| name | zoom-cobrowse-sdk |
| description | Zoom Cobrowse SDK for web - JavaScript SDK for real-time collaborative browsing between agents and customers. Features include annotation tools, privacy masking, remote assist, and PIN-based session sharing. |
| triggers | ["cobrowse","co-browse","collaborative browsing","agent assist","customer support screen share","zoom cobrowse"] |
Zoom Cobrowse SDK - Web Development
Expert guidance for implementing collaborative browsing with the Zoom Cobrowse SDK. This SDK enables support agents to view and interact with a customer's browser session in real-time, with privacy controls and annotation tools.
Current public changelog release: 3.6.0 (June 29, 2026; verified 2026-07-10).
The current 3.x line adds multi-agent remote-assist control, keyboard-accessible annotations,
broader masking for image/SVG/iframe/canvas/text/background content, customer-only multi-tab
transfer, annotation snap-to-element, and improved synchronization/latency. Pin and test an exact
version before using a floating minor selector.
Official Documentation: https://developers.zoom.us/docs/cobrowse-sdk/
API Reference: https://marketplacefront.zoom.us/sdk/cobrowse/
Quickstart Repository: https://github.com/zoom/CobrowseSDK-Quickstart
Auth Endpoint Sample: https://github.com/zoom/cobrowsesdk-auth-endpoint-sample
Quick Links
New to Cobrowse SDK? Follow this path:
- Get Started Guide - Complete setup from credentials to first session
- Session Lifecycle - Understanding customer and agent flows
- JWT Authentication - Token generation and security
- Customer Integration - Integrate SDK into your website
- Agent Integration - Set up agent portal (iframe or npm)
Core Concepts:
Features:
Troubleshooting:
Reference:
SDK Overview
The Zoom Cobrowse SDK is a JavaScript library that provides:
- Real-Time Co-Browsing: Agent sees customer's browser activity live
- PIN-Based Sessions: Secure 6-digit PIN for customer-to-agent connection
- Annotation Tools: Drawing, highlighting, vanishing pen, rectangle, color picker
- Privacy Masking: CSS selector-based masking of sensitive form fields
- Remote Assist: Agent can scroll customer's page (with consent)
- Multi-Tab Persistence: Session continues when customer opens new tabs
- Auto-Reconnection: Session recovers from page refresh (2-minute window)
- Session Events: Real-time events for session state changes
- HTTPS Required: Secure connections (HTTP only works on loopback/local development hosts)
- No Plugins: Pure JavaScript, no browser extensions needed
Two Roles Architecture
Cobrowse has two distinct roles, each with different integration patterns:
| Role | role_type | Integration | JWT Required | Purpose |
|---|
| Customer | 1 | Website integration (CDN or npm) | Yes | User who shares their browser session |
| Agent | 2 | Iframe (CDN) or npm (BYOP only) | Yes | Support staff who views/assists customer |
Key Insight: Customer and agent use different integration methods but the same JWT authentication pattern.
Read This First (Critical)
For customer/agent demos, treat the PIN from customer SDK event pincode_updated as the only user-facing PIN.
- Show one clearly labeled value in UI (for example, Support PIN).
- Use that same PIN for agent join.
- Do not expose provisional/debug PINs from backend pre-start records to users.
If these rules are ignored, agent desk often fails with Pincode is not found / code 30308.
Typical Production Flow (Most Common)
This is the flow most teams implement first, and what users usually expect in demos:
- Customer starts session first (
role_type=1)
- Backend creates/records session
- Backend returns customer JWT
- Customer SDK starts and receives a PIN
- Agent joins second (
role_type=2)
- Agent enters customer PIN
- Backend validates PIN and session state
- Backend returns agent JWT
- Agent opens Zoom-hosted desk iframe (or custom npm agent UI in BYOP)
If a demo only has one generic "session" user, it is incomplete for real cobrowse operations.
Prerequisites
Platform Requirements
-
Supported Browsers:
- Chrome 80+ ✓
- Firefox 78+ ✓
- Safari 14+ ✓
- Edge 80+ ✓
- Internet Explorer ✗ (not supported)
-
Network Requirements:
- HTTPS required (HTTP works on loopback/local development hosts only)
- Allow cross-origin requests to
*.zoom.us
- CSP headers must allow Zoom domains (see CORS and CSP guide)
-
Third-Party Cookies:
- Must enable third-party cookies for refresh reconnection
- Privacy mode may limit certain features
Zoom Account Requirements
- Zoom Workplace Account with SDK Universal Credit
- Video SDK App created in Zoom Marketplace
- Cobrowse SDK Credentials from the app's Cobrowse tab
Note: Cobrowse SDK is a feature of Video SDK (not a separate product).
Need to create the Video SDK app first? Use
Marketplace app management for app creation,
manifest validation, Video SDK credential shape, and app-type quirks before generating
Cobrowse JWTs.
Credentials Overview
You'll receive 4 credentials from Zoom Marketplace → Video SDK App → Cobrowse tab:
| Credential | Type | Used For | Exposure Safe? |
|---|
| SDK Key | Public | CDN URL, JWT app_key claim | ✓ Yes (client-side) |
| SDK Secret | Private | Sign JWTs | ✗ No (server-side only) |
| API Key | Private | REST API calls (optional) | ✗ No (server-side only) |
| API Secret | Private | REST API calls (optional) | ✗ No (server-side only) |
Critical: SDK Key is public (embedded in CDN URL), but SDK Secret must never be exposed client-side.
Quick Start
Step 1: Get SDK Credentials
- Go to Zoom Marketplace
- Open your Video SDK App (or create one)
- Navigate to the Cobrowse tab
- Copy your credentials:
- SDK Key
- SDK Secret
- API Key (optional)
- API Secret (optional)
Step 2: Set Up Token Server
Deploy a server-side endpoint to generate JWTs. Use the official sample:
git clone https://github.com/zoom/cobrowsesdk-auth-endpoint-sample.git
cd cobrowsesdk-auth-endpoint-sample
npm install
cat > .env << EOF
ZOOM_SDK_KEY=your_sdk_key_here
ZOOM_SDK_SECRET=your_sdk_secret_here
PORT=4000
EOF
npm start
Token endpoint:
{
"role": 1,
"userId": "user123",
"userName": "John Doe"
}
{
"token": "eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIs..."
}
Step 3: Customer Side Integration (CDN)
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Customer - Cobrowse Demo</title>
<script type="module">
const ZOOM_SDK_KEY = 'YOUR_SDK_KEY';
(function(r, a, b, f, c, d) {
r[f] = r[f] || { init: function() { r.ZoomCobrowseSDKInitArgs = arguments }};
var fragment = a.createDocumentFragment();
function loadJs(url) {
c = a.createElement(b);
d = a.getElementsByTagName(b)[0];
c["async"] = false;
c.src = url;
fragment.appendChild(c);
}
loadJs(`https://us01-zcb.zoom.us/static/resource/sdk/${ZOOM_SDK_KEY}/js/3.6.0`);
d.parentNode.insertBefore(fragment, d);
})(window, document, "script", "ZoomCobrowseSDK");
</script>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Customer Support</h1>
<button id="cobrowse-btn" disabled>Loading...</button>
<label>SSN: <input type="text" class="pii-mask" placeholder="XXX-XX-XXXX"></label>
<label>Credit Card: <input type="text" class="pii-mask" placeholder="XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX"></label>
<script type="module">
let sessionRef = null;
const settings = {
allowAgentAnnotation: true,
allowCustomerAnnotation: true,
piiMask: {
maskCssSelectors: ".pii-mask",
maskType: "custom_input"
}
};
ZoomCobrowseSDK.init(settings, function({ success, session, error }) {
if (success) {
sessionRef = session;
session.on("pincode_updated", (payload) => {
console.log("PIN Code:", payload.pincode);
alert(`Share this PIN with agent: ${payload.pincode}`);
});
session.on("session_started", () => console.log("Session started"));
session.on("agent_joined", () => console.log("Agent joined"));
session.on("agent_left", () => console.log("Agent left"));
session.on("session_ended", () => console.log("Session ended"));
document.getElementById("cobrowse-btn").disabled = false;
document.getElementById("cobrowse-btn").innerText = "Start Cobrowse Session";
} else {
console.error("SDK init failed:", error);
}
});
document.getElementById("cobrowse-btn").addEventListener("click", async () => {
const response = await fetch("https://YOUR_TOKEN_SERVICE_BASE_URL", {
method: "POST",
headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
body: JSON.stringify({
role: 1,
userId: "customer_" + Date.now(),
userName: "Customer"
})
});
const { token } = await response.json();
sessionRef.start({ sdkToken: token });
});
</script>
</body>
</html>
Step 4: Agent Side Integration (Iframe)
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Agent Portal</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Agent Portal</h1>
<iframe
id="agent-iframe"
width="1024"
height="768"
allow="autoplay *; camera *; microphone *; display-capture *; geolocation *;"
></iframe>
<script>
async function connectAgent() {
const response = await fetch("https://YOUR_TOKEN_SERVICE_BASE_URL", {
method: "POST",
headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
body: JSON.stringify({
role: 2,
userId: "agent_" + Date.now(),
userName: "Support Agent"
})
});
const { token } = await response.json();
const iframe = document.getElementById("agent-iframe");
iframe.src = `https://us01-zcb.zoom.us/sdkapi/zcb/frame-templates/desk?access_token=${token}`;
}
connectAgent();
</script>
</body>
</html>
Step 5: Test the Integration
- Open two separate browsers (or incognito + normal)
- Customer browser: Open customer page, click "Start Cobrowse Session"
- Customer browser: Note the 6-digit PIN displayed
- Agent browser: Open agent page, enter the PIN code
- Both browsers: Session connects, agent can see customer's page
- Test features: Annotations, data masking, remote assist
Key Features
1. Annotation Tools
Both customer and agent can draw on the shared screen:
const settings = {
allowAgentAnnotation: true,
allowCustomerAnnotation: true
};
Available tools:
- Pen (persistent)
- Vanishing pen (disappears after 4 seconds)
- Rectangle
- Color picker
- Eraser
- Undo/Redo
2. Privacy Masking
Hide sensitive fields from agents using CSS selectors:
const settings = {
piiMask: {
maskType: "custom_input",
maskCssSelectors: ".pii-mask, #ssn",
maskHTMLAttributes: "data-sensitive=true"
}
};
Supported masking:
- Text nodes ✓
- Form inputs ✓
- Select elements ✓
- Images ✗ (not supported)
- Links ✗ (not supported)
3. Remote Assist
Agent can scroll the customer's page:
const settings = {
remoteAssist: {
enable: true,
enableCustomerConsent: true,
remoteAssistTypes: ['scroll_page'],
requireStopConfirmation: false
}
};
4. Multi-Tab Session Persistence
Session continues when customer opens new tabs:
const settings = {
multiTabSessionPersistence: {
enable: true,
stateCookieKey: '$$ZCB_SESSION$$'
}
};
Session Lifecycle
Customer Flow
- Load SDK → CDN script loads
ZoomCobrowseSDK
- Initialize →
ZoomCobrowseSDK.init(settings, callback)
- Fetch JWT → Request token from your server (role_type=1)
- Start Session →
session.start({ sdkToken })
- PIN Generated →
pincode_updated event fires
- Share PIN → Customer gives 6-digit PIN to agent
- Agent Joins →
agent_joined event fires
- Session Active → Real-time synchronization begins
- End Session →
session.end() or agent leaves
Agent Flow
- Fetch JWT → Request token from your server (role_type=2)
- Load Iframe → Point to Zoom agent portal with token
- Enter PIN → Agent inputs customer's 6-digit PIN
- Connect →
session_joined event fires
- View Session → Agent sees customer's browser
- Use Tools → Annotations, remote assist, zoom
- Leave Session → Click "Leave Cobrowse" button
Session Recovery (Auto-Reconnect)
When customer refreshes the page:
ZoomCobrowseSDK.init(settings, function({ success, session, error }) {
if (success) {
const sessionInfo = session.getSessionInfo();
if (sessionInfo.sessionStatus === 'session_recoverable') {
session.join();
} else {
session.start({ sdkToken });
}
}
});
Recovery window: 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, session ends.
Critical Gotchas and Best Practices
⚠️ CRITICAL: SDK Secret Must Stay Server-Side
Problem: Developers often accidentally embed SDK Secret in frontend code.
Solution:
- ✓ SDK Key → Safe to expose (embedded in CDN URL)
- ✗ SDK Secret → Never expose (use for JWT signing server-side)
const jwt = signJWT(payload, 'YOUR_SDK_SECRET');
const response = await fetch('/api/token', {
method: 'POST',
body: JSON.stringify({ role: 1, userId, userName })
});
const { token } = await response.json();
SDK Key vs API Key (Different Purposes!)
| Credential | Used For | JWT Claim |
|---|
| SDK Key | CDN URL, JWT app_key | app_key: "SDK_KEY" |
| API Key | REST API calls (optional) | Not used in JWT |
Common mistake: Using API Key instead of SDK Key in JWT app_key claim.
Session Limits
| Limit | Value | What Happens |
|---|
| Customers per session | 1 | Error 1012: SESSION_CUSTOMER_COUNT_LIMIT |
| Agents per session | 5 | Error 1013: SESSION_AGENT_COUNT_LIMIT |
| Active sessions per browser | 1 | Error 1004: SESSION_COUNT_LIMIT |
| PIN code length | 10 chars max | Error 1008: SESSION_PIN_INVALID_FORMAT |
Session Timeout Behavior
| Event | Timeout | What Happens |
|---|
| Agent waiting for customer | 3 minutes | Session ends automatically |
| Page refresh reconnection | 2 minutes | Session ends if not reconnected |
| Reconnection attempts | 2 times max | Session ends after 2 failed attempts |
HTTPS Requirement
Problem: SDK doesn't load on HTTP sites.
Solution:
- Production: Use HTTPS ✓
- Development: Use a loopback host for local HTTP testing ✓
- Development: Use a local HTTPS endpoint with a trusted/self-signed cert if required ✓
Third-Party Cookies Required
Problem: Refresh reconnection doesn't work.
Solution: Enable third-party cookies in browser settings.
Affected scenarios:
- Browser privacy mode
- Safari with "Prevent cross-site tracking" enabled
- Chrome with "Block third-party cookies" enabled
Distribution Method Confusion
| Method | Use Case | Agent Integration | BYOP Required |
|---|
| CDN | Most use cases | Zoom-hosted iframe | No (auto PIN) |
| npm | Custom agent UI, full control | Custom npm integration | Yes (required) |
Key Insight: If you want npm integration, you must use BYOP (Bring Your Own PIN) mode.
Cross-Origin Iframe Handling
Problem: Cobrowse doesn't work in cross-origin iframes.
Solution: Inject SDK snippet into cross-origin iframes:
<script>
const ZOOM_SDK_KEY = "YOUR_SDK_KEY_HERE";
(function(r,a,b,f,c,d){r[f]=r[f]||{init:function(){r.ZoomCobrowseSDKInitArgs=arguments}};
var fragment=a.createDocumentFragment();function loadJs(url) {c=a.createElement(b);d=a.getElementsByTagName(b)[0];c.async=false;c.src=url;fragment.appendChild(c);};
loadJs('https://us01-zcb.zoom.us/static/resource/sdk/${ZOOM_SDK_KEY}/js');d.parentNode.insertBefore(fragment,d);})(window,document,'script','ZoomCobrowseSDK');
</script>
Same-origin iframes: No extra setup needed.
Known Limitations
Synchronization Limits
Not synchronized:
- HTML5 Canvas elements
- WebGL content
- Audio and Video elements
- Shadow DOM
- PDF rendered with Canvas
- Web Components
Partially synchronized:
- Drop-down boxes (only selected result)
- Date pickers (only selected result)
- Color pickers (only selected result)
Rendering Limits
- High-resolution images may be compressed
- Different screen sizes may cause CSS media query differences
- Cross-origin images may not render (CORS restrictions)
- Cross-origin fonts may not render (CORS restrictions)
Masking Limits
Supported:
- Text nodes ✓
- Form inputs ✓
- Select elements ✓
Not supported:
Complete Documentation Library
This skill includes comprehensive guides organized by category:
Core Concepts
Examples
References
Troubleshooting
Resources
Need help? Start with Integrated Index section below for complete navigation.
Integrated Index
This section was migrated from SKILL.md.
Complete navigation guide for all Cobrowse SDK documentation.
Getting Started (Start Here!)
If you're new to Zoom Cobrowse SDK, follow this learning path:
- SKILL.md - Main overview and quick start
- 5-Minute Runbook - Preflight checks for common failures
- Get Started Guide - Step-by-step setup from credentials to first session
- Session Lifecycle - Understand the complete customer and agent flow
- Customer Integration - Integrate SDK into your website
- Agent Integration - Set up agent portal
Core Concepts
Foundational concepts you need to understand:
Examples and Patterns
Complete working examples for common scenarios:
Session Management
Features
References
Complete API and configuration references:
SDK Reference
-
API Reference - All SDK methods and interfaces
- ZoomCobrowseSDK.init()
- session.start()
- session.join()
- session.end()
- session.on()
- session.getSessionInfo()
-
Settings Reference - All initialization settings
- allowAgentAnnotation
- allowCustomerAnnotation
- piiMask
- remoteAssist
- multiTabSessionPersistence
-
Session Events Reference - All event types
- pincode_updated
- session_started
- session_ended
- agent_joined
- agent_left
- session_error
- session_reconnecting
- remote_assist_started
- remote_assist_stopped
Error Reference
- Error Codes - Complete error code reference
- 1001-1017: Session errors
- 2001: Token errors
- 9999: Service errors
Official Documentation
Troubleshooting
Quick diagnostics and common issue resolution:
-
Common Issues - Quick fixes for frequent problems
- SDK not loading
- Token generation fails
- Agent can't connect
- Fields not masked
- Session doesn't reconnect after refresh
-
Error Codes - Error code lookup and solutions
- Session start/join failures (1001, 1011, 1016)
- Session limit errors (1002, 1004, 1012, 1013, 1015)
- PIN code errors (1006, 1008, 1009, 1010)
- Token errors (2001)
-
CORS and CSP - Cross-origin and Content Security Policy setup
- Access-Control-Allow-Origin headers
- Content-Security-Policy headers
- Cross-origin iframe handling
- Same-origin iframe handling
-
Browser Compatibility - Browser requirements and limitations
- Supported browsers (Chrome 80+, Firefox 78+, Safari 14+, Edge 80+)
- Internet Explorer not supported
- Privacy mode limitations
- Third-party cookie requirements
By Use Case
Find documentation by what you're trying to do:
I want to...
Set up cobrowse for the first time:
Add annotation tools:
Hide sensitive data from agents:
Let agents control customer's page:
Use custom PIN codes:
Handle page refreshes:
Integrate with npm (not CDN):
Debug session connection issues:
Configure CORS and CSP headers:
By Error Code
Quick lookup for error code solutions:
Session Errors
PIN Errors
Auth Errors
Service Errors
Official Resources
External documentation and samples:
Documentation Structure
cobrowse-sdk/
├── SKILL.md # Main skill entry point
├── SKILL.md # This file - complete navigation
├── get-started.md # Step-by-step setup guide
│
├── concepts/ # Core concepts
│ ├── two-roles-pattern.md
│ ├── session-lifecycle.md
│ ├── jwt-authentication.md
│ └── distribution-methods.md
│
├── examples/ # Working examples
│ ├── customer-integration.md
│ ├── agent-integration.md
│ ├── annotations.md
│ ├── privacy-masking.md
│ ├── remote-assist.md
│ ├── multi-tab-persistence.md
│ ├── byop-custom-pin.md
│ ├── session-events.md
│ └── auto-reconnection.md
│
├── references/ # API and config references
│ ├── api-reference.md # SDK methods
│ ├── settings-reference.md # Init settings
│ ├── session-events.md # Event types
│ ├── error-codes.md # Error reference
│ ├── get-started.md # Official docs (crawled)
│ ├── features.md # Official docs (crawled)
│ ├── authorization.md # Official docs (crawled)
│ └── api.md # API docs (crawled)
│
└── troubleshooting/ # Problem resolution
├── common-issues.md
├── error-codes.md
├── cors-csp.md
└── browser-compatibility.md
Search Tips
Find by keyword:
Not finding what you need? Check the Official Documentation or ask on the Dev Forum.
Environment Variables