chrome.app.window

Description: Use the chrome.app.window API to create windows. Windows have an optional frame with title bar and size controls. They are not associated with any Chrome browser windows. See the Window State Sample for a demonstration of these options.
Availability: Since Chrome 35.

A note on draggable window areas

Windows can be moved by dragging on the default title bar, but frameless windows do not have that affordance. The CSS property -webkit-app-region can be given the values drag and no-drag to allow content of a window to create draggable areas. Care must be taken when setting a high level DOM node to drag, any child that is intractable/clickable must be set to no-drag. E.g. 

      <div class='title-area'>
        A draggable area. <div class='title-button'>clickable button</div>
      </div>
      
      .title-area {
        -webkit-app-region: drag;
      }
      .title-button {
        -webkit-app-region: no-drag;
      }

See the Frameless Window Sample as an example.

Summary

Types
ContentBounds
BoundsSpecification
Bounds
FrameOptions
CreateWindowOptions
AppWindow
Methods
create − chrome.app.window.create(string url, CreateWindowOptions options, function callback)
current − AppWindow chrome.app.window.current()
getAll − array of AppWindow chrome.app.window.getAll()
get − AppWindow chrome.app.window.get(string id)
canSetVisibleOnAllWorkspaces − boolean chrome.app.window.canSetVisibleOnAllWorkspaces()
Events
onBoundsChanged
onClosed
onFullscreened
onMaximized
onMinimized
onRestored

Types

ContentBounds

properties
integer (optional) left
integer (optional) top
integer (optional) width
integer (optional) height

BoundsSpecification

properties
integer (optional) left

The X coordinate of the content or window.

integer (optional) top

The Y coordinate of the content or window.

integer (optional) width

The width of the content or window.

integer (optional) height

The height of the content or window.

integer (optional) minWidth

The minimum width of the content or window.

integer (optional) minHeight

The minimum height of the content or window.

integer (optional) maxWidth

The maximum width of the content or window.

integer (optional) maxHeight

The maximum height of the content or window.

Bounds

properties
integer left

This property can be used to read or write the current X coordinate of the content or window.

integer top

This property can be used to read or write the current Y coordinate of the content or window.

integer width

This property can be used to read or write the current width of the content or window.

integer height

This property can be used to read or write the current height of the content or window.

integer (optional) minWidth

This property can be used to read or write the current minimum width of the content or window. A value of null indicates 'unspecified'.

integer (optional) minHeight

This property can be used to read or write the current minimum height of the content or window. A value of null indicates 'unspecified'.

integer (optional) maxWidth

This property can be used to read or write the current maximum width of the content or window. A value of null indicates 'unspecified'.

integer (optional) maxHeight

This property can be used to read or write the current maximum height of the content or window. A value of null indicates 'unspecified'.

function setPosition

Set the left and top position of the content or window.

Parameters
integer left
integer top
function setSize

Set the width and height of the content or window.

Parameters
integer width
integer height
function setMinimumSize

Set the minimum size constraints of the content or window. The minimum width or height can be set to null to remove the constraint. A value of undefined will leave a constraint unchanged.

Parameters
integer minWidth
integer minHeight
function setMaximumSize

Set the maximum size constraints of the content or window. The maximum width or height can be set to null to remove the constraint. A value of undefined will leave a constraint unchanged.

Parameters
integer maxWidth
integer maxHeight

FrameOptions

properties
string (optional) type

Frame type: none or chrome (defaults to chrome).

For none, the -webkit-app-region CSS property can be used to apply draggability to the app's window.

-webkit-app-region: drag can be used to mark regions draggable. no-drag can be used to disable this style on nested elements.
string (optional) color

Allows the frame color to be set. Frame coloring is only available if the frame type is chrome.

Frame coloring is new in Chrome 36.
string (optional) activeColor

Since Chrome 36.

Allows the frame color of the window when active to be set. Frame coloring is only available if the frame type is chrome.

Frame coloring is only available if the frame type is chrome.

Frame coloring is new in Chrome 36.
string (optional) inactiveColor

Since Chrome 36.

Allows the frame color of the window when inactive to be set differently to the active color. Frame coloring is only available if the frame type is chrome.

inactiveColor must be used in conjunction with color.

Frame coloring is new in Chrome 36.

CreateWindowOptions

properties
string (optional) id

Id to identify the window. This will be used to remember the size and position of the window and restore that geometry when a window with the same id is later opened. If a window with a given id is created while another window with the same id already exists, the currently opened window will be focused instead of creating a new window.

BoundsSpecification (optional) innerBounds

Used to specify the initial position, initial size and constraints of the window's content (excluding window decorations). If an id is also specified and a window with a matching id has been shown before, the remembered bounds will be used instead.

Note that the padding between the inner and outer bounds is determined by the OS. Therefore setting the same bounds property for both the innerBounds and outerBounds will result in an error.

This property is new in Chrome 36.
BoundsSpecification (optional) outerBounds

Used to specify the initial position, initial size and constraints of the window (including window decorations such as the title bar and frame). If an id is also specified and a window with a matching id has been shown before, the remembered bounds will be used instead.

Note that the padding between the inner and outer bounds is determined by the OS. Therefore setting the same bounds property for both the innerBounds and outerBounds will result in an error.

This property is new in Chrome 36.
integer (optional) minWidth

Deprecated since Chrome 36. Use innerBounds or outerBounds.

Minimum width of the window.

integer (optional) minHeight

Deprecated since Chrome 36. Use innerBounds or outerBounds.

Minimum height of the window.

integer (optional) maxWidth

Deprecated since Chrome 36. Use innerBounds or outerBounds.

Maximum width of the window.

integer (optional) maxHeight

Deprecated since Chrome 36. Use innerBounds or outerBounds.

Maximum height of the window.

enum of "shell", or "panel" (optional) type

Deprecated since Chrome 69. All app windows use the 'shell' window type

Type of window to create.

shell
Default window type.
panel
OS managed window (Deprecated).
boolean (optional) showInShelf

Since Chrome 54.

If true, the window will have its own shelf icon. Otherwise the window will be grouped in the shelf with other windows that are associated with the app. Defaults to false. If showInShelf is set to true you need to specify an id for the window.

string (optional) icon

Since Chrome 54.

URL of the window icon. A window can have its own icon when showInShelf is set to true. The URL should be a global or an extension local URL.

string or FrameOptions (optional) frame

Frame type: none or chrome (defaults to chrome). For none, the -webkit-app-region CSS property can be used to apply draggability to the app's window. -webkit-app-region: drag can be used to mark regions draggable. no-drag can be used to disable this style on nested elements.

Use of FrameOptions is new in M36.
ContentBounds (optional) bounds

Deprecated since Chrome 36. Use innerBounds or outerBounds.

Size and position of the content in the window (excluding the titlebar). If an id is also specified and a window with a matching id has been shown before, the remembered bounds of the window will be used instead.

enum of "normal", "fullscreen", "maximized", or "minimized" (optional) state

The initial state of the window, allowing it to be created already fullscreen, maximized, or minimized. Defaults to 'normal'.

boolean (optional) hidden

If true, the window will be created in a hidden state. Call show() on the window to show it once it has been created. Defaults to false.

boolean (optional) resizable

If true, the window will be resizable by the user. Defaults to true.

boolean (optional) singleton

Deprecated since Chrome 35. Multiple windows with the same id is no longer supported.

By default if you specify an id for the window, the window will only be created if another window with the same id doesn't already exist. If a window with the same id already exists that window is activated instead. If you do want to create multiple windows with the same id, you can set this property to false.

boolean (optional) alwaysOnTop

If true, the window will stay above most other windows. If there are multiple windows of this kind, the currently focused window will be in the foreground. Requires the alwaysOnTopWindows permission. Defaults to false.

Call setAlwaysOnTop() on the window to change this property after creation.
boolean (optional) focused

If true, the window will be focused when created. Defaults to true.

boolean (optional) visibleOnAllWorkspaces

Since Chrome 39.

If true, and supported by the platform, the window will be visible on all workspaces.

AppWindow

properties
function focus

Focus the window.

function fullscreen

Fullscreens the window.

The user will be able to restore the window by pressing ESC. An application can prevent the fullscreen state to be left when ESC is pressed by requesting the app.window.fullscreen.overrideEsc permission and canceling the event by calling .preventDefault(), in the keydown and keyup handlers, like this:

window.onkeydown = window.onkeyup = function(e) { if (e.keyCode == 27 /* ESC */) { e.preventDefault(); } };

Note window.fullscreen() will cause the entire window to become fullscreen and does not require a user gesture. The HTML5 fullscreen API can also be used to enter fullscreen mode (see Web APIs for more details).
function isFullscreen

Is the window fullscreen? This will be true if the window has been created fullscreen or was made fullscreen via the AppWindow or HTML5 fullscreen APIs.


Returns boolean.
function minimize

Minimize the window.

function isMinimized

Is the window minimized?


Returns boolean.
function maximize

Maximize the window.

function isMaximized

Is the window maximized?


Returns boolean.
function restore

Restore the window, exiting a maximized, minimized, or fullscreen state.

function moveTo

Deprecated since Chrome 43. Use outerBounds.

Move the window to the position (|left|, |top|).

Parameters
integer left
integer top
function resizeTo

Deprecated since Chrome 43. Use outerBounds.

Resize the window to |width|x|height| pixels in size.

Parameters
integer width
integer height
function drawAttention

Draw attention to the window.

function clearAttention

Clear attention to the window.

function close

Close the window.

function show

Show the window. Does nothing if the window is already visible. Focus the window if |focused| is set to true or omitted.

Parameters
boolean (optional) focused
function hide

Hide the window. Does nothing if the window is already hidden.

function getBounds

Deprecated since Chrome 36. Use innerBounds or outerBounds.

Get the window's inner bounds as a ContentBounds object.


Returns ContentBounds.
function setBounds

Deprecated since Chrome 36. Use innerBounds or outerBounds.

Set the window's inner bounds.

Parameters
ContentBounds bounds
function isAlwaysOnTop

Is the window always on top?


Returns boolean.
function setAlwaysOnTop

Set whether the window should stay above most other windows. Requires the alwaysOnTopWindows permission.

Parameters
boolean alwaysOnTop
function setVisibleOnAllWorkspaces

Since Chrome 39.

Set whether the window is visible on all workspaces. (Only for platforms that support this).

Parameters
boolean alwaysVisible
Window contentWindow

The JavaScript 'window' object for the created child.

string id

The id the window was created with.

Bounds innerBounds

The position, size and constraints of the window's content, which does not include window decorations. This property is new in Chrome 36.

Bounds outerBounds

The position, size and constraints of the window, which includes window decorations, such as the title bar and frame. This property is new in Chrome 36.

Methods

create

chrome.app.window.create(string url, CreateWindowOptions options, function callback)

The size and position of a window can be specified in a number of different ways. The most simple option is not specifying anything at all, in which case a default size and platform dependent position will be used.

To set the position, size and constraints of the window, use the innerBounds or outerBounds properties. Inner bounds do not include window decorations. Outer bounds include the window's title bar and frame. Note that the padding between the inner and outer bounds is determined by the OS. Therefore setting the same property for both inner and outer bounds is considered an error (for example, setting both innerBounds.left and outerBounds.left).

To automatically remember the positions of windows you can give them ids. If a window has an id, This id is used to remember the size and position of the window whenever it is moved or resized. This size and position is then used instead of the specified bounds on subsequent opening of a window with the same id. If you need to open a window with an id at a location other than the remembered default, you can create it hidden, move it to the desired location, then show it.

Parameters
string url
CreateWindowOptions (optional) options
function (optional) callback

Called in the creating window (parent) before the load event is called in the created window (child). The parent can set fields or functions on the child usable from onload. E.g. background.js:

function(createdWindow) { createdWindow.contentWindow.foo = function () { }; };

window.js:

window.onload = function () { foo(); }

If you specify the callback parameter, it should be a function that looks like this:

function(AppWindow createdWindow) {...};
AppWindow createdWindow

current

AppWindow chrome.app.window.current()

Returns an AppWindow object for the current script context (ie JavaScript 'window' object). This can also be called on a handle to a script context for another page, for example: otherWindow.chrome.app.window.current().

getAll

array of AppWindow chrome.app.window.getAll()

Gets an array of all currently created app windows. This method is new in Chrome 33.

get

AppWindow chrome.app.window.get(string id)

Gets an AppWindow with the given id. If no window with the given id exists null is returned. This method is new in Chrome 33.

Parameters
string id

canSetVisibleOnAllWorkspaces

boolean chrome.app.window.canSetVisibleOnAllWorkspaces()

Since Chrome 42.

Whether the current platform supports windows being visible on all workspaces.

Events

onBoundsChanged

Fired when the window is resized.

addListener

chrome.app.window.onBoundsChanged.addListener(function callback)
Parameters
function callback

The callback parameter should be a function that looks like this:

function() {...};

onClosed

Fired when the window is closed. Note, this should be listened to from a window other than the window being closed, for example from the background page. This is because the window being closed will be in the process of being torn down when the event is fired, which means not all APIs in the window's script context will be functional.

addListener

chrome.app.window.onClosed.addListener(function callback)
Parameters
function callback

The callback parameter should be a function that looks like this:

function() {...};

onFullscreened

Fired when the window is fullscreened (either via the AppWindow or HTML5 APIs).

addListener

chrome.app.window.onFullscreened.addListener(function callback)
Parameters
function callback

The callback parameter should be a function that looks like this:

function() {...};

onMaximized

Fired when the window is maximized.

addListener

chrome.app.window.onMaximized.addListener(function callback)
Parameters
function callback

The callback parameter should be a function that looks like this:

function() {...};

onMinimized

Fired when the window is minimized.

addListener

chrome.app.window.onMinimized.addListener(function callback)
Parameters
function callback

The callback parameter should be a function that looks like this:

function() {...};

onRestored

Fired when the window is restored from being minimized or maximized.

addListener

chrome.app.window.onRestored.addListener(function callback)
Parameters
function callback

The callback parameter should be a function that looks like this:

function() {...};