W3cubDocs

/Web APIs

PluginArray

Deprecated: This feature is no longer recommended. Though some browsers might still support it, it may have already been removed from the relevant web standards, may be in the process of being dropped, or may only be kept for compatibility purposes. Avoid using it, and update existing code if possible; see the compatibility table at the bottom of this page to guide your decision. Be aware that this feature may cease to work at any time.

The PluginArray interface is used to store a list of Plugin objects describing the available plugins; it's returned by the navigator.plugins property. The PluginArray is not a JavaScript array, but has the length property and supports accessing individual items using bracket notation (plugins[2]), as well as via item(index) and namedItem("name") methods.

Note: Own properties of PluginArray objects are no longer enumerable in the latest browser versions.

Instance properties

PluginArray.length Read only Deprecated

The number of plugins in the array.

Instance methods

PluginArray.item Deprecated

Returns the Plugin at the specified index into the array.

PluginArray.namedItem Deprecated

Returns the Plugin with the specified name.

PluginArray.refresh Deprecated

Refreshes all plugins on the current page, optionally reloading documents.

Examples

The following example function returns the version of the Shockwave Flash plugin.

js

const pluginsLength = navigator.plugins.length;

document.body.innerHTML =
  `${pluginsLength} Plugin(s)<br>` +
  `<table id="pluginTable"><thead>` +
  `<tr><th>Name</th><th>Filename</th><th>description</th><th>version</th></tr>` +
  `</thead><tbody></tbody></table>`;

const table = document.getElementById("pluginTable");

for (let i = 0; i < pluginsLength; i++) {
  let newRow = table.insertRow();
  newRow.insertCell().textContent = navigator.plugins[i].name;
  newRow.insertCell().textContent = navigator.plugins[i].filename;
  newRow.insertCell().textContent = navigator.plugins[i].description;
  newRow.insertCell().textContent = navigator.plugins[i].version ?? "";
}

The following example displays information about the installed plugin(s).

js

const pluginsLength = navigator.plugins.length;

document.write(
  `${pluginsLength.toString()} Plugin(s)<br>` +
    `Name | Filename | description<br>`,
);

for (let i = 0; i < pluginsLength; i++) {
  document.write(
    `${navigator.plugins[i].name} | ${navigator.plugins[i].filename} | ${navigator.plugins[i].description} | ${navigator.plugins[i].version}<br>`,
  );
}

Specifications

Browser compatibility

Desktop Mobile
Chrome Edge Firefox Internet Explorer Opera Safari WebView Android Chrome Android Firefox for Android Opera Android Safari on IOS Samsung Internet
PluginArray 1 12 1 4 ≤12.1 1 4.4 18 4 ≤12.1 1 1.0
item
1Since Chrome 59, method parameters are required instead of optional.
12Since Edge 79, method parameters are required instead of optional.
1 6
≤12.1Since Opera 46, method parameters are required instead of optional.
4
≤37Since WebView 59, method parameters are required instead of optional.
18Since Chrome 59, method parameters are required instead of optional.
4
≤12.1Since Opera Android 43, method parameters are required instead of optional.
3.2
1.0Since Samsung Internet 7.0, method parameters are required instead of optional.
length 1 12 1 4 ≤12.1 1 4.4 18 4 ≤12.1 1 1.0
namedItem
1Since Chrome 59, method parameters are required instead of optional.
12Since Edge 79, method parameters are required instead of optional.
1 6
≤12.1Since Opera 46, method parameters are required instead of optional.
4
≤37Since WebView 59, method parameters are required instead of optional.
18Since Chrome 59, method parameters are required instead of optional.
4
≤12.1Since Opera Android 43, method parameters are required instead of optional.
3.2
1.0Since Samsung Internet 7.0, method parameters are required instead of optional.
refresh
1Since Chrome 59, method parameters are required instead of optional.
12Since Edge 79, method parameters are required instead of optional.
1 6
≤12.1Since Opera 46, method parameters are required instead of optional.
1
4.4Since Chrome 59, method parameters are required instead of optional.
18Since Chrome 59, method parameters are required instead of optional.
4
≤12.1Since Opera Android 43, method parameters are required instead of optional.
1
1.0Since Samsung Internet 7.0, method parameters are required instead of optional.

In addition to listing each plugin as a pseudo-array by zero-indexed numeric properties, Firefox provides properties that are the plugin name directly on the PluginArray object.

© 2005–2023 MDN contributors.
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/PluginArray