EN
JavaScript - capture video from device camera using input HTML element (mobile devices only)
7
points
In this short article, we would like to show how capture video from mobile device camera using input HTML element and JavaScript.
Mobile web browsers introduced capture attribute in <input type="file" accept="video/*" /> HTML element that can be used to handle video directly from mobile device camera. The idea is simple: instead of file selector, web browser runs camera application forwarding result into web browser input field.
Capture attribute accepts values:
capture="user"that enables facing camera,capture="environment"that enables outward camera.
Practical example:
// ONLINE-RUNNER:browser;
<!doctype html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
input.input {
display: none;
}
span.button {
color: #007bff;
cursor: pointer;
}
span.button:hover {
color: #0056b3;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<label class="field">
<input id="input" class="input" type="file" accept="video/*" capture="environment" />
<span id="button" class="button">Capture video</span>
</label>
<script>
var input = document.querySelector('#input');
if ('capture' in input) {
input.addEventListener('change', function(e) {
var files = input.files;
if (files.length === 1) {
var file = files[0];
// using XHR/fetch API we are able to send to backend file as blob
// using FileReader class we are able to read file as base 64
console.log('Video type: ' + file.type);
console.log('Video size: ' + file.size + ' bytes');
} else {
console.log('Video not captured!');
}
});
} else {
var button = document.querySelector('#button');
button.addEventListener('click', function(e) {
e.preventDefault();
console.error('Video capture mode is not supported! Try to use mobile device or other web browser.');
});
}
</script>
</body>
</html>