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Direct Sockets API

Category

Isolated Web Apps-specific API

Type

New or changed feature

Status

Enabled by default (Chrome 131)

Intent stage

Start prototyping

Summary

Allows Isolated Web Apps to establish direct transmission control protocol (TCP) and user datagram protocol (UDP) communications with network devices and systems as well as listen to and accept incoming connections.

Motivation

Many network devices use their own protocols over TCP or UDP, instead of using HTTPS. Like WebUSB, WebMIDI and WebBluetooth, this API allows web apps to communicate with local devices and information systems.

Standards & signals

• Specification: https://wicg.github.io/direct-sockets
• Firefox: Negative
• Safari: No signal
• Web developers: Positive — Numerous potential use cases have been suggested.
• Tracking bug: https://bugs.chromium.org/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=909927

Samples: https://github.com/GoogleChromeLabs/telnet-client

Explainers: https://github.com/WICG/direct-sockets/blob/main/docs/explainer.md

View on chromestatus.com