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[![node][node]][node-url]
[![tests][tests]][tests-url]
[![coverage][cover]][cover-url]
[![chat][chat]][chat-url]
[![downloads][downloads]][npm-url]
[![contributors][contributors]][contributors-url]
# webpack-dev-server
Use [webpack](https://webpack.js.org) with a development server that provides
live reloading. This should be used for **development only**.
It uses [webpack-dev-middleware][middleware-url] under the hood, which provides
fast in-memory access to the webpack assets.
## Table of Contents
- [Getting Started](#getting-started)
- [Usage](#usage)
- [With the CLI](#with-the-cli)
- [With NPM Scripts](#with-npm-scripts)
- [With the API](#with-the-api)
- [The Result](#the-result)
- [Browser Support](#browser-support)
- [Support](#support)
- [Contributing](#contributing)
- [Attribution](#attribution)
- [License](#license)
## Getting Started
First things first, install the module:
```console
npm install webpack-dev-server --save-dev
```
_Note: While you can install and run webpack-dev-server globally, we recommend
installing it locally. webpack-dev-server will always use a local installation
over a global one._
## Usage
There are two main, recommended methods of using the module:
### With the CLI
The easiest way to use it is with the [webpack CLI](https://webpack.js.org/api/cli/). In the directory where your
`webpack.config.js` is, run:
```console
npx webpack serve
```
Following options are available with `webpack serve`:
```
Usage: webpack serve|server|s [entries...] [options]
Run the webpack dev server.
Options:
-c, --config Provide path to a webpack configuration file e.g. ./webpack.config.js.
--config-name Name of the configuration to use.
-m, --merge Merge two or more configurations using 'webpack-merge'.
--env Environment passed to the configuration when it is a function.
--node-env Sets process.env.NODE_ENV to the specified value.
--progress [value] Print compilation progress during build.
-j, --json [value] Prints result as JSON or store it in a file.
--entry The entry point(s) of your application e.g. ./src/main.js.
-o, --output-path Output location of the file generated by webpack e.g. ./dist/.
-t, --target Sets the build target e.g. node.
-d, --devtool Determine source maps to use.
--no-devtool Do not generate source maps.
--mode Defines the mode to pass to webpack.
--name Name of the configuration. Used when loading multiple configurations.
--stats [value] It instructs webpack on how to treat the stats e.g. verbose.
--no-stats Disable stats output.
--watch-options-stdin Stop watching when stdin stream has ended.
--no-watch-options-stdin Do not stop watching when stdin stream has ended.
--allowed-hosts Allows to enumerate the hosts from which access to the dev server are allowed (useful when you are proxying dev server, by default is 'auto').
--allowed-hosts-reset Clear all items provided in 'allowedHosts' configuration. Allows to enumerate the hosts from which access to the dev server are allowed (useful when
you are proxying dev server, by default is 'auto').
--bonjour Allows to broadcasts dev server via ZeroConf networking on start.
--no-bonjour Disallows to broadcasts dev server via ZeroConf networking on start.
--no-client Negative 'client' option.
--client-logging Allows to set log level in the browser.
--client-overlay Enables a full-screen overlay in the browser when there are compiler errors or warnings.
--no-client-overlay Disables a full-screen overlay in the browser when there are compiler errors or warnings.
--client-overlay-errors Enables a full-screen overlay in the browser when there are compiler errors.
--no-client-overlay-errors Negative 'client-overlay-errors' option.
--client-overlay-warnings Enables a full-screen overlay in the browser when there are compiler warnings.
--no-client-overlay-warnings Negative 'client-overlay-warnings' option.
--client-progress Prints compilation progress in percentage in the browser.
--no-client-progress Does not print compilation progress in percentage in the browser.
--client-reconnect [value] Tells dev-server the number of times it should try to reconnect the client.
--no-client-reconnect Tells dev-server to not to try to connect the client.
--client-web-socket-transport Allows to set custom web socket transport to communicate with dev server.
--client-web-socket-url Allows to specify URL to web socket server (useful when you're proxying dev server and client script does not always know where to connect to).
--client-web-socket-url-hostname Tells clients connected to devServer to use the provided hostname.
--client-web-socket-url-password Tells clients connected to devServer to use the provided password to authenticate.
--client-web-socket-url-pathname Tells clients connected to devServer to use the provided path to connect.
--client-web-socket-url-port Tells clients connected to devServer to use the provided port.
--client-web-socket-url-protocol Tells clients connected to devServer to use the provided protocol.
--client-web-socket-url-username Tells clients connected to devServer to use the provided username to authenticate.
--compress Enables gzip compression for everything served.
--no-compress Disables gzip compression for everything served.
--history-api-fallback Allows to proxy requests through a specified index page (by default 'index.html'), useful for Single Page Applications that utilise the HTML5
History API.
--no-history-api-fallback Negative 'history-api-fallback' option.
--host Allows to specify a hostname to use.
--hot [value] Enables Hot Module Replacement.
--no-hot Disables Hot Module Replacement.
--http2 Allows to serve over HTTP/2 using SPDY. Deprecated, use the `server` option.
--no-http2 Does not serve over HTTP/2 using SPDY.
--https Allows to configure the server's listening socket for TLS (by default, dev server will be served over HTTP). Deprecated, use the `server` option.
--no-https Disallows to configure the server's listening socket for TLS (by default, dev server will be served over HTTP).
--https-ca Path to an SSL CA certificate or content of an SSL CA certificate. Deprecated, use the `server.options.ca` option.
--https-ca-reset Clear all items provided in 'https.ca' configuration. Path to an SSL CA certificate or content of an SSL CA certificate. Deprecated, use the
`server.options.ca` option.
--https-cacert Path to an SSL CA certificate or content of an SSL CA certificate. Deprecated, use the `server.options.ca` option.
--https-cacert-reset Clear all items provided in 'https.cacert' configuration. Path to an SSL CA certificate or content of an SSL CA certificate. Deprecated, use the
`server.options.ca` option.
--https-cert Path to an SSL certificate or content of an SSL certificate. Deprecated, use the `server.options.cert` option.
--https-cert-reset Clear all items provided in 'https.cert' configuration. Path to an SSL certificate or content of an SSL certificate. Deprecated, use the
`server.options.cert` option.
--https-crl Path to PEM formatted CRLs (Certificate Revocation Lists) or content of PEM formatted CRLs (Certificate Revocation Lists). Deprecated, use the
`server.options.crl` option.
--https-crl-reset Clear all items provided in 'https.crl' configuration. Path to PEM formatted CRLs (Certificate Revocation Lists) or content of PEM formatted CRLs
(Certificate Revocation Lists). Deprecated, use the `server.options.crl` option.
--https-key Path to an SSL key or content of an SSL key. Deprecated, use the `server.options.key` option.
--https-key-reset Clear all items provided in 'https.key' configuration. Path to an SSL key or content of an SSL key. Deprecated, use the `server.options.key` option.
--https-passphrase Passphrase for a pfx file. Deprecated, use the `server.options.passphrase` option.
--https-pfx Path to an SSL pfx file or content of an SSL pfx file. Deprecated, use the `server.options.pfx` option.
--https-pfx-reset Clear all items provided in 'https.pfx' configuration. Path to an SSL pfx file or content of an SSL pfx file. Deprecated, use the
`server.options.pfx` option.
--https-request-cert Request for an SSL certificate. Deprecated, use the `server.options.requestCert` option.
--no-https-request-cert Does not request for an SSL certificate.
--ipc [value] Listen to a unix socket.
--live-reload Enables reload/refresh the page(s) when file changes are detected (enabled by default).
--no-live-reload Disables reload/refresh the page(s) when file changes are detected (enabled by default)
--magic-html Tells dev-server whether to enable magic HTML routes (routes corresponding to your webpack output, for example '/main' for 'main.js').
--no-magic-html Disables magic HTML routes (routes corresponding to your webpack output, for example '/main' for 'main.js').
--open [value...] Allows to configure dev server to open the browser(s) and page(s) after server had been started (set it to true to open your default browser).
--no-open Does not open the default browser.
--open-app Open specified browser. Deprecated: please use '--open-app-name'.
--open-app-name Open specified browser.
--open-app-name-reset Clear all items provided in 'open.app.name' configuration. Open specified browser.
--open-reset Clear all items provided in 'open' configuration. Allows to configure dev server to open the browser(s) and page(s) after server had been started
(set it to true to open your default browser).
--open-target Opens specified page in browser.
--open-target-reset Clear all items provided in 'open.target' configuration. Opens specified page in browser.
--port Allows to specify a port to use.
--server-options-ca Path to an SSL CA certificate or content of an SSL CA certificate.
--server-options-ca-reset Clear all items provided in 'server.options.ca' configuration. Path to an SSL CA certificate or content of an SSL CA certificate.
--server-options-cacert Path to an SSL CA certificate or content of an SSL CA certificate. Deprecated, use the `server.options.ca` option.
--server-options-cacert-reset Clear all items provided in 'server.options.cacert' configuration. Path to an SSL CA certificate or content of an SSL CA certificate. Deprecated,
use the `server.options.ca` option.
--server-options-cert Path to an SSL certificate or content of an SSL certificate.
--server-options-cert-reset Clear all items provided in 'server.options.cert' configuration. Path to an SSL certificate or content of an SSL certificate.
--server-options-crl Path to PEM formatted CRLs (Certificate Revocation Lists) or content of PEM formatted CRLs (Certificate Revocation Lists).
--server-options-crl-reset Clear all items provided in 'server.options.crl' configuration. Path to PEM formatted CRLs (Certificate Revocation Lists) or content of PEM
formatted CRLs (Certificate Revocation Lists).
--server-options-key Path to an SSL key or content of an SSL key.
--server-options-key-reset Clear all items provided in 'server.options.key' configuration. Path to an SSL key or content of an SSL key.
--server-options-passphrase Passphrase for a pfx file.
--server-options-pfx Path to an SSL pfx file or content of an SSL pfx file.
--server-options-pfx-reset Clear all items provided in 'server.options.pfx' configuration. Path to an SSL pfx file or content of an SSL pfx file.
--server-options-request-cert Request for an SSL certificate.
--no-server-options-request-cert Negative 'server-options-request-cert' option.
--server-type Allows to set server and options (by default 'http').
--static [value...] Allows to configure options for serving static files from directory (by default 'public' directory).
--no-static Negative 'static' option.
--static-directory Directory for static contents.
--static-public-path The static files will be available in the browser under this public path.
--static-public-path-reset Clear all items provided in 'static.publicPath' configuration. The static files will be available in the browser under this public path.
--static-reset Clear all items provided in 'static' configuration. Allows to configure options for serving static files from directory (by default 'public'
directory).
--static-serve-index Tells dev server to use serveIndex middleware when enabled.
--no-static-serve-index Does not tell dev server to use serveIndex middleware.
--static-watch Watches for files in static content directory.
--no-static-watch Does not watch for files in static content directory.
--watch-files Allows to configure list of globs/directories/files to watch for file changes.
--watch-files-reset Clear all items provided in 'watchFiles' configuration. Allows to configure list of globs/directories/files to watch for file changes.
--web-socket-server Deprecated: please use '--web-socket-server-type' option. Allows to set web socket server and options (by default 'ws').
--no-web-socket-server Negative 'web-socket-server' option.
--web-socket-server-type Allows to set web socket server and options (by default 'ws').
Global options:
--color Enable colors on console.
--no-color Disable colors on console.
-v, --version Output the version number of 'webpack', 'webpack-cli' and 'webpack-dev-server' and commands.
-h, --help [verbose] Display help for commands and options.
To see list of all supported commands and options run 'webpack --help=verbose'.
Webpack documentation: https://webpack.js.org/.
CLI documentation: https://webpack.js.org/api/cli/.
Made with ♥ by the webpack team.
```
_**Note**: For more information on above options explore this [link](https://webpack.js.org/configuration/dev-server/)._
### With NPM Scripts
NPM package.json scripts are a convenient and useful means to run locally installed
binaries without having to be concerned about their full paths. Simply define a
script as such:
```json
{
"scripts": {
"serve": "webpack serve"
}
}
```
And run the following in your terminal/console:
```console
npm run serve
```
NPM will automagically reference the binary in `node_modules` for you, and
execute the file or command.
### With the API
While it's recommended to run webpack-dev-server via the CLI, you may also choose to start a server via the API.
See the related [API documentation for `webpack-dev-server`](https://webpack.js.org/api/webpack-dev-server/).
### The Result
Either method will start a server instance and begin listening for connections
from `localhost` on port `8080`.
webpack-dev-server is configured by default to support live-reload of files as
you edit your assets while the server is running.
See [**the documentation**][docs-url] for more use cases and options.
## Browser Support
While `webpack-dev-server` transpiles the client (browser) scripts to an ES5
state, the project only officially supports the _last two versions of major
browsers_. We simply don't have the resources to support every whacky
browser out there.
If you find a bug with an obscure / old browser, we would actively welcome a
Pull Request to resolve the bug.
## Support
We do our best to keep issues in the repository focused on bugs, features, and
needed modifications to the code for the module. Because of that, we ask users
with general support, "how-to", or "why isn't this working" questions to try one
of the other support channels that are available.
Your first-stop-shop for support for webpack-dev-server should be the excellent
[documentation][docs-url] for the module. If you see an opportunity for improvement
of those docs, please head over to the [webpack.js.org repo][wjo-url] and open a
pull request.
From there, we encourage users to visit the [webpack Gitter chat][chat-url] and
talk to the fine folks there. If your quest for answers comes up dry in chat,
head over to [StackOverflow][stack-url] and do a quick search or open a new
question. Remember; It's always much easier to answer questions that include your
`webpack.config.js` and relevant files!
If you're twitter-savvy you can tweet [#webpack][hash-url] with your question
and someone should be able to reach out and lend a hand.
If you have discovered a :bug:, have a feature suggestion, or would like to see
a modification, please feel free to create an issue on Github. _Note: The issue
template isn't optional, so please be sure not to remove it, and please fill it
out completely._
## Contributing
We welcome your contributions! Please have a read of [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) for more information on how to get involved.
## Attribution
This project is heavily inspired by [peerigon/nof5](https://github.com/peerigon/nof5).
## License
#### [MIT](./LICENSE)
[npm]: https://img.shields.io/npm/v/webpack-dev-server.svg
[npm-url]: https://npmjs.com/package/webpack-dev-server
[node]: https://img.shields.io/node/v/webpack-dev-server.svg
[node-url]: https://nodejs.org
[tests]: https://github.com/webpack/webpack-dev-server/workflows/webpack-dev-server/badge.svg
[tests-url]: https://github.com/webpack/webpack-dev-server/actions?query=workflow%3Awebpack-dev-server
[cover]: https://codecov.io/gh/webpack/webpack-dev-server/branch/master/graph/badge.svg
[cover-url]: https://codecov.io/gh/webpack/webpack-dev-server
[chat]: https://badges.gitter.im/webpack/webpack.svg
[chat-url]: https://gitter.im/webpack/webpack
[docs-url]: https://webpack.js.org/configuration/dev-server/#devserver
[hash-url]: https://twitter.com/search?q=webpack
[middleware-url]: https://github.com/webpack/webpack-dev-middleware
[stack-url]: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/webpack-dev-server
[uglify-url]: https://github.com/webpack-contrib/uglifyjs-webpack-plugin
[wjo-url]: https://github.com/webpack/webpack.js.org
[downloads]: https://img.shields.io/npm/dm/webpack-dev-server.svg
[contributors-url]: https://github.com/webpack/webpack-dev-server/graphs/contributors
[contributors]: https://img.shields.io/github/contributors/webpack/webpack-dev-server.svg