MediaStream.active is a read-only boolean: true if the stream is currently active, otherwise false (MDN). A stream is active when at least one of its tracks does not have readyState set to "ended".
Read the notes below before you rely on this property. Prefer feature detection when support is limited.
Use stream.active. Start with this line.
stream.active| Call | What it does |
|---|---|
stream.active | Primary signature. |
Built into the browser. Read stream.active on a MediaStream — no import required.
stream.activeThis member has no parameters beyond those shown in the signature.
| Return Value | Description |
|---|---|
| * | true if any track is not ended |
MediaStreamA stream with no tracks is inactive.
const stream = new MediaStream();
console.log(stream.getTracks().length); // 0
console.log(stream.active); // falsereadyState !== "ended".active is false. Matches MDN’s definition.captureStreamCreate a live track without the camera, then stop it.
const canvas = document.createElement("canvas");
const ctx = canvas.getContext("2d");
ctx.fillRect(0, 0, 40, 40);
const stream = canvas.captureStream();
console.log(stream.active); // true
stream.getTracks().forEach((track) => track.stop());
console.log(stream.active); // falsecaptureStream() adds a video track. Usually live.active starts true. At least one non-ended track.active becomes false. All tracks ended (MDN).Disable Start while the camera/mic stream is active.
navigator.mediaDevices
.getUserMedia({ audio: true, video: true })
.then((stream) => {
const startBtn = document.querySelector("#startBtn");
startBtn.disabled = stream.active; // usually true
console.log(stream.active);
});stream.active. Typically true (MDN).End every track so the stream becomes inactive.
navigator.mediaDevices.getUserMedia({ audio: true }).then((stream) => {
console.log("before:", stream.active); // true
stream.getTracks().forEach((track) => track.stop());
console.log("after:", stream.active); // false
});active is true.readyState becomes "ended".inactive may fire. Useful for cleanup UI.Stopping only video leaves audio live — active stays true.
navigator.mediaDevices
.getUserMedia({ audio: true, video: true })
.then((stream) => {
const video = stream.getVideoTracks()[0];
video.stop();
console.log(video.readyState); // "ended"
console.log(stream.active); // true (audio still live)
});"ended".active stays true. MDN: at least one non-ended track.MediaStream.active is Baseline Widely available (MDN, since September 2017). Safe for modern media apps.
Supported across Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera. Read-only boolean: true while any track is not ended.
Bottom line: Use freely. Prefer canvas.captureStream for demos without camera permission; use getUserMedia on HTTPS/localhost.
Learn how stream.id uniquely identifies a MediaStream.
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