Video Controls

CometChat Calls SDK v5 — Video Controls

Overview

Programmatically control the local camera (pause/resume) and switch between video input devices during an active call.

Key Imports

import { CometChatCalls } from '@cometchat/calls-sdk-javascript';

Implementation

Pause / Resume Video

CometChatCalls.pauseVideo();   // turn off camera
CometChatCalls.resumeVideo();  // turn on camera
CometChatCalls.toggleVideo();  // toggle camera state

Switch Camera (Mobile Web)

CometChatCalls.switchCamera();  // toggle front ↔ back (mobile devices)

Get Available Video Devices

const videoInputs = CometChatCalls.getVideoInputDevices();

Get Current Video Device

const currentCamera = CometChatCalls.getCurrentVideoInputDevice();

Switch Video Input Device

const devices = CometChatCalls.getVideoInputDevices();
CometChatCalls.setVideoInputDevice(devices[1].deviceId);

Listen for Video Events

CometChatCalls.addEventListener('onVideoPaused', () => {
  // Update video button to "off" state, show avatar
});

CometChatCalls.addEventListener('onVideoResumed', () => {
  // Update video button to "on" state, show video
});

CometChatCalls.addEventListener('onVideoInputDeviceChanged', (device) => {
  console.log('Camera switched to:', device.label);
});

CometChatCalls.addEventListener('onVideoInputDevicesChanged', (devices) => {
  // Device list changed — rebuild camera selector UI
});

Pre-select Device (Before Joining)

const sessionSettings: SessionSettings = {
  sessionType: 'VIDEO',
  videoInputDeviceId: 'specific-camera-id',
  startVideoPaused: false,
};

Gotchas

• pauseVideo() / resumeVideo() only work during an active session
• switchCamera() is primarily for mobile web (front/back toggle) — on desktop, use setVideoInputDevice()
• Device lists return MediaDeviceInfo objects with deviceId, label, kind, groupId
• Device labels may be empty strings until the user grants camera permission
• For voice calls (sessionType: 'VOICE'), set startVideoPaused: true
• Camera permissions must be granted before joining — the SDK requests them automatically