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Deprecated
This feature has been removed from the Web standards. Though some browsers may still support it, it is in the process of being dropped. Avoid using it and update existing code if possible; see the compatibility table at the bottom of this page to guide your decision. Be aware that this feature may cease to work at any time.

The Navigator.getUserMedia() method prompts the user for permission to use up to one video input device (such as a camera or shared screen) and up to one audio input device (such as a microphone). If permission is granted, a MediaStream whose video and/or audio tracks come from those devices is delivered to the specified success callback. If permission is denied, no compatible input devices exist, or any other error condition occurs, the error callback is executed with a MediaStreamError object describing what went wrong. If the user instead doesn't make a choice at all, neither callback is executed.

While this method is still present, and is still callback based, every other method in the Media Capture and Streams API uses promises. Although technically this method isn't deprecated, we are treating it as such here because the specification warns that discussions are ongoing about whether or not it should be removed. As such, you should try to avoid using this method, and should use navigator.mediaDevices.getUserMedia() instead.

Syntax

navigator.getUserMedia(constraints, successCallback, errorCallback);

Parameters

constraints
A MediaStreamConstaints object specifying the types of media to request, along with any requirements for each type. For details, see the constraints section under the modern MediaDevices.getUserMedia() method, as well as the article Capabilities, constraints, and settings.
successCallback
A function which is invoked when the request for media access is approved. The function is called with one parameter: the MediaStream object that contains the media stream. Your callback can then assign the stream to the desired object (such as an <audio> or <video> element), as shown in the following example:
function(stream) {
   var video = document.querySelector('video');
   video.src = window.URL.createObjectURL(stream);
   video.onloadedmetadata = function(e) {
      // Do something with the video here.
   };
}
errorCallback
When the call fails, the function specified in the errorCallback is invokedwith a MediaStreamError object as its sole argument; this object is is modeled on DOMException. See {anch("Errors")}} below for a list of the errors which can occur.

Return value

undefined.

Errors

Rejections of the returned promise are made by passing a DOMException error object to the promise's failure handler. Possible errors are:

AbortError
Although the user and operating system both granted access to the hardware device, and no hardware issues occurred that would cause a NotReadableError, some problem occurred which prevented the device from being used.
NotAllowedError
The user has specified that the current browsing instance is not permitted access to the device; or the user has denied access for the current session; or the user has denied all access to user media devices globally.
Older versions of the specification used SecurityError for this instead; SecurityError has taken on a new meaning.
NotFoundError
No media tracks of the type specified were found that satisfy the given constraints.
NotReadableError
Although the user granted permission to use the matching devices, a hardware error occurred at the operating system, browser, or Web page level which prevented access to the device.
OverConstrainedError
The specified constraints resulted in no candidate devices which met the criteria requested. The error is an object of type OverconstrainedError, and has a constraint property whose string value is the name of a constraint which was impossible to meet, and a message property containing a human-readable string explaining the problem.
Because this error can occur even when the user has not yet granted permission to use the underlying device, it can potentially be used as a fingerprinting surface.
SecurityError
User media support is disabled on the Document on which getUserMedia() was called. The mechanism by which user media support is enabled and disabled is left up to the individual user agent.
TypeError
The list of constraints specified is empty, or has all constraints set to false.

Examples

Width and height

Here's an example of using getUserMedia(), including code to cope with various browsers' prefixes. Note that this is the deprecated way of doing it: See the Examples section under the MediaDevices.getUserMedia() for modern examples.

navigator.getUserMedia = navigator.getUserMedia ||
                         navigator.webkitGetUserMedia ||
                         navigator.mozGetUserMedia;

if (navigator.getUserMedia) {
   navigator.getUserMedia({ audio: true, video: { width: 1280, height: 720 } },
      function(stream) {
         var video = document.querySelector('video');
         video.src = window.URL.createObjectURL(stream);
         video.onloadedmetadata = function(e) {
           video.play();
         };
      },
      function(err) {
         console.log("The following error occurred: " + err.name);
      }
   );
} else {
   console.log("getUserMedia not supported");
}

Permissions

To use getUserMedia() in an installable app (for example, a Firefox OS app), you need to specify one or both of the following fields inside your manifest file:

"permissions": {
  "audio-capture": {
    "description": "Required to capture audio using getUserMedia()"
  },
  "video-capture": {
    "description": "Required to capture video using getUserMedia()"
  }
}

See permission: audio-capture and permission: video-capture for more information.

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
Media Capture and Streams
The definition of 'navigator.getUserMedia' in that specification.
Editor's Draft Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

New code should use Navigator.mediaDevices.getUserMedia() instead.

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Microsoft Edge Internet Explorer Opera Safari (WebKit)
Basic support 21webkit [1] 17moz [3] (Yes) No support 12 [2]
18webkit
No support
Feature Android Android Webview Firefox Mobile (Gecko) Firefox OS (Gecko) IE Phone Opera Mobile Safari Mobile Chrome for Android
Basic Support ? 40.0webkit [2] 24moz [3] 1.2moz [4]
1.4moz
No support 12 [2] No support No support

[1] Later versions of Chrome support unprefixed MediaDevices.getUserMedia(), that replaced this deprecated method.

[2] Chrome and Opera still use an outdated constraint syntax, but the syntax described here is available through the adapter.js polyfill.

[3] The constraint syntax described here is available as of Firefox 38. Earlier versions (32-37) used an outdated constraint syntax, but the syntax described here is available there through the adapter.js polyfill.

[4] In Firefox OS 1.2 only audio was supported, 1.4 added support for video.

See also