (screenPosition == mobile) * `width` Integer - Set the emulated screen width * `height` Integer - Set the emulated screen height * `viewPosition` Object - Position the view on the screen (screenPosition == mobile) (default: `{x: 0, y: 0}`) * `x` Integer - Set the x axis offset from top left corner * `y` Integer - Set the y axis offset from top left corner * `deviceScaleFactor` Integer - Set the device scale factor (if zero defaults to original device scale factor) (default: `0`) * `viewSize` Object - Set the emulated view size (empty means no override) * `width` Integer - Set the emulated view width * `height` Integer - Set the emulated view height * `fitToView` Boolean - Whether emulated view should be scaled down if necessary to fit into available space (default: `false`) * `offset` Object - Offset of the emulated view inside available space (not in fit to view mode) (default: `{x: 0, y: 0}`) * `x` Float - Set the x axis offset from top left corner * `y` Float - Set the y axis offset from top left corner * `scale` Float - Scale of emulated view inside available space (not in fit to view mode) (default: `1`) Enable device emulation with the given parameters. ### `webContents.disableDeviceEmulation()` Disable device emulation enabled by `webContents.enableDeviceEmulation`. ### `webContents.sendInputEvent(event)` * `event` Object * `type` String (**required**) - The type of the event, can be `mouseDown`, `mouseUp`, `mouseEnter`, `mouseLeave`, `contextMenu`, `mouseWheel`, `keyDown`, `keyUp`, `char`. * `modifiers` Array - An array of modifiers of the event, can include `shift`, `control`, `alt`, `meta`, `isKeypad`, `isAutoRepeat`, `leftButtonDown`, `middleButtonDown`, `rightButtonDown`, `capsLock`, `numLock`, `left`, `right`. Sends an input `event` to the page. For keyboard events, the `event` object also have following properties: * `keyCode` String (**required**) - A single character that will be sent as keyboard event. Can be any UTF-8 character. For mouse events, the `event` object also have following properties: * `x` Integer (**required**) * `y` Integer (**required**) * `button` String - The button pressed, can be `left`, `middle`, `right` * `globalX` Integer * `globalY` Integer * `movementX` Integer * `movementY` Integer * `clickCount` Integer For the `mouseWheel` event, the `event` object also have following properties: * `deltaX` Integer * `deltaY` Integer * `wheelTicksX` Integer * `wheelTicksY` Integer * `accelerationRatioX` Integer * `accelerationRatioY` Integer * `hasPreciseScrollingDeltas` Boolean * `canScroll` Boolean ### `webContents.beginFrameSubscription(callback)` * `callback` Function Begin subscribing for presentation events and captured frames, the `callback` will be called with `callback(frameBuffer)` when there is a presentation event. The `frameBuffer` is a `Buffer` that contains raw pixel data. On most machines, the pixel data is effectively stored in 32bit BGRA format, but the actual representation depends on the endianness of the processor (most modern processors are little-endian, on machines with big-endian processors the data is in 32bit ARGB format). ### `webContents.endFrameSubscription()` End subscribing for frame presentation events. ## Instance Properties `WebContents` objects also have the following properties: ### `webContents.devToolsWebContents` Get the `WebContents` of DevTools for this `WebContents`. **Note:** Users should never store this object because it may become `null` when the DevTools has been closed. ### `webContents.savePage(fullPath, saveType, callback)` * `fullPath` String - The full file path. * `saveType` String - Specify the save type. * `HTMLOnly` - Save only the HTML of the page. * `HTMLComplete` - Save complete-html page. * `MHTML` - Save complete-html page as MHTML. * `callback` Function - `function(error) {}`. * `error` Error Returns true if the process of saving page has been initiated successfully. ```javascript win.loadUrl('https://github.com'); win.webContents.on('did-finish-load', function() { win.webContents.savePage('/tmp/test.html', 'HTMLComplete', function(error) { if (!error) console.log("Save page successfully"); }); }); ```