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MessagePort.start

The start() method of the MessagePort interface starts the sending of messages queued on the port. This method is only needed when using EventTarget.addEventListener; it is implied when using MessageChannel.onmessage.

Note: This feature is available in Web Workers.

Syntax

port.start()

Returns

Void.

Parameters

None.

Example

In the following code block, you can see a handleMessage handler function, run when a message is sent back to this document using onmessage:

channel.port1.onmessage = handleMessage;
function handleMessage(e) {
  para.innerHTML = e.data;
}   

Another option would be to do this using EventTarget.addEventListener, however, when this method is used, you need to explicitly call start() to begin the flow of messages to this document:

channel.port1.addEventListener('message', handleMessage, false);
function handleMessage(e) {
  para.innerHTML = e.data;
  textInput.value = '';
}

channel.port1.start();

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
HTML Living Standard
The definition of 'start()' in that specification.
Living Standard

Browser compatibilityUpdate compatibility data on GitHub

Desktop
Chrome Edge Firefox Internet Explorer Opera Safari
Basic support 4 Yes Yes 10 10.6 5
Mobile
Android webview Chrome for Android Edge Mobile Firefox for Android Opera for Android iOS Safari Samsung Internet
Basic support Yes 18 Yes No 11.5 5.1 ?

See also

© 2005–2018 Mozilla Developer Network and individual contributors.
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/MessagePort/start