---
title: AudioNode
slug: Web/API/AudioNode
tags:
  - API
  - AudioNode
  - Interface
  - NeedsTranslation
  - Reference
  - TopicStub
  - Web Audio API
translation_of: Web/API/AudioNode
---
<p>{{ APIRef("Web Audio API") }}</p>

<p>The <strong><code>AudioNode</code></strong> interface is a generic interface for representing an audio processing module like an audio source (e.g. an HTML {{HTMLElement("audio")}} or {{HTMLElement("video")}} element, an {{domxref("OscillatorNode")}}, etc.), the audio destination, intermediate processing module (e.g. a filter like {{domxref("BiquadFilterNode")}} or {{domxref("ConvolverNode")}}), or volume control (like {{domxref("GainNode")}}).</p>

<p>{{InheritanceDiagram}}</p>

<p><img alt="AudioNodes participating in an AudioContext create a audio routing graph." src="https://mdn.mozillademos.org/files/9713/WebAudioBasics.png" style="display: block; height: 230px; margin: 0px auto; width: 677px;"></p>

<p>An <code>AudioNode</code> has inputs and outputs, each with a given amount of <em>channels</em>.<em> </em>An <code>AudioNode</code> with zero inputs and one or multiple outputs is called a <em>source node</em>. The exact processing done varies from one <code>AudioNode</code> to another but, in general, a node reads its inputs, does some audio-related processing, and generates new values for its outputs, or simply lets the audio pass through (for example in the {{domxref("AnalyserNode")}}, where the result of the processing is accessed separately).</p>

<p>Different nodes can be linked together to build a <em>processing graph</em>. Such a graph is contained in an {{domxref("AudioContext")}}. Each <code>AudioNode</code> participates in exactly one such context. In general, processing nodes inherit the properties and methods of <code>AudioNode</code>, but also define their own functionality on top. See the individual node pages for more details, as listed on the <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/API/Web_Audio_API">Web Audio API</a> homepage.</p>

<div class="note">
<p><strong>Note</strong>: An <code>AudioNode</code> can be target of events, therefore it implements the {{domxref("EventTarget")}} interface.</p>
</div>

<h2 id="Properties" style="">Properties</h2>

<dl>
 <dt>{{domxref("AudioNode.context")}} {{readonlyInline}}</dt>
 <dd>Returns the associated {{domxref("AudioContext")}}, that is the object representing the processing graph the node is participating in.</dd>
</dl>

<dl>
 <dt>{{domxref("AudioNode.numberOfInputs")}} {{readonlyInline}}</dt>
 <dd>Returns the number of inputs feeding the node. Source nodes are defined as nodes having a <code>numberOfInputs</code> property with a value of <code>0</code>.</dd>
</dl>

<dl>
 <dt>{{domxref("AudioNode.numberOfOutputs")}} {{readonlyInline}}</dt>
 <dd>Returns the number of outputs coming out of the node. Destination nodes — like {{ domxref("AudioDestinationNode") }} — have a value of <code>0</code> for this attribute.</dd>
</dl>

<dl>
 <dt>{{domxref("AudioNode.channelCount")}}</dt>
 <dd>Represents an integer used to determine how many channels are used when <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/API/Web_Audio_API/Basic_concepts_behind_Web_Audio_API#Up-mixing_and_down-mixing">up-mixing and down-mixing</a> connections to any inputs to the node. Its usage and precise definition depend on the value of {{domxref("AudioNode.channelCountMode")}}.</dd>
</dl>

<dl>
 <dt>{{domxref("AudioNode.channelCountMode")}}</dt>
 <dd>Represents an enumerated value describing the way channels must be matched between the node's inputs and outputs.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("AudioNode.channelInterpretation")}}</dt>
 <dd>Represents an enumerated value describing the meaning of the channels. This interpretation will define how audio <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/API/Web_Audio_API/Basic_concepts_behind_Web_Audio_API#Up-mixing_and_down-mixing">up-mixing and down-mixing</a> will happen.<br>
 The possible values are <code>"speakers"</code> or <code>"discrete"</code>.</dd>
</dl>

<h2 id="Methods">Methods</h2>

<p><em>Also implements methods from the interface </em>{{domxref("EventTarget")}}.</p>

<dl>
 <dt>{{domxref("AudioNode.connect()")}}</dt>
 <dd>Allows us to connect the output of this node to be input into another node, either as audio data or as the value of an {{domxref("AudioParam")}}.</dd>
 <dt>{{domxref("AudioNode.disconnect()")}}</dt>
 <dd>Allows us to disconnect the current node from another one it is already connected to.</dd>
</dl>

<h2 id="Example">Example</h2>

<p>This simple snippet of code shows the creation of some audio nodes, and how the <code>AudioNode</code> properties and methods can be used. You can find examples of such usage on any of the examples linked to on the <a href="/en-US/docs/Web/API/Web_Audio_API">Web Audio API</a> landing page (for example <a href="https://github.com/mdn/violent-theremin">Violent Theremin</a>.)<span class="p"> </span></p>

<pre class="brush: js;highlight[8,9,11,12,13,14]">var AudioContext = window.AudioContext || window.webkitAudioContext;

var audioCtx = new AudioContext();

var oscillator = audioCtx.createOscillator();
var gainNode = audioCtx.createGain();

oscillator.connect(gainNode);
gainNode.connect(audioCtx.destination);

oscillator.context;
oscillator.numberOfInputs;
oscillator.numberOfOutputs;
oscillator.channelCount;</pre>

<h2 id="Specifications">Specifications</h2>

<table class="standard-table">
 <tbody>
  <tr>
   <th scope="col">Specification</th>
   <th scope="col">Status</th>
   <th scope="col">Comment</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>{{SpecName('Web Audio API', '#the-audionode-interface', 'AudioNode')}}</td>
   <td>{{Spec2('Web Audio API')}}</td>
   <td> </td>
  </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>

<h2 id="Browser_compatibility">Browser compatibility</h2>

<div>{{CompatibilityTable}}</div>

<div id="compat-desktop">
<table class="compat-table">
 <tbody>
  <tr>
   <th>Feature</th>
   <th>Chrome</th>
   <th>Edge</th>
   <th>Firefox (Gecko)</th>
   <th>Internet Explorer</th>
   <th>Opera</th>
   <th>Safari (WebKit)</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>Basic support</td>
   <td>{{CompatChrome(10.0)}}{{property_prefix("webkit")}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatGeckoDesktop(25.0)}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>15.0{{property_prefix("webkit")}}<br>
    22 (unprefixed)</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>channelCount</code> <code>channelCountMode</code></td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}} {{property_prefix("webkit")}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>connect</code><code>(AudioParam)</code></td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}} {{property_prefix("webkit")}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
  </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>
</div>

<div id="compat-mobile">
<table class="compat-table">
 <tbody>
  <tr>
   <th>Feature</th>
   <th>Android</th>
   <th>Edge</th>
   <th>Firefox Mobile (Gecko)</th>
   <th>Firefox OS (Gecko)</th>
   <th>IE Phone</th>
   <th>Opera Mobile</th>
   <th>Safari Mobile</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td>Basic support</td>
   <td>{{CompatUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>25.0</td>
   <td>1.2</td>
   <td>{{CompatUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatUnknown}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>channelCount</code><br>
    <code>channelCountMode</code></td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
   <td><code>connect</code><code>(AudioParam)</code></td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatVersionUnknown}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
   <td>{{CompatNo}}</td>
  </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>
</div>

<h2 id="See_also">See also</h2>

<ul>
 <li><a href="/en-US/docs/Web/API/Web_Audio_API/Using_Web_Audio_API">Using the Web Audio API</a></li>
</ul>