SpeechSynthesis.getVoices()

This is an experimental technology
Because this technology's specification has not stabilized, check the compatibility table for usage in various browsers. Also note that the syntax and behavior of an experimental technology is subject to change in future versions of browsers as the specification changes.

The getVoices() method of the SpeechSynthesis interface returns a list of SpeechSynthesisVoice objects representing all the available voices on the current device.

Syntax

JavaScript
speechSynthesisInstance.getVoices();

Parameters

None.

Return value

A list (array) of SpeechSynthesisVoice objects.

Note: The spec wrongly lists this method as returning as a SpeechSynthesisVoiceList object, but this was in fact removed from the spec.

Example

JavaScript

JavaScript
function populateVoiceList() {
  if(typeof speechSynthesis === 'undefined') {
    return;
  }

  voices = speechSynthesis.getVoices();

  for(i = 0; i < voices.length ; i++) {
    var option = document.createElement('option');
    option.textContent = voices[i].name + ' (' + voices[i].lang + ')';
    
    if(voices[i].default) {
      option.textContent += ' -- DEFAULT';
    }

    option.setAttribute('data-lang', voices[i].lang);
    option.setAttribute('data-name', voices[i].name);
    document.getElementById("voiceSelect").appendChild(option);
  }
}

populateVoiceList();
if (typeof speechSynthesis !== 'undefined' && speechSynthesis.onvoiceschanged !== undefined) {
  speechSynthesis.onvoiceschanged = populateVoiceList;
}

HTML

HTML
<select id="voiceSelect"></select>

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
Web Speech API
The definition of 'getVoices()' in that specification.		 Draft Initial definition

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari (WebKit)
Basic support 33 49 (49) No support ? 7
Feature Android Chrome Firefox Mobile (Gecko) Firefox OS IE Phone Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support (Yes) (Yes) No support 2.0 No support No support 7.1

See also

License

© 2016 Mozilla Contributors
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-us/docs/web/api/speechsynthesis/getvoices

API Experimental getVoices Method Reference speech SpeechSynthesis synthesis Web Speech API