Web Share and Web Share Target API Quiz Quiz

Challenge your understanding of the Web Share and Web Share Target APIs with focused questions on capabilities, integration, permissions, and platform support. Improve your grasp of modern web sharing features and how they enhance user interaction and cross-platform communication.

1. Core Functionality of Web Share API

   Which method allows a web page to invoke the native sharing interface for users to share text, URLs, or files with other apps?

   1. navigator.requestShare()
   2. window.shareTarget()
   3. document.dispatchShare()
   4. navigator.share()

   Explanation: The navigator.share() method triggers the device’s native sharing dialog, enabling users to share content such as URLs, text, or files. The other options are invalid or incorrectly named: window.shareTarget() does not exist, document.dispatchShare() is not a real method, and navigator.requestShare() is not part of the API. Only navigator.share() directly interacts with the native share interface.

2. Web Share Target API Purpose

   What is the main use of the Web Share Target API when implementing on a site with a defined manifest?

   1. Increasing download speeds
   2. Receiving shared data from other applications
   3. Encrypting outbound shared data
   4. Blocking unwanted pop-ups

   Explanation: The Web Share Target API enables a website to receive data shared from other apps by defining intent handlers in the site's manifest. Increasing download speeds, blocking pop-ups, and encrypting data are not features provided by the Web Share Target API. These distractors are unrelated to the core function of handling incoming shares.

3. Web Share API Permissions

   Which of the following statements correctly describes the permission requirements for using navigator.share()?

   1. It is only available after a permissions prompt is accepted.
   2. It requires a special browser extension to be installed.
   3. It only works in incognito or private mode.
   4. It does not require explicit user-granted permission but must be called in response to a user gesture.

   Explanation: navigator.share() can be invoked without an additional permissions prompt, but it must be called in direct response to user actions (such as clicking a button). It is not exclusive to private browsing, does not require a browser extension, and isn't gated behind an explicit permission dialog. The other options present misunderstandings about the API’s requirements.

4. File Support in Web Share API

   If a developer wants to enable sharing images from a web page using the Web Share API, which key must be included in the data object passed to navigator.share()?

   1. files
   2. attachments
   3. media
   4. photos

   Explanation: When sharing files such as images, the files key—containing an array of File objects—must be included in the share data object. 'media', 'attachments', and 'photos' are not recognized by the API and would not enable file sharing. Only 'files' is the correct property for file sharing through this API.

5. Platform and Context Limitations

   On which scenario would calls to navigator.share() most likely fail or be unsupported?

   1. When called inside a service worker
   2. When run from a desktop browser that does not support the API
   3. When sharing text without a URL
   4. When sharing from a fully responsive mobile webpage

   Explanation: The Web Share API is not universally supported, especially on some desktop browsers, so attempting to use it there may fail. Sharing from a responsive mobile site and sharing text alone are both supported if the browser implements the API. Service workers operate in the background and lack direct user interaction, making navigator.share inapplicable in that context, but the main compatibility reason is related to desktop support.