Web/API/RTCDataChannel/protocol

This is an experimental technologyCheck the Browser compatibility table carefully before using this in production.

The read-only RTCDataChannel property protocol returns a DOMString containing the name of the subprotocol in use. If no protocol was specified when the data channel was created, then this property's value is "" (the empty string).

The permitted values of this property are defined by the Web site or app using the data channel.

The ability for each channel to have a defined subprotocol lets your app, for example, use JSON objects as messages on one channel while another channel is plaintext and another is raw binary or even some other format.

Syntax

var subProtocol = aDataChannel.protocol;

Value

A string identifying the app-defined subprotocol being used for exchanging data on the channel. If none has been established, this is an empty string ("").

Example

var pc = new RTCPeerConnection();
var dc = pc.createDataChannel("my channel", {
           protocol: "json"
});

function handleChannelMessage(dataChannel, msg) {
  switch(dataChannel.protocol) {
    case "json":
      /* process JSON data */
      break;
    case "raw":
      /* process raw binary data */
      break;
  }
}

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
WebRTC 1.0: Real-time Communication Between BrowsersThe definition of 'RTCDataChannel.protocol' in that specification.	Candidate Recommendation	Initial specification.

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
`protocol` Experimental'	Chrome Full support 56	Edge Full support ≤79	Firefox Full support Yes	IE No support No	Opera Full support 43	Safari No support No	WebView Android Full support 56	Chrome Android Full support 56	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support 43	Safari iOS No support No	Samsung Internet Android Full support 6.0

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.': Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.