window.externalLimited availability
The window.external.AddSearchProvider() and window.external.IsSearchProviderInstalled() do nothing. Historically, they added external search providers to the browser.
Not yet supported in all major browsers — check the table and provide a fallback.
Discouraged: The window.external.AddSearchProvider() and window.external.IsSearchProviderInstalled() methods do nothing, by specification.
Browser support
DesktopChrome
1–8Not supported
9+Supportedsince Feb 3, 2011
Current: 155Edge
12+Supportedsince Jul 29, 2015
Current: 154Firefox
1–1.5Not supported
2+Supportedsince Oct 24, 2006
Current: 157Safari
✕Not supportedup to 27
Current: 27MobileChrome Android
18+Supportedsince Jun 27, 2012
Current: 155Firefox Android
4+Supportedsince Mar 29, 2011
Current: 157Safari iOS
✕Not supportedup to 27
Current: 27How to use
Not supported in Safari, Safari iOS. Use feature detection below and provide a fallback (or a polyfill) for those browsers.
Example
Full syntax and examples are on MDN — see the links below.
Feature detection
JS · check before using
if ("External" in globalThis) {
// External is available
} else {
// load a polyfill or use a fallback
}Specification
Sub-features
Support for each part of the feature (3). The overall table above shows when the whole feature works.
| Sub-feature | Chrome | Edge | Firefox | Safari | Chrome Android | Firefox Android | Safari iOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| External | 1 | 12 | 2 | ✕ | 18 | 4 | ✕ |
| External.AddSearchProvider | 1 | 12 | 2 | ✕ | 18 | 4 | ✕ |
| External.IsSearchProviderInstalled | 9 | 12 | 2 | ✕ | 18 | 4 | ✕ |