Publish/Subscribe API for PubNub AngularJS SDK

Publish

The publish() function is used to send a message to all subscribers of a channel. To publish a message you must first specify a valid publishKey at initialization. A successfully published message is replicated across the PubNub Real-Time Network and sent simultaneously to all subscribed clients on a channel.

Messages in transit can be secured from potential eavesdroppers with SSL/TLS by setting ssl to true during initialization.

Publish Anytime

It's not required to be subscribed to a channel in order to publish to that channel.

Message Data:

The message argument can contain any JSON serializable data, including: Objects, Arrays, Ints and Strings. data should not contain special AngularJS classes or functions as these will not serialize. String content can include any single-byte or multi-byte UTF-8 character.

Don't Use JSON.stringify!

It is important to note that you should not use JSON.stringify() when sending signals/messages via PubNub. Why? Because the serialization is done for you automatically. Instead just pass the full object as the message payload. PubNub takes care of everything for you.

Message Size:

The maximum number of characters per message is 32 KiB by default. The maximum message size is based on the final escaped character count, including the channel name. An ideal message size is under 1800 bytes which allows a message to be compressed and sent using single IP datagram (1.5 KiB) providing optimal network performance.

If the message you publish exceeds the configured size, you will receive the following message:

Message Too Large Error

["PUBLISHED",[0,"Message Too Large","13524237335750949"]]

For further details, check Calculating Message Payload Size Before Publish.

Message Publish Rate:

Messages can be published as fast as bandwidth conditions will allow. There is a soft limit based on max throughput since messages will be discarded if the subscriber can't keep pace with the publisher.

For example, if 200 messages are published simultaneously before a subscriber has had a chance to receive any messages, the subscriber may not receive the first 100 messages because the message queue has a limit of only 100 messages stored in memory.

Publishing to Multiple Channels:

It is not possible to publish a message to multiple channels simultaneously. The message must be published to one channel at a time.

Publishing Messages Reliably:

There are some best practices to ensure messages are delivered when publishing to a channel:

Publish to any given channel in a serial manner (not concurrently).
Check that the return code is success (e.g. [1,"Sent","136074940..."])
Publish the next message only after receiving a success return code.
If a failure code is returned ([0,"blah","<timetoken>"]), retry the publish.
Avoid exceeding the in-memory queue's capacity of 100 messages. An overflow situation (aka missed messages) can occur if slow subscribers fail to keep up with the publish pace in a given period of time.
Throttle publish bursts in accordance with your app's latency needs e.g. Publish no faster than 5 msgs per second to any one channel.

Method(s)

To Publish a message you can use the following method(s) in the AngularJS SDK:

publish( {Object message, String channel, Boolean storeInHistory, Boolean sendByPost, Object meta, Number ttl }, Function callback )

Parameter	Type	Required	Default	Description
Operation Arguments	Hash	Yes		A hash of arguments.
`message`	Object	Yes		The `message` may be any valid JSON type including objects, arrays, strings, and numbers.
`channel`	String	Yes		Specifies `channel` name to publish messages to.
`storeInHistory`	Boolean	Optional	`true`	If `true` the messages are stored in history. If `storeInHistory` is not specified, then the history configuration on the key is used.
`sendByPost`	Boolean	Optional	`false`	When `true`, the SDK uses HTTP POST to publish the messages. The message is sent in the BODY of the request, instead of the query string when HTTP GET is used. Also the messages are compressed thus reducing the size of the messages. Using HTTP POST to publish messages adheres to RESTful API best practices.
`meta`	Object	Optional		Publish extra `meta` with the request.
`ttl`	Number	Optional		Set a per message time to live in Message Persistence. If `storeInHistory` = `true`, and `ttl` = `0`, the message is stored with no expiry time. If `storeInHistory` = `true` and `ttl` = `X` (`X` is an Integer value), the message is stored with an expiry time of `X` hours. If `storeInHistory` = `false`, the `ttl` parameter is ignored. If `ttl` is not specified, then expiration of the message defaults back to the expiry value for the key.
`callback`	Function	Optional		Executes on a successful/unsuccessful `publish`.

Basic Usage

Publish a message to a channel:

Pubnub.publish(
    {
        message: {
            such: 'Hello from the PubNub Javascript SDK!'
        },
        channel: 'my_channel'
    },
    function (status, response) {
        if (status.error) {
            // handle error
            console.log(status);
        } else {
            console.log("message Published w/ timetoken", response.timetoken);
        }
    }
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Note

Before running the above publish example, either using the Debug Console or in a separate script running in a separate terminal window, subscribe to the same channel that is being published to.

Response

type PublishResponse = {
    timetoken: number
}

Other Examples

Publish a JSON serialized message

var newMessage = {
    text: 'Hi There!'
}
Pubnub.publish(
    {
        message: newMessage,
        channel: 'my_channel'
    },
    function(status, response) {
        if (status.error) {
            console.log("publishing failed w/ status: ", status);
        } else {
            console.log("message published w/ server response: ", response);
        }
    }
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Store the published message for 10 hours

Pubnub.publish(
    {
        message: 'hello!',
        channel: 'my_channel',
        storeInHistory: true,
        ttl: 10
    },
    function(status, response) {
        if (status.error) {
            console.log("publishing failed w/ status: ", status);
        } else {
            console.log("message published w/ server response: ", response);
        }
    }
);

Fire

The fire endpoint allows the client to send a message to Functions Event Handlers and Illuminate. These messages will go directly to any Event Handlers registered on the channel that you fire to and will trigger their execution. The content of the fired request will be available for processing within the Event Handler. The message sent via fire() isn't replicated, and so won't be received by any subscribers to the channel. The message is also not stored in history.

Method(s)

To Fire a message you can use the following method(s) in the AngularJS SDK:

fire( {Object message, String channel, Boolean sendByPost, Object meta}, Function callback )

Parameter	Type	Required	Default	Description
Operation Arguments	Hash	Yes		A hash of arguments.
`message`	Object	Yes		The `message` may be any valid JSON type including objects, arrays, strings, and numbers.
`channel`	String	Yes		Specifies `channel` name to publish messages to.
`sendByPost`	Boolean	Optional	`false`	If `true` the messages sent via POST.
`meta`	Object	Optional		Publish extra `meta` with the request.
`callback`	Function	Optional		Executes on a successful/unsuccessful `publish`.

Basic Usage

Fire a message to a channel:

Pubnub.fire(
    {
        message: {
            such: 'Hello from the PubNub Javascript SDK!'
        },
        channel: 'my_channel'
    },
    function (status, response) {
        if (status.error) {
            // handle error
            console.log(status);
        } else {
            console.log("message fired w/ timetoken", response.timetoken);
        }
    }
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This function causes the client to create an open TCP socket to the PubNub Real-Time Network and begin listening for messages on a specified channel. To subscribe to a channel the client must send the appropriate subscribeKey at initialization. By default a newly subscribed client will only receive messages published to the channel after the subscribe() call completes.

Tip

You can be notified of connectivity via the listener, on establishing connection the statusEvent.category returns PNConnectedCategory.

By waiting for the connect event to return before attempting to publish, you can avoid a potential race condition on clients that subscribe and immediately publish messages before the subscribe has completed.

Warning

Unsubscribing from all channels, and then subscribing to a new channel Y is not the same as subscribing to channel Y and then unsubscribing from the previously-subscribed channel(s). Unsubscribing from all channels resets the last-received timetoken and thus, there could be some gaps in the subscription that may lead to message loss.

Method(s)

To Subscribe to a channel you can use the following method(s) in the AngularJS SDK:

subscribe({Array channels, Array channelGroups, Boolean withPresence, Number timetoken})

Parameter	Type	Required	Default	Description
Operation Arguments	Hash	Yes		A hash of arguments.
`channels`	Array	Yes		Specifies the `channels` to subscribe to. It is possible to specify multiple `channels` as a list or as an array.
`channelGroups`	Array	Specifying either `channels` or `channelGroups` is mandatory		Specifies the `channelGroups` to subscribe to.
`withPresence`	Boolean	Optional	`false`	If `true` it also subscribes to presence instances.
`timetoken`	Number	Optional		Specifies `timetoken` from which to start returning any available cached messages. Message retrieval with timetoken is not guaranteed and should only be considered a best-effort service.

Basic Usage

Subscribe to a channel:

// Subscribe to a channel
Pubnub.addListener({
    status: function(statusEvent) {
        if (statusEvent.category === "PNUnknownCategory") {
            var newState = {
                new: 'error'
            };
            Pubnub.setState(
                {
                    state: newState
                },
                function (status) {
                    console.log(statusEvent.errorData.message)
                }
            );
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Returns

The following objects will be returned in the Status Response

Object	Description
`category`	`PNConnectedCategory`
`operation`	`PNSubscribeOperation`
`affectedChannels`	The channels affected in the operation, of type array.
`subscribedChannels`	All the current subscribed channels, of type array.
`affectedChannelGroups`	The channel groups affected in the operation, of type array.
`lastTimetoken`	The last timetoken used in the subscribe request, of type long.
`currentTimetoken`	The current timetoken fetched in the subscribe response, which is going to be used in the next request, of type long.

{
    category: 'PNConnectedCategory',
    operation: 'PNSubscribeOperation',
    affectedChannels: ['my_channel_1'],
    subscribedChannels: ['my_channel_1'],
    affectedChannelGroups: [],
    lastTimetoken: '14974492380756600',
    currentTimetoken: '14974492384874375'
}

The following objects will be returned in the Subscribe Message Response

Object	Description
`channel`	The `channel` for which the message belongs.
`subscription`	The `channel group` or wildcard subscription match (if exists).
`timetoken`	Publish `timetoken`.
`message`	The `payload`.
~~`actualChannel`~~	Deprecated. Use property `channel`.
~~`subscribedChannel`~~	Deprecated. Use property `subscription`.

{
    actualChannel: null,
    channel: "my_channel_1",
    message: "Hello World!",
    publisher: "pn-58e1a647-3e8a-4c7f-bfa4-e007ea4b2073",
    subscribedChannel: "my_channel_1",
    subscription: null,
    timetoken: "14966804541029440"
}

The following objects will be returned in the Presence Response

Object	Description
`action`	Can be `join`, `leave`, `state-change` or `timeout`.
`channel`	The `channel` for which the message belongs.
`occupancy`	No. of users connected with the `channel`.
`state`	User State.
`subscription`	The `channel group` or wildcard subscription match (if exists)
`timestamp`	Current `timetoken`.
`timetoken`	Publish `timetoken`.
`uuid`	UUIDs of users who are connected with the `channel`.

{
    category: 'PNConnectedCategory',
    operation: 'PNSubscribeOperation',
    affectedChannels: ['my_channel_1'],
    subscribedChannels: ['my_channel_1'],
    affectedChannelGroups: [],
    lastTimetoken: '14974492380756600',
    currentTimetoken: '14974492384874375'
}

Other Examples

Subscribing to multiple channels:

It's possible to subscribe to more than one channel using the Multiplexing feature. The example shows how to do that using an array to specify the channel names.

Alternative subscription methods

You can also use Wildcard Subscribe and Channel Groups to subscribe to multiple channels at a time. To use these features, the Stream Controller add-on must be enabled on your keyset in the Admin Portal.

// Add channels as an array

Pubnub.subscribe({
    channels: ['my_channel_1', 'my_channel_2', 'my_channel_3']
})

Subscribing to a Presence channel

Requires Presence add-on

This method requires that the Presence add-on is enabled for your key in the Admin Portal. Read the support page on enabling add-on features on your keys.

For any given channel there is an associated Presence channel. You can subscribe directly to the channel by appending -pnpres to the channel name. For example the channel named my_channel would have the presence channel named my_channel-pnpres.

Pubnub.addListener({
    presence: function(m){
        console.log(m)
    },
    message: function(message) {
        console.log(message)
    }
})

Pubnub.subscribe({
    channels: ["my_channel"],
    withPresence: true
});

Sample Responses

Join Event

{
    "channel": "my_channel",
    "subscription": null,
    "actualChannel": null,
    "subscribedChannel": "my_channel-pnpres",
    "action": "join",
    "timetoken": "15119466699655811",
    "occupancy": 2,
    "uuid": "User1",
    "timestamp": 1511946669
}

Leave Event

{
    "channel": "my_channel",
    "subscription": null,
    "actualChannel": null,
    "subscribedChannel": "my_channel-pnpres",
    "action": "leave",
    "timetoken": "15119446002445794",
    "occupancy": 1,
    "uuid": "User1",
    "timestamp": 1511944600
}

Timeout Event

{
    "channel": "my_channel",
    "subscription": null,
    "actualChannel": null,
    "subscribedChannel": "my_channel-pnpres",
    "action": "timeout",
    "timetoken": "15119519897494311",
    "occupancy": 3,
    "uuid": "User2",
    "timestamp": 1511951989
}

Custom Presence Event (State Change)

{
    "channel": "my_channel",
    "subscription": null,
    "actualChannel": null,
    "subscribedChannel": "my_channel-pnpres",
    "action": "state-change",
    "state": {
        "isTyping": true
    },
    "timetoken": "15119477895378127",
    "occupancy": 5,
    "uuid": "User4",
    "timestamp": 1511947789
}

Interval Event

{
    "action": "interval",
    "occupancy": 2,
    "timestamp": 1511947739
}

When a channel is in interval mode with presence_deltas pnconfig flag enabled, the interval message may also include the following fields which contain an array of changed UUIDs since the last interval message.

joined
left
timedout

For example, this interval message indicates there were 2 new UUIDs that joined and 1 timed out UUID since the last interval:

{
    "action":"interval",
    "timestamp":1548340678,
    "occupancy":2,
    "join":["pn-94bea6d1-2a9e-48d8-9758-f1b7162631ed","pn-cecbfbe3-312f-4928-93a2-5a79c91b10e0"]},
    "timedout":["pn-cecbfbe3-312f-4928-93a2-5a79c91b10e0"],
    "b":"my-channel-pnpres"
}

If the full interval message is greater than 30KB (since the max publish payload is ∼32KB), none of the extra fields will be present. Instead there will be a here_now_refresh boolean field set to true. This indicates to the user that they should do a hereNow request to get the complete list of users present in the channel.

{
    "channel": "my_channel",
    "subscription": null,
    "actualChannel": null,
    "subscribedChannel": "my_channel-pnpres",
    "action": "interval",
    "timetoken": "15119477396210903",
    "occupancy": 4,
    "timestamp": 1511947739,
    "here_now_refresh" : true
}

Requires Stream Controller add-on

This method requires that the Stream Controller add-on is enabled for your key in the Admin Portal. Read the support page on enabling add-on features on your keys.

Wildcard subscribes allow the client to subscribe to multiple channels using wildcard. For example, if you subscribe to a.* you will get all messages for a.b, a.c, a.x. The wildcarded * portion refers to any portion of the channel string name after the dot (.).

Pubnub.subscribe({
    channels: ['ab.*']
})

Wildcard grants and revokes

Only one level (a.*) of wildcarding is supported. If you grant on * or a.b.*, the grant will treat * or a.b.* as a single channel named either * or a.b.*. You can also revoke permissions from multiple channels using wildcards but only if you previously granted permissions using the same wildcards. Wildcard revokes, similarly to grants, only work one level deep, like a.*.

Subscribing with State

Requires Presence add-on

This method requires that the Presence add-on is enabled for your key in the Admin Portal. Read the support page on enabling add-on features on your keys.

Note

Always set the UUID to uniquely identify the user or device that connects to PubNub. This UUID should be persisted, and should remain unchanged for the lifetime of the user or the device. If you don't set the UUID, you won't be able to connect to PubNub.

Pubnub.init({
    /* initiation arguments */
})

Pubnub.addListener({
    status: function(statusEvent) {
        if (statusEvent.category === "PNConnectedCategory") {
            var newState = {
                new: 'state'
            };
            Pubnub.setState(
                {
                    state: newState
                },
                function (status) {
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Requires Stream Controller add-on

This method requires that the Stream Controller add-on is enabled for your key in the Admin Portal. Read the support page on enabling add-on features on your keys.

Pubnub.addListener({
    status: function(statusEvent) {
        if (statusEvent.category === "PNUnknownCategory") {
            var newState = {
                new: 'error'
            };
            Pubnub.setState(
                {
                    state: newState
                },
                function (status) {
                    console.log(statusEvent.errorData.message)
                }
            );
        }
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Pubnub.addListener({
    status: function(statusEvent) {
        if (statusEvent.category === "PNUnknownCategory") {
            var newState = {
                new: 'error'
            };
            Pubnub.setState(
                {
                    state: newState
                },
                function (status) {
                    console.log(statusEvent.errorData.message)
                }
            );
        }
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Subscribing to multiple channel groups:

Requires Stream Controller add-on

This method requires that the Stream Controller add-on is enabled for your key in the Admin Portal. Read the support page on enabling add-on features on your keys.

pubnub.subscribe({
    channelGroups: ['my_channelGroup1', 'my_channelGroup2', 'my_channelGroup3']
});

Subscribing to a channel and channel group simultaneously:

Requires Stream Controller add-on

This method requires that the Stream Controller add-on is enabled for your key in the Admin Portal. Read the support page on enabling add-on features on your keys.

pubnub.subscribe({
    channels: ['my_channel'],
    channelGroups: ['my_channelGroup']
});

Unsubscribe

When subscribed to a single channel, this function causes the client to issue a leave from the channel and close any open socket to the PubNub Network. For multiplexed channels, the specified channel(s) will be removed and the socket remains open until there are no more channels remaining in the list.

Warning

Method(s)

To Unsubscribe from a channel you can use the following method(s) in the AngularJS SDK:

unsubscribe({Array channels, Array channelGroups})

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
Operation Arguments	Hash	Yes	A hash of arguments.
`channels`	Array	Yes	Specifies the `channel` to unsubscribe from.
`channelGroups`	Array	Specifying either `channels` or `channelGroups` is mandatory	Specifies the `channelGroups` to unsubscribe from.

Basic Usage

Unsubscribe from a channel:

// Unsubscribe from 'my_channel'

Pubnub.unsubscribe({
    channels : ['my_channel']
});

Response

The output below demonstrates the response to a successful call:

{
    "action" : "leave"
}

Other Examples

Unsubscribing from multiple channels

Requires Stream Controller add-on

This method requires that the Stream Controller add-on is enabled for your key in the Admin Portal. Read the support page on enabling add-on features on your keys.

// Unsubscribe from array of channels

Pubnub.unsubscribe({
    channels: ['chan1', 'chan2', 'chan3']
})

Example Response:

{
    "action" : "leave"
}

Unsubscribing from multiple channel groups.

Requires Stream Controller add-on

This method requires that the Stream Controller add-on is enabled for your key in the Admin Portal. Read the support page on enabling add-on features on your keys.

Pubnub.unsubscribe({
    'channelGroups' : ['demo_group1', 'demo_group2']
});

Unsubscribe All

Unsubscribe from all channels and all channel groups

Method(s)

unsubscribeAll()

Basic Usage

Pubnub.unsubscribeAll();

Returns

None

Listeners

You can be notified of connectivity status, message and presence notifications via the listeners.

Listeners should be added before calling the method.

Add Listeners

Pubnub.addListener({
    message: function(m) {
        // handle message
        var channelName = m.channel; // The channel for which the message belongs
        var channelGroup = m.subscription; // The channel group or wildcard subscription match (if exists)
        var pubTT = m.timetoken; // Publish timetoken
        var msg = m.message; // The Payload
        var publisher = m.publisher; //The Publisher
    },
    presence: function(p) {
        // handle presence
        var action = p.action; // Can be join, leave, state-change or timeout
        var channelName = p.channel; // The channel for which the message belongs
        var occupancy = p.occupancy; // No. of users connected with the channel
        var state = p.state; // User State
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Remove Listeners

var existingListener = {
    message: function() {
    }
}

Pubnub.removeListener(existingListener)

Listener status events

Category	Description
`PNNetworkUpCategory`	The SDK detected that the network is online.
`PNNetworkDownCategory`	The SDK announces this when a connection isn't available, or when the SDK isn't able to reach PubNub servers.
`PNNetworkIssuesCategory`	A subscribe event experienced an exception when running. The SDK isn't able to reach PubNub servers. This may be due to many reasons, such as: the machine or device isn't connected to the internet; the internet connection has been lost; your internet service provider is having trouble; or, perhaps the SDK is behind a proxy.
`PNReconnectedCategory`	The SDK was able to reconnect to PubNub.
`PNConnectedCategory`	SDK subscribed with a new mix of channels. This is fired every time the channel or channel group mix changes.
`PNAccessDeniedCategory`	Access Manager permission failure.
`PNMalformedResponseCategory`	JSON parsing crashed.
`PNBadRequestCategory`	The server responded with a bad response error because the request is malformed.
`PNDecryptionErrorCategory`	If using decryption strategies and the decryption fails.
`PNTimeoutCategory`	Failure to establish a connection to PubNub due to a timeout.
`PNRequestMessageCountExceedCategory`	The SDK announces this error if `requestMessageCountThreshold` is set, and the number of messages received from PubNub (in-memory cache messages) exceeds the threshold.
`PNUnknownCategory`	Returned when the subscriber gets a non-200 HTTP response code from the server.

Publish​

Publish Anytime​

Message Data:​

Don't Use JSON.stringify!

Message Size:​

Message Too Large Error​

Message Publish Rate:​

Publishing to Multiple Channels:​

Publishing Messages Reliably:​

Method(s)​

Basic Usage​

Publish a message to a channel:​

Note

Response​

Other Examples​

Fire​

Method(s)​

Basic Usage​

Fire a message to a channel:​

Subscribe​

Tip

Warning

Method(s)​

Basic Usage​

Returns​

Other Examples​

Subscribing to multiple channels:​

Alternative subscription methods

Subscribing to a Presence channel​

Requires Presence add-on

Sample Responses​

Timeout Event​

Custom Presence Event (State Change)​

Interval Event​

Wildcard subscribe to channels:​

Requires Stream Controller add-on

Wildcard grants and revokes

Subscribing with State​

Requires Presence add-on

Note

Subscribe to a channel group:​

Requires Stream Controller add-on

Subscribe to the presence channel of a channel group:​

Subscribing to multiple channel groups:​

Requires Stream Controller add-on

Subscribing to a channel and channel group simultaneously:​

Requires Stream Controller add-on

Unsubscribe​

Warning

Method(s)​

Basic Usage​

Response​

Other Examples​

Unsubscribing from multiple channels​

Requires Stream Controller add-on

Unsubscribing from multiple channel groups.​

Requires Stream Controller add-on

Unsubscribe All​

Method(s)​

Basic Usage​

Returns​

Listeners​

Add Listeners​

Remove Listeners​

Listener status events​

Publish

Publish Anytime

Message Data:

Message Size:

Message Too Large Error

Message Publish Rate:

Publishing to Multiple Channels:

Publishing Messages Reliably:

Method(s)

Basic Usage

Publish a message to a channel:

Response

Other Examples

Fire

Method(s)

Basic Usage

Fire a message to a channel:

Subscribe

Method(s)

Basic Usage

Returns

Other Examples

Subscribing to multiple channels:

Subscribing to a Presence channel

Sample Responses

Timeout Event

Custom Presence Event (State Change)

Interval Event

Wildcard subscribe to channels:

Subscribing with State

Subscribe to a channel group:

Subscribe to the presence channel of a channel group:

Subscribing to multiple channel groups:

Subscribing to a channel and channel group simultaneously:

Unsubscribe

Method(s)

Basic Usage

Response

Other Examples

Unsubscribing from multiple channels

Unsubscribing from multiple channel groups.

Unsubscribe All

Method(s)

Basic Usage

Returns

Listeners

Add Listeners

Remove Listeners

Listener status events