Mozilla Adds Web Serial Support to Firefox 151 With Adafruit Hardware Collaboration

[harlan4096]

Mozilla has added support for the Web Serial API in Firefox on desktop with the release of Firefox 151. The API enables the browser to communicate directly with hardware devices like microcontrollers, development boards, and other serial-connected equipment without needing additional software.

This update brings Firefox closer to feature parity with Chromium-based browsers, which have supported Web Serial for several years. Mozilla views this change as mainly useful for developers, makers, educators, and embedded device communities rather than the general user base.

What the Web Serial API Enables in Firefox 151

Web Serial enables web pages to connect and communicate with hardware devices over a serial connection. Common uses include programming microcontrollers directly from a browser, configuring development boards through web-based tools, reading sensor data into a web app, and updating firmware on embedded devices.

Previously, many of these tasks required users to use Chrome or Chromium-based browsers, as Web Serial was not available in Gecko. However, with Firefox 151, these workflows are now possible in Firefox without additional setup for many projects.

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