Device Capabilities

All device APIs in Mob follow a consistent pattern: call the function from a callback (returning the socket unchanged), then handle the result in handle_info/2. APIs never block the screen process.

Permissions

Some capabilities require an OS permission before they can be used. Request permissions via Mob.Permissions.request/2. The result arrives asynchronously:

def mount(_params, _session, socket) do
  socket = Mob.Permissions.request(socket, :camera)
  {:ok, socket}
end

def handle_info({:permission, :camera, :granted}, socket) do
  {:noreply, Mob.Socket.assign(socket, :camera_ready, true)}
end

def handle_info({:permission, :camera, :denied}, socket) do
  {:noreply, Mob.Socket.assign(socket, :camera_ready, false)}
end

Capabilities that require permission: :camera, :microphone, :photo_library, :location, :notifications

No permission needed: haptics, clipboard, share sheet, file picker.

Mob.Permissions.request/2 is only half the picture. Each permission-gated capability also needs an Info.plist usage description (iOS) and AndroidManifest.xml uses-permission entry (Android). The default mix mob.new template covers camera + microphone on iOS and most capabilities on Android, but leaves location, photo library, etc. for you to add explicitly. See permissions for the per-capability table, the iOS-specific gotchas, and a diagnostic checklist for "the dialog never appears".

Haptic feedback

Mob.Haptic.trigger/2 fires synchronously (no handle_info needed) and returns the socket:

def handle_event("tap", %{"tag" => "purchase"}, socket) do
  socket = Mob.Haptic.trigger(socket, :success)
  {:noreply, socket}
end

Feedback types: :light, :medium, :heavy, :success, :error, :warning

iOS uses UIImpactFeedbackGenerator / UINotificationFeedbackGenerator. Android uses View.performHapticFeedback.

Clipboard

# Write to clipboard
def handle_event("tap", %{"tag" => "copy"}, socket) do
  socket = Mob.Clipboard.write(socket, socket.assigns.code)
  {:noreply, socket}
end

# Read from clipboard — result arrives in handle_info
def handle_event("tap", %{"tag" => "paste"}, socket) do
  socket = Mob.Clipboard.read(socket)
  {:noreply, socket}
end

def handle_info({:clipboard, :read, text}, socket) do
  {:noreply, Mob.Socket.assign(socket, :pasted_text, text)}
end

Share sheet

Opens the platform's native share sheet (iOS: UIActivityViewController, Android: ACTION_SEND):

def handle_event("tap", %{"tag" => "share"}, socket) do
  socket = Mob.Share.sheet(socket, text: "Check out this app!", url: "https://example.com")
  {:noreply, socket}
end

Options: :text, :url, :title

Camera

Requires :camera permission (and :microphone for video).

# Capture a photo
socket = Mob.Camera.capture_photo(socket)
socket = Mob.Camera.capture_photo(socket, quality: :medium)

# Record a video
socket = Mob.Camera.capture_video(socket)
socket = Mob.Camera.capture_video(socket, max_duration: 30)

# Results:
def handle_info({:camera, :photo, %{path: path, width: w, height: h}}, socket) do
  {:noreply, Mob.Socket.assign(socket, :photo_path, path)}
end

def handle_info({:camera, :video, %{path: path, duration: seconds}}, socket) do
  {:noreply, Mob.Socket.assign(socket, :video_path, path)}
end

def handle_info({:camera, :cancelled}, socket) do
  {:noreply, socket}
end

path is a local temp file. Copy it to a permanent location before the next capture.

Photos

Browse and pick from the photo library. Requires :photo_library permission.

socket = Mob.Photos.pick(socket)
socket = Mob.Photos.pick(socket, max: 5)  # pick up to 5

def handle_info({:photos, :picked, photos}, socket) do
  # photos is a list of %{path: path, width: w, height: h} maps
  {:noreply, Mob.Socket.assign(socket, :photos, photos)}
end

def handle_info({:photos, :cancelled}, socket) do
  {:noreply, socket}
end

Files

Open the system file picker:

socket = Mob.Files.pick(socket)
socket = Mob.Files.pick(socket, types: ["public.pdf", "public.text"])  # iOS UTI strings
socket = Mob.Files.pick(socket, types: ["application/pdf", "text/plain"])  # Android MIME types

def handle_info({:files, :picked, files}, socket) do
  # files is a list of %{path: path, name: name, size: bytes} maps
  {:noreply, Mob.Socket.assign(socket, :files, files)}
end

Platform note: types uses iOS UTI strings on iOS ("public.pdf") and MIME type strings on Android ("application/pdf"). To support both platforms with the same call, pass both forms — the platform ignores strings it doesn't recognise. See Platform-specific props for a cleaner pattern.

Camera preview

Display a live camera feed inline (no OS permission dialog for preview):

def mount(_params, _session, socket) do
  socket = Mob.Camera.start_preview(socket, facing: :back)
  {:ok, socket}
end

def render(assigns) do
  ~MOB"""
  <Column>
    <CameraPreview facing={:back} weight={1} />
    <Button text="Flip" on_tap={{self(), :flip}} />
  </Column>
  """
end

def terminate(_reason, socket) do
  Mob.Camera.stop_preview(socket)
  :ok
end

The :camera_preview component requires an active preview session — call start_preview/2 before mounting and stop_preview/1 in terminate/2.

Audio recording

Requires :microphone permission.

socket = Mob.Audio.start_recording(socket)
socket = Mob.Audio.start_recording(socket, format: :aac, quality: :medium)
socket = Mob.Audio.stop_recording(socket)

def handle_info({:audio, :recorded, %{path: path, duration: seconds}}, socket) do
  {:noreply, Mob.Socket.assign(socket, :recording, path)}
end

def handle_info({:audio, :error, reason}, socket) do
  {:noreply, Mob.Socket.assign(socket, :error, reason)}
end

Recording formats: :aac (default), :wav. Quality: :low, :medium (default), :high.

Audio playback

No permission needed. Plays local files or remote URLs.

socket = Mob.Audio.play(socket, "/path/to/clip.m4a")
socket = Mob.Audio.play(socket, path, loop: true, volume: 0.8)
socket = Mob.Audio.stop_playback(socket)
socket = Mob.Audio.set_volume(socket, 0.5)  # adjust without stopping

def handle_info({:audio, :playback_finished, %{path: path}}, socket) do
  {:noreply, socket}
end

def handle_info({:audio, :playback_error, %{reason: reason}}, socket) do
  {:noreply, Mob.Socket.assign(socket, :error, reason)}
end

iOS uses AVAudioPlayer / AVPlayer. Android uses MediaPlayer.

Location

Requires :location permission.

# Single fix
socket = Mob.Location.get_once(socket)

# Continuous updates
socket = Mob.Location.start(socket)
socket = Mob.Location.start(socket, accuracy: :high)  # :high | :balanced | :low
socket = Mob.Location.stop(socket)

def handle_info({:location, %{lat: lat, lon: lon, accuracy: acc, altitude: alt}}, socket) do
  {:noreply, Mob.Socket.assign(socket, :location, %{lat: lat, lon: lon})}
end

def handle_info({:location, :error, reason}, socket) do
  {:noreply, Mob.Socket.assign(socket, :location_error, reason)}
end

iOS uses CLLocationManager. Android uses FusedLocationProviderClient.

Motion (accelerometer / gyroscope)

socket = Mob.Motion.start(socket)
socket = Mob.Motion.start(socket, interval_ms: 100)
socket = Mob.Motion.stop(socket)

def handle_info({:motion, %{ax: ax, ay: ay, az: az, gx: gx, gy: gy, gz: gz}}, socket) do
  {:noreply, Mob.Socket.assign(socket, :motion, %{ax: ax, ay: ay, az: az})}
end

Biometric authentication

socket = Mob.Biometric.authenticate(socket, reason: "Confirm your identity")

def handle_info({:biometric, :success}, socket) do
  {:noreply, Mob.Socket.assign(socket, :authenticated, true)}
end

def handle_info({:biometric, :failure, reason}, socket) do
  {:noreply, socket}
end

iOS uses Face ID / Touch ID. Android uses BiometricPrompt.

QR / barcode scanner

socket = Mob.Scanner.scan(socket)

def handle_info({:scan, :result, %{type: type, value: value}}, socket) do
  # type: :qr | :ean | :upc | etc.
  {:noreply, Mob.Socket.assign(socket, :scanned, value)}
end

def handle_info({:scan, :cancelled}, socket) do
  {:noreply, socket}
end

Notifications

See also Mob.Notify for the full API.

Requires :notifications permission.

Local notifications

# Schedule
Mob.Notify.schedule(socket,
  id:    "reminder_1",
  title: "Time to check in",
  body:  "Open the app to see today's updates",
  at:    ~U[2026-04-16 09:00:00Z],   # or delay_seconds: 60
  data:  %{screen: "reminders"}
)

# Cancel
Mob.Notify.cancel(socket, "reminder_1")

# Receive in handle_info (all app states: foreground, background, relaunched):
def handle_info({:notification, %{id: id, data: data, source: :local}}, socket) do
  {:noreply, socket}
end

Push notifications

See the Push Notifications guide for the full walkthrough — server setup, credential configuration, token handling, delivery lifecycle, and appearance options.

Quick reference:

# After :notifications permission is granted:
{:noreply, Mob.Notify.register_push(socket)}

# Receive the device token — store it server-side with the platform:
def handle_info({:push_token, platform, token}, socket) do
  MyApp.PushTokens.upsert(socket.assigns.user_id, token, platform)
  {:noreply, socket}
end

# Receive push notifications (foreground, background tap, or killed → tapped):
def handle_info({:notification, notif}, socket) do
  # notif["source"] == "push", notif["data"] contains your custom payload
  {:noreply, socket}
end

To send from your server, add mob_push to your server dependencies.

Storage

App-local file storage using named locations instead of raw paths. No permission needed.

# Resolve a location to its absolute path
path = Mob.Storage.dir(:documents)   # persists, user-visible on iOS
path = Mob.Storage.dir(:cache)       # persists until OS needs space
path = Mob.Storage.dir(:temp)        # ephemeral, may be purged any time
path = Mob.Storage.dir(:app_support) # persists, hidden from user, backed up on iOS

# File operations
{:ok, files} = Mob.Storage.list(:documents)       # returns full paths
{:ok, meta}  = Mob.Storage.stat("/path/to/file")  # %{name, path, size, modified_at}
{:ok, path}  = Mob.Storage.write("/path/file.txt", "contents")
{:ok, data}  = Mob.Storage.read("/path/file.txt")
{:ok, dest}  = Mob.Storage.copy("/path/src.txt", :documents)  # keeps basename
{:ok, dest}  = Mob.Storage.move("/path/src.txt", "/path/dest.txt")
:ok          = Mob.Storage.delete("/path/file.txt")

ext = Mob.Storage.extension("/tmp/clip.mp4")  # => ".mp4"

All operations that can fail return {:ok, value} | {:error, posix}. dir/1 raises on an unknown location atom.

For saving to the native media library (Camera Roll, Downloads), see Mob.Storage.Apple and Mob.Storage.Android.

WebView

Embed a native web view and communicate with it over a JS bridge. No permission needed.

def render(assigns) do
  ~MOB"""
  <WebView url="https://example.com" allow={["https://example.com"]} show_url={true} weight={1} />
  """
end

# Send a message to Elixir from JS:
#   window.mob.send({ event: "clicked", id: 42 })
def handle_info({:webview, :message, %{"event" => "clicked", "id" => id}}, socket) do
  {:noreply, socket}
end

# A navigation attempt was blocked by the allow: whitelist
def handle_info({:webview, :blocked, url}, socket) do
  {:noreply, socket}
end

Push a message from Elixir into the page (calls window.mob.onMessage handlers):

socket = Mob.WebView.post_message(socket, %{type: "update", value: 42})

Evaluate arbitrary JavaScript and receive the result:

socket = Mob.WebView.eval_js(socket, "document.title")
# Result arrives as:
def handle_info({:webview, :eval_result, result}, socket) do
  {:noreply, socket}
end

Props: :url (required), :allow (list of URL prefixes — blocks others), :show_url (native URL bar), :title (static label overriding :show_url), :width, :height.

Platform note: WebView is supported on both iOS and Android.

Alerts and toasts

Mob.Alert shows native dialogs and status messages. No permission needed.

Alert dialog

Centered modal for confirmations and errors (iOS: UIAlertController(.alert), Android: AlertDialog).

def handle_info({:tap, :delete}, socket) do
  Mob.Alert.alert(socket,
    title:   "Delete item?",
    message: "This cannot be undone.",
    buttons: [
      [label: "Delete", style: :destructive, action: :confirmed_delete],
      [label: "Cancel", style: :cancel]
    ]
  )
  {:noreply, socket}
end

def handle_info({:alert, :confirmed_delete}, socket) do
  {:noreply, do_delete(socket)}
end

def handle_info({:alert, :dismiss}, socket) do
  {:noreply, socket}
end

Dismissing without tapping a button (e.g. Android back gesture) sends {:alert, :dismiss}.

Action sheet

Bottom-anchored list for choosing between actions (iOS: UIAlertController(.actionSheet), Android: list dialog).

Mob.Alert.action_sheet(socket,
  title:   "Share photo",
  buttons: [
    [label: "Save to Photos", action: :save],
    [label: "Copy link",      action: :copy],
    [label: "Cancel",         style: :cancel]
  ]
)

def handle_info({:alert, :save}, socket), do: {:noreply, save_photo(socket)}
def handle_info({:alert, :copy}, socket), do: {:noreply, copy_link(socket)}
def handle_info({:alert, :dismiss}, socket), do: {:noreply, socket}

Toast

Ephemeral status message with no callback.

Mob.Alert.toast(socket, "Saved!")
Mob.Alert.toast(socket, "File uploaded", duration: :long)

Duration: :short (default, ~2 s) or :long (~4 s). iOS renders a floating label overlay; Android uses Toast.

Button options