Event System

Wails provides a unified event system for pub/sub communication. Emit events from anywhere, listen from anywhere—Go to JavaScript, JavaScript to Go, window to window—enabling decoupled architecture with typed events and lifecycle hooks.

Quick Start

Go (emit):

app.Event.Emit("user-logged-in", map[string]interface{}{
    "userId": 123,
    "name": "Alice",
})

JavaScript (listen):

javascript

import { Events } from '@wailsio/runtime'

Events.On("user-logged-in", (event) => {
    console.log(`User ${event.data.name} logged in`)
})

That’s it! Cross-language pub/sub.

Event Types

Custom Events

Your application-specific events:

// Emit from Go
app.Event.Emit("order-created", order)
app.Event.Emit("payment-processed", payment)
app.Event.Emit("notification", message)

javascript

// Listen in JavaScript
Events.On("order-created", handleOrder)
Events.On("payment-processed", handlePayment)
Events.On("notification", showNotification)

System Events

Built-in OS and application events:

import "github.com/wailsapp/wails/v3/pkg/events"

// Theme changes
app.Event.OnApplicationEvent(events.Common.ThemeChanged, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
    if e.Context().IsDarkMode() {
        app.Logger.Info("Dark mode enabled")
    }
})

// Application lifecycle
app.Event.OnApplicationEvent(events.Common.ApplicationStarted, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
    app.Logger.Info("Application started")
})

Window Events

Window-specific events:

window.OnWindowEvent(events.Common.WindowFocus, func(e *application.WindowEvent) {
    app.Logger.Info("Window focused")
})

window.OnWindowEvent(events.Common.WindowClosing, func(e *application.WindowEvent) {
    app.Logger.Info("Window closing")
})

Emitting Events

From Go

Basic emit:

app.Event.Emit("event-name", data)

With different data types:

// String
app.Event.Emit("message", "Hello")

// Number
app.Event.Emit("count", 42)

// Struct
app.Event.Emit("user", User{ID: 1, Name: "Alice"})

// Map
app.Event.Emit("config", map[string]interface{}{
    "theme": "dark",
    "fontSize": 14,
})

// Array
app.Event.Emit("items", []string{"a", "b", "c"})

To specific window:

window.EmitEvent("window-specific-event", data)

From JavaScript

javascript

import { Events } from '@wailsio/runtime'

// Emit to Go
Events.Emit("button-clicked", { buttonId: "submit" })

// Emit to all windows
Events.Emit("broadcast-message", "Hello everyone")

Listening to Events

In Go

Application events:

app.Event.On("custom-event", func(e *application.CustomEvent) {
    data := e.Data
    // Handle event
})

With type assertion:

app.Event.On("user-updated", func(e *application.CustomEvent) {
    user := e.Data.(User)
    app.Logger.Info("User updated", "name", user.Name)
})

Multiple handlers:

// All handlers will be called
app.Event.On("order-created", logOrder)
app.Event.On("order-created", sendEmail)
app.Event.On("order-created", updateInventory)

In JavaScript

Basic listener:

javascript

import { Events } from '@wailsio/runtime'

Events.On("event-name", (event) => {
    console.log("Event received:", event.data)
})

With cleanup:

javascript

const unsubscribe = Events.On("event-name", handleEvent)

// Later, stop listening
unsubscribe()

Multiple handlers:

javascript

Events.On("data-updated", updateUI)
Events.On("data-updated", saveToCache)
Events.On("data-updated", logChange)

One Time handlers:

javascript

Events.Once("data-updated", updateVariable)

System Events

Application Events

Common events (cross-platform):

import "github.com/wailsapp/wails/v3/pkg/events"

// Application started
app.Event.OnApplicationEvent(events.Common.ApplicationStarted, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
    app.Logger.Info("App started")
})

// Theme changed
app.Event.OnApplicationEvent(events.Common.ThemeChanged, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
    isDark := e.Context().IsDarkMode()
    app.Event.Emit("theme-changed", isDark)
})

// System about to suspend
app.Event.OnApplicationEvent(events.Common.SystemWillSleep, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
    flushPendingWrites()
})

// System resumed from suspend
app.Event.OnApplicationEvent(events.Common.SystemDidWake, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
    reconnectSockets()
    refreshState()
})

// File opened
app.Event.OnApplicationEvent(events.Common.ApplicationOpenedWithFile, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
    // Single-file: e.Context().Filename() returns ""; for multi-file launches
    // (Finder "Open With..." → multiple selection) use OpenedFiles().
    filePath := e.Context().Filename()
    openFile(filePath)
})

Platform-specific events:

// Application became active
app.Event.OnApplicationEvent(events.Mac.ApplicationDidBecomeActive, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
    app.Logger.Info("App became active")
})

// Application will terminate
app.Event.OnApplicationEvent(events.Mac.ApplicationWillTerminate, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
    cleanup()
})

// System about to sleep / resumed
app.Event.OnApplicationEvent(events.Mac.ApplicationWillSleep, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
    flushPendingWrites()
})
app.Event.OnApplicationEvent(events.Mac.ApplicationDidWake, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
    refreshState()
})

// Displays sleeping/waking — distinct from system sleep (e.g. lid lowered)
app.Event.OnApplicationEvent(events.Mac.ApplicationScreensDidSleep, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
    pauseRendering()
})
app.Event.OnApplicationEvent(events.Mac.ApplicationScreensDidWake, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
    resumeRendering()
})

// Power status changed
app.Event.OnApplicationEvent(events.Windows.APMPowerStatusChange, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
    app.Logger.Info("Power status changed")
})

// System suspending
app.Event.OnApplicationEvent(events.Windows.APMSuspend, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
    saveState()
})

// System resumed. APMResumeAutomatic always fires on resume;
// APMResumeSuspend fires after it when the wake was triggered by
// user input. Prefer Common.SystemDidWake if you don't need to
// distinguish.
app.Event.OnApplicationEvent(events.Windows.APMResumeAutomatic, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
    refreshState()
})

// Application startup
app.Event.OnApplicationEvent(events.Linux.ApplicationStartup, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
    app.Logger.Info("App starting")
})

// Theme changed
app.Event.OnApplicationEvent(events.Linux.SystemThemeChanged, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
    updateTheme()
})

// System sleep/wake — sourced from systemd-logind's PrepareForSleep
// signal on the system bus. Requires logind/elogind exposing
// org.freedesktop.login1, so it may be unavailable on distros/setups
// without it (Alpine, Void, some Devuan setups).
app.Event.OnApplicationEvent(events.Linux.SystemWillSleep, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
    flushPendingWrites()
})
app.Event.OnApplicationEvent(events.Linux.SystemDidWake, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
    refreshState()
})

Window Events

Common window events:

// Window focus
window.OnWindowEvent(events.Common.WindowFocus, func(e *application.WindowEvent) {
    app.Logger.Info("Window focused")
})

// Window blur
window.OnWindowEvent(events.Common.WindowLostFocus, func(e *application.WindowEvent) {
    app.Logger.Info("Window blurred")
})

// Window closing
window.OnWindowEvent(events.Common.WindowClosing, func(e *application.WindowEvent) {
    if hasUnsavedChanges() {
        e.Cancel()  // Prevent close
    }
})

// Window closed
window.OnWindowEvent(events.Common.WindowClosing, func(e *application.WindowEvent) {
    cleanup()
})

Event Hooks

Hooks run before standard listeners and can cancel events:

// Hook - runs first, can cancel
window.RegisterHook(events.Common.WindowClosing, func(e *application.WindowEvent) {
    if hasUnsavedChanges() {
        result := showConfirmdialog("Unsaved changes. Close anyway?")
        if result != "yes" {
            e.Cancel()  // Prevent window close
        }
    }
})

// Standard listener - runs after hooks
window.OnWindowEvent(events.Common.WindowClosing, func(e *application.WindowEvent) {
    app.Logger.Info("Window closing")
})

Key differences:

Feature	Hooks	Standard Listeners
Execution order	First, in registration order	After hooks, no guaranteed order
Blocking	Synchronous, blocks next hook	Asynchronous, non-blocking
Can cancel	Yes	No (already propagated)
Use case	Control flow, validation	Logging, side effects

Event Patterns

Pub/Sub Pattern

// Publisher (service)
type OrderService struct {
    app *application.App
}

func (o *OrderService) CreateOrder(items []Item) (*Order, error) {
    order := &Order{Items: items}
    
    if err := o.saveOrder(order); err != nil {
        return nil, err
    }
    
    // Publish event
    o.app.Event.Emit("order-created", order)
    
    return order, nil
}

// Subscribers
app.Event.On("order-created", func(e *application.CustomEvent) {
    order := e.Data.(*Order)
    sendConfirmationEmail(order)
})

app.Event.On("order-created", func(e *application.CustomEvent) {
    order := e.Data.(*Order)
    updateInventory(order)
})

app.Event.On("order-created", func(e *application.CustomEvent) {
    order := e.Data.(*Order)
    logOrder(order)
})

Request/Response Pattern

// Frontend requests data
Emit("get-user-data", { userId: 123 })

// Backend responds
app.Event.On("get-user-data", func(e *application.CustomEvent) {
    data := e.Data.(map[string]interface{})
    userId := int(data["userId"].(float64))
    
    user := getUserFromDB(userId)
    
    // Send response
    app.Event.Emit("user-data-response", user)
})

javascript

// Frontend receives response
Events.On("user-data-response", (event) => {
    const user = event.data
    displayUser(user)
})

Note: For request/response, bindings are better. Use events for notifications.

Broadcast Pattern

// Broadcast to all windows
app.Event.Emit("global-notification", "System update available")

// Each window handles it
Events.On("global-notification", (event) => {
    const message = event.data
    showNotification(message)
})

Event Aggregation

type EventAggregator struct {
    events []Event
    mu     sync.Mutex
}

func (ea *EventAggregator) Add(event Event) {
    ea.mu.Lock()
    defer ea.mu.Unlock()
    
    ea.events = append(ea.events, event)
    
    // Emit batch every 100 events
    if len(ea.events) >= 100 {
        app.Event.Emit("event-batch", ea.events)
        ea.events = nil
    }
}

Complete Example

Go:

package main

import (
    "github.com/wailsapp/wails/v3/pkg/application"
    "github.com/wailsapp/wails/v3/pkg/events"
)

type NotificationService struct {
    app *application.App
}

func (n *NotificationService) Notify(message string) {
    // Emit to all windows
    n.app.Event.Emit("notification", map[string]interface{}{
        "message":   message,
        "timestamp": time.Now(),
    })
}

func main() {
    app := application.New(application.Options{
        Name: "Event Demo",
    })
    
    notifService := &NotificationService{app: app}
    
    // System events
    app.Event.OnApplicationEvent(events.Common.ThemeChanged, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
        isDark := e.Context().IsDarkMode()
        app.Event.Emit("theme-changed", isDark)
    })
    
    // Custom events from frontend
    app.Event.On("user-action", func(e *application.CustomEvent) {
        data := e.Data.(map[string]interface{})
        action := data["action"].(string)
        
        app.Logger.Info("User action", "action", action)
        
        // Respond
        notifService.Notify("Action completed: " + action)
    })
    
    // Window events
    window := app.Window.New()
    
    window.OnWindowEvent(events.Common.WindowFocus, func(e *application.WindowEvent) {
        app.Event.Emit("window-focused", window.Name())
    })
    
    window.RegisterHook(events.Common.WindowClosing, func(e *application.WindowEvent) {
        // Confirm before close
        app.Event.Emit("confirm-close", nil)
        e.Cancel()  // Wait for confirmation
    })
    
    app.Run()
}

JavaScript:

javascript

import { Events } from '@wailsio/runtime'

// Listen for notifications
Events.On("notification", (event) => {
    showNotification(event.data.message)
})

// Listen for theme changes
Events.On("theme-changed", (event) => {
    const isDark = event.data
    document.body.classList.toggle('dark', isDark)
})

// Listen for window focus
Events.On("window-focused", (event) => {
    const windowName = event.data
    console.log(`Window ${windowName} focused`)
})

// Handle close confirmation
Events.On("confirm-close", (event) => {
    if (confirm("Close window?")) {
        Events.Emit("close-confirmed", true)
    }
})

// Emit user actions
document.getElementById('button').addEventListener('click', () => {
    Events.Emit("user-action", { action: "button-clicked" })
})

Best Practices

✅ Do

Use events for notifications - One-way communication
Use bindings for requests - Two-way communication
Keep event names consistent - Use kebab-case
Document event data - What fields are included?
Unsubscribe when done - Prevent memory leaks
Use hooks for validation - Control event flow

❌ Don’t

Don’t use events for RPC - Use bindings instead
Don’t emit too frequently - Batch if needed
Don’t block in handlers - Keep them fast
Don’t forget to unsubscribe - Memory leaks
Don’t use events for large data - Use bindings
Don’t create event loops - A emits B, B emits A

Next Steps

Events Guide

Learn about event patterns and type-safe event generation.

Learn More →

Event API

Explore the full application and window event API.

Learn More →

Bindings

Use bindings for request/response.

Learn More →

Window Events

Handle window lifecycle events.

Learn More →

Questions? Ask in Discord or check the event examples.

Accessibility

Edit this documentation

Event System

Event System

Quick Start

Event Types

Custom Events

System Events

Window Events

Emitting Events

From Go

From JavaScript

Listening to Events

In Go

In JavaScript

System Events

Application Events

Window Events

Event Hooks

Event Patterns

Pub/Sub Pattern

Request/Response Pattern

Broadcast Pattern

Event Aggregation

Complete Example

Best Practices

✅ Do

❌ Don’t

Next Steps