Capture
Capture
Provides access to the device's audio, image, and video capture capabilities.
Important privacy note: Collection and use of images, video, or audio from the device's camera or microphone raises important privacy issues. Your app's privacy policy should discuss how the app uses such sensors and whether the data recorded is shared with any other parties. In addition, if the app's use of the camera or microphone is not apparent in the user interface, you should provide a just-in-time notice prior to your app accessing the camera or microphone (if the device operating system doesn't do so already). That notice should provide the same information noted above, as well as obtaining the user's permission (e.g., by presenting choices for "OK" and "No Thanks"). Note that some app marketplaces may require your app to provide just-in-time notice and obtain permission from the user prior to accessing the camera or microphone. For more information, please see the Privacy Guide.
Objects
- Capture
- CaptureAudioOptions
- CaptureImageOptions
- CaptureVideoOptions
- CaptureCallback
- CaptureErrorCB
- ConfigurationData
- MediaFile
- MediaFileData
Methods
- capture.captureAudio
- capture.captureImage
- capture.captureVideo
- MediaFile.getFormatData
Scope
The capture
object is assigned to the navigator.device
object, and therefore has global scope.
// The global capture object
var capture = navigator.device.capture;
Properties
- supportedAudioModes: The audio recording formats supported by the device. (ConfigurationData[])
- supportedImageModes: The recording image sizes and formats supported by the device. (ConfigurationData[])
- supportedVideoModes: The recording video resolutions and formats supported by the device. (ConfigurationData[])
Methods
capture.captureAudio
: Launch the device's audio recording application to record audio clips.capture.captureImage
: Launch the device's camera application to take photos.capture.captureVideo
: Launch the device's video recorder application to record videos.
Supported Platforms
- Android
- BlackBerry WebWorks (OS 5.0 and higher)
- iOS
- Windows Phone 7 and 8
- Windows 8
Permissions
Android
app/res/xml/plugins.xml
<plugin name="Capture" value="org.apache.cordova.Capture"/>
app/AndroidManifest.xml
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
BlackBerry WebWorks
www/plugins.xml
<plugin name="Capture" value="org.apache.cordova.capture.MediaCapture" />
www/config.xml
<feature id="blackberry.system" required="true" version="1.0.0.0" />
<feature id="blackberry.io.file" required="true" version="1.0.0.0" />
iOS
config.xml
<plugin name="Capture" value="CDVCapture" />
Windows Phone
Properties/WPAppManifest.xml
<Capabilities>
<Capability Name="ID_CAP_MEDIALIB" />
<Capability Name="ID_CAP_MICROPHONE" />
<Capability Name="ID_HW_FRONTCAMERA" />
<Capability Name="ID_CAP_ISV_CAMERA" />
<Capability Name="ID_CAP_CAMERA" />
</Capabilities>
capture.captureAudio
Start the audio recorder application and return information about the captured audio clip file(s).
navigator.device.capture.captureAudio(
CaptureCB captureSuccess, CaptureErrorCB captureError, [CaptureAudioOptions options]
);
Description
Starts an asynchronous operation to capture audio recordings using the device's default audio recording application. The operation allows the device user to capture multiple recordings in a single session.
The capture operation ends when either the user exits the audio recording application, or the maximum number of recordings specified by CaptureAudioOptions.limit
is reached. If no limit
parameter value is specified, it defaults to one (1), and the capture operation terminates after the user records a single audio clip.
When the capture operation finishes, the CaptureCallback
executes with an array of MediaFile
objects describing each captured audio clip file. If the user terminates the operation before an audio clip is captured, the CaptureErrorCallback
executes with a CaptureError
object, featuring the CaptureError.CAPTURE_NO_MEDIA_FILES
error code.
Supported Platforms
- Android
- BlackBerry WebWorks (OS 5.0 and higher)
- iOS
- Windows Phone 7 and 8
- Windows 8
Quick Example
// capture callback
var captureSuccess = function(mediaFiles) {
var i, path, len;
for (i = 0, len = mediaFiles.length; i < len; i += 1) {
path = mediaFiles[i].fullPath;
// do something interesting with the file
}
};
// capture error callback
var captureError = function(error) {
navigator.notification.alert('Error code: ' + error.code, null, 'Capture Error');
};
// start audio capture
navigator.device.capture.captureAudio(captureSuccess, captureError, {limit:2});
Full Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Capture Audio</title>
<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="cordova-x.x.x.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="json2.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8">
// Called when capture operation is finished
//
function captureSuccess(mediaFiles) {
var i, len;
for (i = 0, len = mediaFiles.length; i < len; i += 1) {
uploadFile(mediaFiles[i]);
}
}
// Called if something bad happens.
//
function captureError(error) {
var msg = 'An error occurred during capture: ' + error.code;
navigator.notification.alert(msg, null, 'Uh oh!');
}
// A button will call this function
//
function captureAudio() {
// Launch device audio recording application,
// allowing user to capture up to 2 audio clips
navigator.device.capture.captureAudio(captureSuccess, captureError, {limit: 2});
}
// Upload files to server
function uploadFile(mediaFile) {
var ft = new FileTransfer(),
path = mediaFile.fullPath,
name = mediaFile.name;
ft.upload(path,
"http://my.domain.com/upload.php",
function(result) {
console.log('Upload success: ' + result.responseCode);
console.log(result.bytesSent + ' bytes sent');
},
function(error) {
console.log('Error uploading file ' + path + ': ' + error.code);
},
{ fileName: name });
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<button onclick="captureAudio();">Capture Audio</button> <br>
</body>
</html>
BlackBerry WebWorks Quirks
- Cordova for BlackBerry WebWorks attempts to launch the Voice Notes Recorder application, provided by RIM, to capture audio recordings. The app receives a
CaptureError.CAPTURE_NOT_SUPPORTED
error code if the application is not installed on the device.
iOS Quirks
- iOS does not have a default audio recording application, so a simple user interface is provided.
Windows Phone 7 and 8 Quirks
- Windows Phone 7 does not have a default audio recording application, so a simple user interface is provided.
CaptureAudioOptions
Encapsulates audio capture configuration options.
Properties
- limit: The maximum number of audio clips the device user can record in a single capture operation. The value must be greater than or equal to 1 (defaults to 1).
- duration: The maximum duration of an audio sound clip, in seconds.
Quick Example
// limit capture operation to 3 media files, no longer than 10 seconds each
var options = { limit: 3, duration: 10 };
navigator.device.capture.captureAudio(captureSuccess, captureError, options);
Android Quirks
- The
duration
parameter is not supported. Recording lengths cannot be limited programmatically.
BlackBerry WebWorks Quirks
- The
duration
parameter is not supported. Recording lengths cannot be limited programmatically.
iOS Quirks
- The
limit
parameter is not supported, so only one recording can be created for each invocation.
capture.captureImage
Start the camera application and return information about captured image file(s).
navigator.device.capture.captureImage(
CaptureCB captureSuccess, CaptureErrorCB captureError, [CaptureImageOptions options]
);
Description
Starts an asynchronous operation to capture images using the device's camera application. The operation allows users to capture more than one image in a single session.
The capture operation ends either when the user closes the camera application, or the maximum number of recordings specified by CaptureAudioOptions.limit
is reached. If no limit
value is specified, it defaults to one (1), and the capture operation terminates after the user captures a single image.
When the capture operation finishes, it invokes the CaptureCB
callback with an array of MediaFile
objects describing each captured image file. If the user terminates the operation before capturing an image, the CaptureErrorCB
callback executes with a CaptureError
object featuring a CaptureError.CAPTURE_NO_MEDIA_FILES
error code.
Supported Platforms
- Android
- BlackBerry WebWorks (OS 5.0 and higher)
- iOS
- Windows Phone 7 and 8
- Windows 8
Windows Phone 7 Quirks
Invoking the native camera application while your device is connected via Zune does not work, and the error callback executes.
Quick Example
// capture callback
var captureSuccess = function(mediaFiles) {
var i, path, len;
for (i = 0, len = mediaFiles.length; i < len; i += 1) {
path = mediaFiles[i].fullPath;
// do something interesting with the file
}
};
// capture error callback
var captureError = function(error) {
navigator.notification.alert('Error code: ' + error.code, null, 'Capture Error');
};
// start image capture
navigator.device.capture.captureImage(captureSuccess, captureError, {limit:2});
Full Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Capture Image</title>
<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="cordova-x.x.x.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="json2.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8">
// Called when capture operation is finished
//
function captureSuccess(mediaFiles) {
var i, len;
for (i = 0, len = mediaFiles.length; i < len; i += 1) {
uploadFile(mediaFiles[i]);
}
}
// Called if something bad happens.
//
function captureError(error) {
var msg = 'An error occurred during capture: ' + error.code;
navigator.notification.alert(msg, null, 'Uh oh!');
}
// A button will call this function
//
function captureImage() {
// Launch device camera application,
// allowing user to capture up to 2 images
navigator.device.capture.captureImage(captureSuccess, captureError, {limit: 2});
}
// Upload files to server
function uploadFile(mediaFile) {
var ft = new FileTransfer(),
path = mediaFile.fullPath,
name = mediaFile.name;
ft.upload(path,
"http://my.domain.com/upload.php",
function(result) {
console.log('Upload success: ' + result.responseCode);
console.log(result.bytesSent + ' bytes sent');
},
function(error) {
console.log('Error uploading file ' + path + ': ' + error.code);
},
{ fileName: name });
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<button onclick="captureImage();">Capture Image</button> <br>
</body>
</html>
CaptureImageOptions
Encapsulates image capture configuration options.
Properties
- limit: The maximum number of images the user can capture in a single capture operation. The value must be greater than or equal to 1 (defaults to 1).
Quick Example
// limit capture operation to 3 images
var options = { limit: 3 };
navigator.device.capture.captureImage(captureSuccess, captureError, options);
iOS Quirks
- The limit parameter is not supported, and only one image is taken per invocation.
capture.captureVideo
Start the video recorder application and return information about captured video clip file(s).
navigator.device.capture.captureVideo(
CaptureCB captureSuccess, CaptureErrorCB captureError, [CaptureVideoOptions options]
);
Description
Starts an asynchronous operation to capture video recordings using the device's video recording application. The operation allows the user to capture more than one recordings in a single session.
The capture operation ends when either the user exits the video recording application, or the maximum number of recordings specified by CaptureVideoOptions.limit
is reached. If no limit
parameter value is specified, it defaults to one (1), and the capture operation terminates after the user records a single video clip.
When the capture operation finishes, it the CaptureCB
callback executes with an array of MediaFile
objects describing each captured video clip file. If the user terminates the operation before capturing a video clip, the CaptureErrorCB
callback executes with a CaptureError
object featuring a CaptureError.CAPTURE_NO_MEDIA_FILES
error code.
Supported Platforms
- Android
- BlackBerry WebWorks (OS 5.0 and higher)
- iOS
- Windows Phone 7 and 8
- Windows 8
Quick Example
// capture callback
var captureSuccess = function(mediaFiles) {
var i, path, len;
for (i = 0, len = mediaFiles.length; i < len; i += 1) {
path = mediaFiles[i].fullPath;
// do something interesting with the file
}
};
// capture error callback
var captureError = function(error) {
navigator.notification.alert('Error code: ' + error.code, null, 'Capture Error');
};
// start video capture
navigator.device.capture.captureVideo(captureSuccess, captureError, {limit:2});
Full Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Capture Video</title>
<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="cordova-x.x.x.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="json2.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8">
// Called when capture operation is finished
//
function captureSuccess(mediaFiles) {
var i, len;
for (i = 0, len = mediaFiles.length; i < len; i += 1) {
uploadFile(mediaFiles[i]);
}
}
// Called if something bad happens.
//
function captureError(error) {
var msg = 'An error occurred during capture: ' + error.code;
navigator.notification.alert(msg, null, 'Uh oh!');
}
// A button will call this function
//
function captureVideo() {
// Launch device video recording application,
// allowing user to capture up to 2 video clips
navigator.device.capture.captureVideo(captureSuccess, captureError, {limit: 2});
}
// Upload files to server
function uploadFile(mediaFile) {
var ft = new FileTransfer(),
path = mediaFile.fullPath,
name = mediaFile.name;
ft.upload(path,
"http://my.domain.com/upload.php",
function(result) {
console.log('Upload success: ' + result.responseCode);
console.log(result.bytesSent + ' bytes sent');
},
function(error) {
console.log('Error uploading file ' + path + ': ' + error.code);
},
{ fileName: name });
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<button onclick="captureVideo();">Capture Video</button> <br>
</body>
</html>
BlackBerry WebWorks Quirks
- Cordova for BlackBerry WebWorks attempts to launch the Video Recorder application, provided by RIM, to capture video recordings. The app receives a
CaptureError.CAPTURE_NOT_SUPPORTED
error code if the application is not installed on the device.
CaptureVideoOptions
Encapsulates video capture configuration options.
Properties
- limit: The maximum number of video clips the device's user can capture in a single capture operation. The value must be greater than or equal to 1 (defaults to 1).
- duration: The maximum duration of a video clip, in seconds.
Quick Example
// limit capture operation to 3 video clips
var options = { limit: 3 };
navigator.device.capture.captureVideo(captureSuccess, captureError, options);
BlackBerry WebWorks Quirks
- The duration parameter is not supported, so the length of recordings cannot be limited programmatically.
iOS Quirks
- The limit parameter is not supported. Only one video is recorded per invocation.
CaptureError
Encapsulates the error code resulting from a failed media capture operation.
Properties
- code: One of the pre-defined error codes listed below.
Constants
CaptureError.CAPTURE_INTERNAL_ERR
: The camera or microphone failed to capture image or sound.CaptureError.CAPTURE_APPLICATION_BUSY
: The camera or audio capture application is currently serving another capture request.CaptureError.CAPTURE_INVALID_ARGUMENT
: Invalid use of the API (e.g. the value oflimit
is less than one).CaptureError.CAPTURE_NO_MEDIA_FILES
: The user exits the camera or audio capture application before capturing anything.CaptureError.CAPTURE_NOT_SUPPORTED
: The requested capture operation is not supported.
CaptureCB
Invoked upon a successful media capture operation.
function captureSuccess( MediaFile[] mediaFiles ) { ... };
Description
This function executes after a successful capture operation completes. At this point a media file has been captured, and either the user has exited the media capture application, or the capture limit has been reached.
Each MediaFile
object describes a captured media file.
Quick Example
// capture callback
function captureSuccess(mediaFiles) {
var i, path, len;
for (i = 0, len = mediaFiles.length; i < len; i += 1) {
path = mediaFiles[i].fullPath;
// do something interesting with the file
}
};
CaptureErrorCB
Invoked if an error occurs during a media capture operation.
function captureError( CaptureError error ) { ... };
Description
This function executes if an error occurs when trying to launch a media capture operation. Failure scenarios include when the capture application is busy, a capture operation is already taking place, or the user cancels the operation before any media files are captured.
This function executes with a CaptureError
object containing an appropriate error code
.
Quick Example
// capture error callback
var captureError = function(error) {
navigator.notification.alert('Error code: ' + error.code, null, 'Capture Error');
};
ConfigurationData
Encapsulates a set of media capture parameters that a device supports.
Description
Describes media capture modes supported by the device. The configuration data includes the MIME type, and capture dimensions for video or image capture.
The MIME types should adhere to RFC2046. Examples:
video/3gpp
video/quicktime
image/jpeg
audio/amr
audio/wav
Properties
- type: The ASCII-encoded lowercase string representing the media type. (DOMString)
- height: The height of the image or video in pixels. The value is zero for sound clips. (Number)
- width: The width of the image or video in pixels. The value is zero for sound clips. (Number)
Quick Example
// retrieve supported image modes
var imageModes = navigator.device.capture.supportedImageModes;
// Select mode that has the highest horizontal resolution
var width = 0;
var selectedmode;
for each (var mode in imageModes) {
if (mode.width > width) {
width = mode.width;
selectedmode = mode;
}
}
Not supported by any platform. All configuration data arrays are empty.
MediaFile
Encapsulates properties of a media capture file.
Properties
- name: The name of the file, without path information. (DOMString)
- fullPath: The full path of the file, including the name. (DOMString)
- type: The file's mime type (DOMString)
- lastModifiedDate: The date and time when the file was last modified. (Date)
- size: The size of the file, in bytes. (Number)
Methods
- MediaFile.getFormatData: Retrieves the format information of the media file.
MediaFile.getFormatData
Retrieves format information about the media capture file.
mediaFile.getFormatData(
MediaFileDataSuccessCB successCallback,
[MediaFileDataErrorCB errorCallback]
);
Description
This function asynchronously attempts to retrieve the format information for the media file. If successful, it invokes the MediaFileDataSuccessCB
callback with a MediaFileData
object. If the attempt fails, this function invokes the MediaFileDataErrorCB
callback.
Supported Platforms
- Android
- BlackBerry WebWorks (OS 5.0 and higher)
- iOS
- Windows Phone 7 and 8
- Windows 8
BlackBerry WebWorks Quirks
Does not provide an API for information about media files, so all MediaFileData
objects return with default values.
Android Quirks
The API to access media file format information is limited, so not all MediaFileData
properties are supported.
iOS Quirks
The API to access media file format information is limited, so not all MediaFileData
properties are supported.
MediaFileData
Encapsulates format information about a media file.
Properties
- codecs: The actual format of the audio and video content. (DOMString)
- bitrate: The average bitrate of the content. The value is zero for images. (Number)
- height: The height of the image or video in pixels. The value is zero for audio clips. (Number)
- width: The width of the image or video in pixels. The value is zero for audio clips. (Number)
- duration: The length of the video or sound clip in seconds. The value is zero for images. (Number)
BlackBerry WebWorks Quirks
No API provides format information for media files, so the MediaFileData
object returned by MediaFile.getFormatData
features the following default values:
- codecs: Not supported, and returns
null
. - bitrate: Not supported, and returns zero.
- height: Not supported, and returns zero.
- width: Not supported, and returns zero.
- duration: Not supported, and returns zero.
Android Quirks
Supports the following MediaFileData
properties:
- codecs: Not supported, and returns
null
. - bitrate: Not supported, and returns zero.
- height: Supported: image and video files only.
- width: Supported: image and video files only.
- duration: Supported: audio and video files only.
iOS Quirks
Supports the following MediaFileData
properties:
- codecs: Not supported, and returns null.
- bitrate: Supported on iOS4 devices for audio only. Returns zero for images and videos.
- height: Supported: image and video files only.
- width: Supported: image and video files only.
- duration: Supported: audio and video files only.