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The Web Share API Is Here :)
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Introduction
One of the coolest APIs is available now as of Chrome 61! The Web Share API is a JavaScript API that let’s you implement native sharing capabilities from your Mobile Web App previously available on native platforms only.
The API is available on leading browsers like Chrome for Android. It will allow you to expand the functionality of your Mobile Web App and give your Android users the ability to share a link or anything else via SMS (and other native applications).
Previously, the only way users could quickly share links from a Mobile Web App was via basic copying and pasting. Google has a clever UX implementation that reduces the amount of taps necessary to copy a link. You may have seen it before.
With the new Web Share API, techniques like this are unnecessary on Chrome for Android. That’s because we’re getting better integration between the Web and mobile devices.
How To Use It
It’s very easy to start using the Web Share API. You just need to be aware of 3 main requirements before you enhance your Mobile Web App with this functionality.
The 3 Requirements
#1 Your app must be served over HTTPS
I have a demo app that allows users to record something, then publish and share the recording with a simple Web link. It’s hosted via HTTPS which is requirement #1 for using the Web Share API.
