ESPAsyncWebServer

Async HTTP and WebSocket Server for ESP8266 and ESP32/ESP31B Arduino

Requires ESPAsyncTCP to work

Why should you care

Important things to remember

Principles of operation

The Async Web server

Request Life Cycle

Handlers and how do they work

Responses and how do they work

Request Variables

Common Variables

request->version();       // uint8_t: 0 = HTTP/1.0, 1 = HTTP/1.1
request->method();        // enum:    HTTP_GET, HTTP_POST, HTTP_DELETE, HTTP_PUT, HTTP_PATCH, HTTP_HEAD, HTTP_OPTIONS
request->url();           // String:  URL of the request (not including host, port or GET parameters) 
request->host();          // String:  The requested host (can be used for virtual hosting)
request->contentType();   // String:  ContentType of the request (not avaiable in Handler::canHandle)
request->contentLength(); // size_t:  ContentLength of the request (not avaiable in Handler::canHandle)
request->multipart();     // bool:    True if the request has content type "multipart"

Headers

//List all collected headers
int headers = request->headers();
int i;
for(i=0;i<headers;i++){
  AsyncWebHeader* h = request->getHeader(i);
  Serial.printf("HEADER[%s]: %s\n", h->name().c_str(), h->value().c_str());
}

//get specific header by name
if(request->hasHeader("MyHeader")){
  AsyncWebHeader* h = request->getHeader("MyHeader");
  Serial.printf("MyHeader: %s\n", h->value().c_str());
}

GET, POST and FILE parameters

//List all parameters
int params = request->params();
for(int i=0;i<params;i++){
  AsyncWebParameter* p = request->getParam(i);
  if(p->isFile()){ //p->isPost() is also true
    Serial.printf("FILE[%s]: %s, size: %u\n", p->name().c_str(), p->value().c_str(), p->size());
  } else if(p->isPost()){
    Serial.printf("POST[%s]: %s\n", p->name().c_str(), p->value().c_str());
  } else {
    Serial.printf("GET[%s]: %s\n", p->name().c_str(), p->value().c_str());
  }
}

//Check if GET parameter exists
bool exists = request->hasParam("download");
AsyncWebParameter* p = request->getParam("download");

//Check if POST (but not File) parameter exists
bool exists = request->hasParam("download", true);
AsyncWebParameter* p = request->getParam("download", true);

//Check if FILE was uploaded
bool exists = request->hasParam("download", true, true);
AsyncWebParameter* p = request->getParam("download", true, true);

FILE Upload handling

void handleUpload(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, String filename, size_t index, uint8_t *data, size_t len, bool final){
  if(!index){
    Serial.printf("UploadStart: %s\n", filename.c_str());
  }
  for(size_t i=0; i<len; i++){
    Serial.write(data[i]);
  }
  if(final){
    Serial.printf("UploadEnd: %s, %u B\n", filename.c_str(), index+len);
  }
}

Body data handling

void handleBody(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, uint8_t *data, size_t len, size_t index, size_t total){
  if(!index){
    Serial.printf("BodyStart: %u B\n", total);
  }
  for(size_t i=0; i<len; i++){
    Serial.write(data[i]);
  }
  if(index + len == total){
    Serial.printf("BodyEnd: %u B\n", total);
  }
}

Responses

Basic response with HTTP Code

request->send(404); //Sends 404 File Not Found

Basic response with HTTP Code and extra headers

AsyncWebServerResponse *response = request->beginResponse(404); //Sends 404 File Not Found
response->addHeader("Server","ESP Async Web Server");
request->send(response);

Basic response with string content

request->send(200, "text/plain", "Hello World!");

Basic response with string content and extra headers

AsyncWebServerResponse *response = request->beginResponse(200, "text/plain", "Hello World!");
response->addHeader("Server","ESP Async Web Server");
request->send(response);

Respond with content coming from a Stream

//read 12 bytes from Serial and send them as Content Type text/plain
request->send(Serial, "text/plain", 12);

Respond with content coming from a Stream and extra headers

//read 12 bytes from Serial and send them as Content Type text/plain
AsyncWebServerResponse *response = request->beginResponse(Serial, "text/plain", 12);
response->addHeader("Server","ESP Async Web Server");
request->send(response);

Respond with content coming from a File

//Send index.htm with default content type
request->send(SPIFFS, "/index.htm");

//Send index.htm as text
request->send(SPIFFS, "/index.htm", "text/plain");

//Download index.htm
request->send(SPIFFS, "/index.htm", String(), true);

Respond with content coming from a File and extra headers

//Send index.htm with default content type
AsyncWebServerResponse *response = request->beginResponse(SPIFFS, "/index.htm");

//Send index.htm as text
AsyncWebServerResponse *response = request->beginResponse(SPIFFS, "/index.htm", "text/plain");

//Download index.htm
AsyncWebServerResponse *response = request->beginResponse(SPIFFS, "/index.htm", String(), true);

response->addHeader("Server","ESP Async Web Server");
request->send(response);

Respond with content using a callback

//send 128 bytes as plain text
request->send("text/plain", 128, [](uint8_t *buffer, size_t maxLen, size_t index) -> size_t {
  //Write up to "maxLen" bytes into "buffer" and return the amount written.
  //index equals the amount of bytes that have been already sent
  //You will not be asked for more bytes once the content length has been reached.
  //Keep in mind that you can not delay or yield waiting for more data!
  //Send what you currently have and you will be asked for more again
  return mySource.read(buffer, maxLen);
});

Respond with content using a callback and extra headers

//send 128 bytes as plain text
AsyncWebServerResponse *response = request->beginResponse("text/plain", 128, [](uint8_t *buffer, size_t maxLen, size_t index) -> size_t {
  //Write up to "maxLen" bytes into "buffer" and return the amount written.
  //index equals the amount of bytes that have been already sent
  //You will not be asked for more bytes once the content length has been reached.
  //Keep in mind that you can not delay or yield waiting for more data!
  //Send what you currently have and you will be asked for more again
  return mySource.read(buffer, maxLen);
});
response->addHeader("Server","ESP Async Web Server");
request->send(response);

Chunked Response

Used when content length is unknown. Works best if the client supports HTTP/1.1

AsyncWebServerResponse *response = request->beginChunkedResponse("text/plain", [](uint8_t *buffer, size_t maxLen, size_t index) -> size_t {
  //Write up to "maxLen" bytes into "buffer" and return the amount written.
  //index equals the amount of bytes that have been already sent
  //You will be asked for more data until 0 is returned
  //Keep in mind that you can not delay or yield waiting for more data!
  return mySource.read(buffer, maxLen);
});
response->addHeader("Server","ESP Async Web Server");
request->send(response);

Print to response

AsyncResponseStream *response = request->beginResponseStream("text/html");
response->addHeader("Server","ESP Async Web Server");
response->printf("<!DOCTYPE html><html><head><title>Webpage at %s</title></head><body>", request->url().c_str());

response->print("<h2>Hello ");
response->print(request->client()->remoteIP());
response->print("</h2>");

response->print("<h3>General</h3>");
response->print("<ul>");
response->printf("<li>Version: HTTP/1.%u</li>", request->version());
response->printf("<li>Method: %s</li>", request->methodToString());
response->printf("<li>URL: %s</li>", request->url().c_str());
response->printf("<li>Host: %s</li>", request->host().c_str());
response->printf("<li>ContentType: %s</li>", request->contentType().c_str());
response->printf("<li>ContentLength: %u</li>", request->contentLength());
response->printf("<li>Multipart: %s</li>", request->multipart()?"true":"false");
response->print("</ul>");

response->print("<h3>Headers</h3>");
response->print("<ul>");
int headers = request->headers();
for(int i=0;i<headers;i++){
  AsyncWebHeader* h = request->getHeader(i);
  response->printf("<li>%s: %s</li>", h->name().c_str(), h->value().c_str());
}
response->print("</ul>");

response->print("<h3>Parameters</h3>");
response->print("<ul>");
int params = request->params();
for(int i=0;i<params;i++){
  AsyncWebParameter* p = request->getParam(i);
  if(p->isFile()){
    response->printf("<li>FILE[%s]: %s, size: %u</li>", p->name().c_str(), p->value().c_str(), p->size());
  } else if(p->isPost()){
    response->printf("<li>POST[%s]: %s</li>", p->name().c_str(), p->value().c_str());
  } else {
    response->printf("<li>GET[%s]: %s</li>", p->name().c_str(), p->value().c_str());
  }
}
response->print("</ul>");

response->print("</body></html>");
//send the response last
request->send(response);

Send a large webpage from PROGMEM using callback response

Example provided by @nouser2013

const char indexhtml[] PROGMEM = "..."; // large char array, tested with 5k
AsyncWebServerResponse *response = request->beginResponse(
  String("text/html"),
  strlen_P(indexhtml),
  [](uint8_t *buffer, size_t maxLen, size_t alreadySent) -> size_t {
    if (strlen_P(indexhtml+alreadySent)>maxLen) {
      // We have more to read than fits in maxLen Buffer
      memcpy_P((char*)buffer, indexhtml+alreadySent, maxLen);
      return maxLen;
    }
    // Ok, last chunk
    memcpy_P((char*)buffer, indexhtml+alreadySent, strlen_P(indexhtml+alreadySent));
    return strlen_P(indexhtml+alreadySent); // Return from here to end of indexhtml
  }
);
response->addHeader("Server", "MyServerString");
request->send(response);  

ArduinoJson Basic Response

This way of sending Json is great for when the result is below 4KB

#include "AsyncJson.h"
#include "ArduinoJson.h"


AsyncResponseStream *response = request->beginResponseStream("text/json");
DynamicJsonBuffer jsonBuffer;
JsonObject &root = jsonBuffer.createObject();
root["heap"] = ESP.getFreeHeap();
root["ssid"] = WiFi.SSID();
root.printTo(*response);
request->send(response);

ArduinoJson Advanced Response

This response can handle really large Json objects (tested to 40KB) There isn't any noticeable speed decrease for small results with the method above Since ArduinoJson does not allow reading parts of the string, the whole Json has to be passed every time a chunks needs to be sent, which shows speed decrease proportional to the resulting json packets

#include "AsyncJson.h"
#include "ArduinoJson.h"


AsyncJsonResponse * response = new AsyncJsonResponse();
response->addHeader("Server","ESP Async Web Server");
JsonObject& root = response->getRoot();
root["heap"] = ESP.getFreeHeap();
root["ssid"] = WiFi.SSID();
response->setLength();
request->send(response);

Bad Responses

Some responses are implemented, but you should not use them, because they do not conform to HTTP. The following example will lead to unclean close of the connection and more time wasted than providing the length of the content

Respond with content using a callback without content length to HTTP/1.0 clients

//This is used as fallback for chunked responses to HTTP/1.0 Clients
request->send("text/plain", 0, [](uint8_t *buffer, size_t maxLen, size_t index) -> size_t {
  //Write up to "maxLen" bytes into "buffer" and return the amount written.
  //You will be asked for more data until 0 is returned
  //Keep in mind that you can not delay or yield waiting for more data!
  return mySource.read(buffer, maxLen);
});

Async WebSocket Plugin

The server includes a web socket plugin which lets you define different WebSocket locations to connect to without starting another listening service or using different port

Async WebSocket Event

void onEvent(AsyncWebSocket * server, AsyncWebSocketClient * client, AwsEventType type, void * arg, uint8_t *data, size_t len){
  if(type == WS_EVT_CONNECT){
    //client connected
    os_printf("ws[%s][%u] connect\n", server->url(), client->id());
    client->printf("Hello Client %u :)", client->id());
    client->ping();
  } else if(type == WS_EVT_DISCONNECT){
    //client disconnected
    os_printf("ws[%s][%u] disconnect: %u\n", server->url(), client->id());
  } else if(type == WS_EVT_ERROR){
    //error was received from the other end
    os_printf("ws[%s][%u] error(%u): %s\n", server->url(), client->id(), *((uint16_t*)arg), (char*)data);
  } else if(type == WS_EVT_PONG){
    //pong message was received (in response to a ping request maybe)
    os_printf("ws[%s][%u] pong[%u]: %s\n", server->url(), client->id(), len, (len)?(char*)data:"");
  } else if(type == WS_EVT_DATA){
    //data packet
    AwsFrameInfo * info = (AwsFrameInfo*)arg;
    if(info->num == 0 && info->final && info->index == 0 && info->len == len){
      //the whole message is in a single frame and we got all of it's data
      os_printf("ws[%s][%u] %s-message[%llu]: ", server->url(), client->id(), (info->opcode == WS_TEXT)?"text":"binary", info->len);
      if(info->opcode == WS_TEXT){
        data[len] = 0;
        os_printf("%s\n", (char*)data);
      } else {
        for(size_t i=0; i < info->len; i++){
          os_printf("%02x ", data[i]);
        }
        os_printf("\n");
      }
      if(info->opcode == WS_TEXT)
        client->text("I got your text message");
      else
        client->binary("I got your binary message");
    } else {
      //message is comprised of multiple frames or the frame is split into multiple packets
      if(info->index == 0){
        if(info->num == 0)
          os_printf("ws[%s][%u] %s-message start\n", server->url(), client->id(), (info->message_opcode == WS_TEXT)?"text":"binary");
        os_printf("ws[%s][%u] frame[%u] start[%llu]\n", server->url(), client->id(), info->num, info->len);
      }

      os_printf("ws[%s][%u] frame[%u] %s[%llu - %llu]: ", server->url(), client->id(), info->num, (info->message_opcode == WS_TEXT)?"text":"binary", info->index, info->index + len);
      if(info->message_opcode == WS_TEXT){
        data[len] = 0;
        os_printf("%s\n", (char*)data);
      } else {
        for(size_t i=0; i < len; i++){
          os_printf("%02x ", data[i]);
        }
        os_printf("\n");
      }

      if((info->index + len) == info->len){
        os_printf("ws[%s][%u] frame[%u] end[%llu]\n", server->url(), client->id(), info->num, info->len);
        if(info->final){
          os_printf("ws[%s][%u] %s-message end\n", server->url(), client->id(), (info->message_opcode == WS_TEXT)?"text":"binary");
          if(info->message_opcode == WS_TEXT)
            client->text("I got your text message");
          else
            client->binary("I got your binary message");
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Methods for sending data to a socket client

//Server methods
AsyncWebSocket ws("/ws");
//printf to a client
ws.printf([client id], [arguments...])
//printf to all clients
ws.printfAll([arguments...])
//send text to a client
ws.text([client id], [(char*)text])
ws.text([client id], [text], [len])
//send text to all clients
ws.textAll([(char*text])
ws.textAll([text], [len])
//send binary to a client
ws.binary([client id], [(char*)binary])
ws.binary([client id], [binary], [len])
//send binary to all clients
ws.binaryAll([(char*binary])
ws.binaryAll([binary], [len])

//client methods
AsyncWebSocketClient * client;
//printf to a client
client->printf([arguments...])
//send text to a client
client->text([(char*)text])
client->text([text], [len])
//send binary to a client
client->binary([(char*)binary])
client->binary([binary], [len])

Setting up the server

#include "ESPAsyncTCP.h"
#include "ESPAsyncWebServer.h"

AsyncWebServer server(80);
AsyncWebSocket control_ws("/control"); // access at ws://[esp ip]/control
AsyncWebSocket data_ws("/data"); // access at ws://[esp ip]/data

const char* ssid = "your-ssid";
const char* password = "your-pass";
const char* http_username = "admin";
const char* http_password = "admin";

void onRequest(AsyncWebServerRequest *request){
  //Handle Unknown Request
  request->send(404);
}

void onBody(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, uint8_t *data, size_t len, size_t index, size_t total){
  //Handle body
}

void onUpload(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, String filename, size_t index, uint8_t *data, size_t len, bool final){
  //Handle upload
}

void onEvent(AsyncWebSocket * server, AsyncWebSocketClient * client, AwsEventType type, void * arg, uint8_t *data, size_t len){
  //Handle WebSocket event
}

void setup(){
  Serial.begin(115200);
  WiFi.mode(WIFI_STA);
  WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
  if (WiFi.waitForConnectResult() != WL_CONNECTED) {
    Serial.printf("WiFi Failed!\n");
    return;
  }

  // attach Async WebSockets
  control_ws.onEvent(onEvent);
  server.addHandler(&control_ws);
  data_ws.onEvent(onEvent);
  server.addHandler(&data_ws);

  // respond to GET requests on URL /heap
  server.on("/heap", HTTP_GET, [](AsyncWebServerRequest *request){
    request->send(200, "text/plain", String(ESP.getFreeHeap()));
  });

  // upload a file to /upload
  server.on("/upload", HTTP_POST, [](AsyncWebServerRequest *request){
    request->send(200);
  }, handleUpload);

  // send a file when /index is requested
  server.on("/index", HTTP_ANY, [](AsyncWebServerRequest *request){
    request->send(SPIFFS, "/index.htm");
  });

  // HTTP basic authentication
  server.on("/login", HTTP_GET, [](AsyncWebServerRequest *request){
    if(!request->authenticate(http_username, http_password))
        return request->requestAuthentication();
    request->send(200, "text/plain", "Login Success!");
  });

  // attach filesystem root at URL /fs 
  server.serveStatic("/fs", SPIFFS, "/");

  // Catch-All Handlers
  // Any request that can not find a Handler that canHandle it
  // ends in the callbacks below.
  server.onNotFound(onRequest);
  server.onFileUpload(onUpload);
  server.onRequestBody(onBody);

  server.begin();
}

void loop(){}