How to capture the URL of the 'about to' download file on a browser

Question

I want to write a piece of code that triggers an event when a file is getting downloaded. Lets say its a chrome extension.

Like a Download Manager intercepts the browser download process, captures the file URL and downloads it. I want to capture the URL of the files getting downloaded and avoid the browser download process.

Thanks for taking a look !

Answer 1

You can detect a downloading event with chrome.downloads.onCreated listener and perevent it with chrome.downloads.cancel method.

But chrome.downloads API is expiremental and only works on chrome dev channel version for now.

chrome.downloads.onCreated.addListener(function(DownloadItem downloadItem) {
   chrome.downloads.cancel(downloadItem.id , function() {
       console.log("Download was cancelled")
   });
});