Web/API/HTMLMediaElement/srcObject

The srcObject property of the HTMLMediaElement interface sets or returns the object which serves as the source of the media associated with the HTMLMediaElement. The object can be a MediaStream, a MediaSource, a Blob, or a File (which inherits from Blob).

Note: As of March 2020, only Safari supports setting objects other than MediaStream. Until other browsers catch up, for MediaSource, Blob and File, consider falling back to creating a URL with URL.createObjectURL() and assign it to HTMLMediaElement.src. See below for an example.

Syntax

var sourceObject = HTMLMediaElement.srcObject;

HTMLMediaElement.srcObject = sourceObject;

Value

A MediaStream, MediaSource, Blob, or File object (though see the compatibility table for what is actually supported).

Usage notes

Older versions of the Media Source specification required using createObjectURL() to create an object URL then setting src to that URL. Now you can just set srcObject to the MediaStream directly.

Examples

Basic example

In this example, a MediaStream from a camera is assigned to a newly-created <video> element.

const mediaStream = await navigator.mediaDevices.getUserMedia({video: true});
const video = document.createElement('video');
video.srcObject = mediaStream;

In this example, a new MediaSource is assigned to a newly-created <video> element.

const mediaSource = new MediaSource();
const video = document.createElement('video');
video.srcObject = mediaSource;

Supporting fallback to the src property

The examples below support older browser versions that require you to create an object URL and assign it to src if srcObject isn't supported.

First, a MediaStream from a camera is assigned to a newly-created <video> element, with fallback for older browsers.

const mediaStream = await navigator.mediaDevices.getUserMedia({video: true});
const video = document.createElement('video');
if ('srcObject' in video) {
  video.srcObject = mediaStream;
} else {
  // Avoid using this in new browsers, as it is going away.
  video.src = URL.createObjectURL(mediaStream);
}

Second, a new MediaSource is assigned to a newly-created <video> element, with fallback for older browsers and browsers that don't yet support assignment of MediaSource directly.

const mediaSource = new MediaSource();
const video = document.createElement('video');
// Older browsers may not have srcObject
if ('srcObject' in video) {
  try {
    video.srcObject = mediaSource;
  } catch (err) {
    if (err.name != "TypeError") {
      throw err;
    }
    // Even if they do, they may only support MediaStream
    video.src = URL.createObjectURL(mediaSource);
  }
} else {
  video.src = URL.createObjectURL(mediaSource);
}

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
HTML Living StandardThe definition of 'srcObject' in that specification.	Living Standard	Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
`srcObject`	Chrome Partial support 52 Notes' Partial support 52 Notes' Notes' Currently only supports `MediaStream` objects.	Edge Partial support 12 Notes' Partial support 12 Notes' Notes' Currently only supports `MediaStream` objects.	Firefox Partial support 42 Notes' Partial support 42 Notes' Notes' Currently only supports `MediaStream` objects. No support 18 — 58 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: moz	IE No support No	Opera Partial support 39 Notes' Partial support 39 Notes' Notes' Currently only supports `MediaStream` objects.	Safari Full support 11	WebView Android Partial support 52 Notes' Partial support 52 Notes' Notes' Currently only supports `MediaStream` objects.	Chrome Android Partial support 52 Notes' Partial support 52 Notes' Notes' Currently only supports `MediaStream` objects.	Firefox Android Partial support 42 Notes' Partial support 42 Notes' Notes' Currently only supports `MediaStream` objects. No support 18 — 58 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: moz	Opera Android Partial support 41 Notes' Partial support 41 Notes' Notes' Currently only supports `MediaStream` objects.	Safari iOS Full support 11	Samsung Internet Android Partial support 6.0 Notes' Partial support 6.0 Notes' Notes' Currently only supports `MediaStream` objects.

Legend

Full support: Full support
Partial support: Partial support
No support: No support
See implementation notes.': See implementation notes.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.': Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.

HTMLMediaElement.srcObject by Mozilla Contributors is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.5.