Web/API/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 StandardThe definition of 'start()' in that specification.	Living Standard

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
`start`	Chrome Full support 4	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support Yes	IE Full support 10	Opera Full support 10.6	Safari Full support 5	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support 18	Firefox Android No support No	Opera Android Full support 11	Safari iOS Full support 5.1	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support