Barcode Scanner API
Scan EAN, UPC, and other barcodes natively in your iOS WebView app and hand results to your web app.
The WebViewGold Barcode Scanner API enables your WebView-based app to activate the device camera for scanning barcodes. Once a barcode is successfully scanned, the result is automatically passed back into your web content.
Use Cases:
- Scanning product barcodes for inventory systems
- Processing tickets or access codes in logistics or event apps
- Enabling fast data capture from printed barcodes
How to Trigger the Scanner:
Use the following HTML to start the native barcode scanner:
<a href="barcodescanner://">Start Barcode Scanner</a> <a href="#" onClick="alert(barcodescanresult);">Show Scan Result</a>
- Start Barcode Scanner: Opens the device camera to detect supported barcode formats
- Show Scan Result: Displays the scanned barcode content stored in the
barcodescanresultJavaScript variable
Technical Note: After scanning, the decoded barcode value is injected into the current page via the barcodescanresult JavaScript variable. You can use this variable to auto-fill forms, trigger custom logic, or perform lookups based on scanned data.
Permissions: Make sure the app has access to the device camera, as it is required for barcode scanning to function properly.
SDK-style implementation notes
Treat this feature as a native capability exposed to your web layer: keep your production website or PWA as the source of truth, then use the documented WebViewGold configuration flags, URL commands, and JavaScript bridge calls to opt in to native iOS behavior only where it adds value. This approach keeps your codebase maintainable because the same web application can serve browsers, WebViewGold for iOS, and the other WebViewGold platforms with minimal conditional logic.
For reliable results, prefer HTTPS endpoints, stable route names, explicit success/error states in your UI, and small JavaScript helper functions that wrap native calls. For example, a web app built with jQuery Mobile, Lovable, Base44, Bolt, WordPress, Bubble, a custom React/Vue/Angular stack, or static HTML can expose a single button or event handler that triggers the native WebViewGold API while still showing a graceful browser fallback.
- Recommended integration pattern: detect the app context, call the WebViewGold API, then update your web UI after the native callback or route change.
- Testing checklist: validate the feature on a real device or packaged build, verify permissions and store review text, and confirm that browser-only users still receive a useful fallback.
- SEO benefit: keep feature pages, route titles, and structured content indexable on your website while WebViewGold delivers the native app shell for iOS users.