Watch channels

You can let users watch a given channel and its messages using the connect() method, without the need to join the channel as members.

Under the hood, this method allows your app to receive messages on a given channel by subscribing it to a message event listener underneath to receive all message events of type text. This method also returns a function you can invoke to stop receiving message events and unsubscribe from the channel.

connect() calls Pub/Sub API and the JavaScript SDK subscribe() and unsubscribe() methods.

Under the hood

Method signature

connect() accepts a callback function as an argument. The Chat SDK invokes this callback whenever someone sends a message on the given channel. This function takes a single argument of a Message object.

This method takes the following parameters:

1channel.connect(
2    callback: (
3        message: Message
4    ) => void
5): () => void

Input

* required

Parameter	Description
callback * Type: n/a Default: n/a	Callback function passed as a parameter. It defines the custom behavior to be executed whenever someone sends a message on the given channel.
→ message * Type: Message Default: n/a	Any Message object received on this channel.

Output

Type	Description
() => void	Function you can call to disconnect (unsubscribe) from the channel and stop receiving message events.

Sample code

Start receiving messages on the support channel.

1// reference the "channel" object
2const channel = await chat.getChannel("support")
3// invoke the "connect()" method
4channel.connect((message: Message) => {
5console.log(
6"This is my first message on this channel! Nice to meet you all!", message.content.text)
7})

Other examples

Stop receiving messages on the support channel.

1const channel = await chat.getChannel("support")
2const disconnect = channel.connect(/* handle message callback */)
3// after some time...
4disconnect()