I'm using socket.io to build a chat application. But I don't know how to identify which user sent this message. There is no "req" (request) variable, as there is in Express. So how would I safely identify the sender in this case?

socket.on('chatroom message ', function(msg){
        console.log("sending msg: "+msg);
        io.emit('chatroom message ', msg);
    });

I'm using socket.io to build a chat application. But I don't know how to identify which user sent this message. There is no "req" (request) variable, as there is in Express. So how would I safely identify the sender in this case?

socket.on('chatroom message ', function(msg){
        console.log("sending msg: "+msg);
        io.emit('chatroom message ', msg);
    });

• javascript
• node.js
• socket.io

Share Improve this question Follow asked Jan 20, 2015 at 17:34 ShonaliShonali 6722 silver badges55 bronze badges 2

• did you try to send userID with the message? – hrust Commented Jan 20, 2015 at 17:40
• Possible duplicate of Socket.io Identify User for Socket – Raul Rene Commented Apr 30, 2018 at 12:32

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1 Answer 1

Sorted by: Reset to default 4

Each Socket has a unique ID which allows you to identify the connection.

So in this case it would be

socket.on('chatroom message ', function(msg){
        console.log("sending msg from " + socket.id + ": "+msg);
        io.emit('chatroom message ', msg);
    });

The Socket.io API documentation should help http://socket.io/docs/server-api/#socket