Webview and HTML5 ``

javascript

web-development

video-handling

custom-view

byAnton Shumikhin·Dec 28, 2024

Welcome to the jungle! Unleash the power of HTML5 <video> in WebView with a sprinkle of JavaScript and a dash of WebChromeClient.

WebView myWebView = (WebView) findViewById(R.id.webview);
myWebView.getSettings().setJavaScriptEnabled(true); // Java-Script, not coffee-script! 😄
myWebView.setWebChromeClient(new WebChromeClient()); // Chrome, not Firefox
myWebView.loadUrl("YOUR_VIDEO_PAGE_URL");

To bring the video to life:

Enable JavaScript with setJavaScriptEnabled(true)
Assign WebChromeClient() to your WebView
Load your video url using loadUrl("YOUR_VIDEO_PAGE_URL")

Taking control of video playback

If you still haven't found what you're looking for, these tips should help:

Hardware Acceleration: Give your video that Vin Diesel's Fast and Furious feel! Enable for faster video rendering.
Full-Screen Handling: Fulfill cinematic dreams by handling the onShowCustomView for full-screen mode without exiting WebView.
Video Lifecycle: Be the Spielberg for your video playback using onCompletion and onError events.

Advanced video handling

Level up your video handling by creating a subclass of WebChromeClient:

public class MyWebChromeClient extends WebChromeClient {
  private View customView;
  private CustomViewCallback customViewCallback;
    
  @Override
  public void onShowCustomView(View view, CustomViewCallback callback) {
    if (customView != null) {
      callback.onCustomViewHidden(); // Smooth exit, like Batman in the night
      return;
    }
    // Welcome to the Full-Screen club
    customView = view;
    customViewCallback = callback;
  }
    
  @Override
  public void onHideCustomView() {
    if (customView == null) return; // Nothing to hide here officer, move along
    customView = null;
    customViewCallback.onCustomViewHidden();
    customViewCallback = null;
  }

  // Bragging rights for handling other methods
}

Stumbling blocks and solutions

Just like in real life, you might hit some bumps in the road. Here's some help:

One-Time Play Woes: It's not Speed Dating! Ensure your video plays more than once.
Media Player Hijack: Override shouldOverrideUrlLoading to stop unwanted interruptions.
Go Big or Go Home: Harvest onShowCustomView to keep video within the WebView.