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howler.js

A JavaScript library that makes playing sounds in web pages simpler and more reliable.

GitHub Download v2.2.4
Stars
25.4k
Forks
2.3k
Licence
MIT
Language
JavaScript
Last update
12 months ago
Type
Library

What it is

Howler.js is a JavaScript audio library for websites. It uses the browser's Web Audio API by default and falls back to HTML5 Audio when needed, so developers can play, loop, fade, and control sounds through one interface. The README says it has no outside dependencies and is about 7kb gzipped.

  • Play a short sound effect when a user clicks a button, using a single Howl object
  • Loop background music with a volume setting of 0.5
  • Define a sound sprite of several effects in one file and play them by name
  • Fade one playing sound out while speeding up another with the rate control
  • Stream a large or live audio file using the html5 option

Great for

  • Web developers adding sound effects or background music to a browser game or site
  • Developers who need to play several sounds at once and control them individually or as groups
  • Projects that use sound sprites, where many short sounds are packed into one audio file
  • Developers who want one API that works across many browsers, including older ones

Not ideal for

  • People who need a finished audio player app with no coding, since this is a library for developers
  • Projects that need advanced audio processing beyond what the README describes, since the README covers playback, volume, rate, seek, fading, and panning
  • Server-side or non-browser audio work, since the README focuses on the modern web
Step-by-step guide: how to use howler.jsInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs
howler.js vs Tone.js

How to get it

  1. 1

    Install with a package manager

    Install with npm

    npm install howler

    Install with Yarn

    yarn add howler
  2. 2

    Run it

    • Install the package with npm or Yarn, or include the script from a CDN
    • Create a Howl object with a list of audio sources, such as sound.webm and sound.mp3
    • Call sound.play() to start playback
    • Optionally call Howler.volume(0.5) to change global volume
  3. 3

    Get the most out of it

    • Use the html5: true option for large or streaming audio so the whole file does not need to download first
    • Define sound sprites with the sprite option to group many short sounds in one file; the README suggests the audiosprite tool to generate them
    • Use the Sound ID returned by play() to control one sound with fade or rate
    • Use the xhr option to send custom headers or credentials when loading files with Web Audio
    • Check the Spatial plugin section for 3D or stereo panning

Downloads

Source code (.zip)master branch · straight from GitHubRelease v2.2.4Release notes and sourceOfficial website & docshowlerjs.com

Strengths

  • Single API that defaults to Web Audio and falls back to HTML5 Audio, per the README
  • Supports sound sprites, multiple simultaneous sounds, and per-sound or global control
  • Has no outside dependencies and is described as lightweight

Trade-offs

  • The README lists browser versions that are very old, so current compatibility should be checked against the live docs
  • The README is truncated, so some options and behaviors could not be fully verified here
  • Requires writing JavaScript, so it is not suited to non-programmers

How it compares

ProjectStarsTypeLevelUpdatedBest for
howler.js (this)25.4kLibrarybeginner12 months agoWeb developers adding sound effects or background music to a browser game or site
Tone.js14.9kLibraryintermediate5 days agoDevelopers adding interactive sound or music to a web page
FunASR20.9kLibraryintermediate4 days agoDevelopers who want to transcribe audio in Python with a pretrained model
ffmpeg.wasm17.9kLibraryintermediate1 months agoWeb developers who want video or audio conversion inside a browser page
koel17.3kAppintermediate4 days agoPeople who want to listen to their own music library from a browser
AudioKit11.5kLibraryintermediate3 months agoSwift developers adding synthesizers, effects, or audio analysis to an iOS or macOS app

Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.