Ringing

Implement a complete calling workflow with ringing, incoming/outgoing call UI, accept/reject/cancel functionality, and call session management.

AI Integration Quick Reference

let sessionId = "SESSION_ID";

// Initiate a call
const call = new CometChat.Call("UID", CometChat.CALL_TYPE.VIDEO, CometChat.RECEIVER_TYPE.USER);
await CometChat.initiateCall(call);

// Listen for call events
CometChat.addCallListener("ID", new CometChat.CallListener({
  onIncomingCallReceived: (call) => { /* show incoming UI */ },
  onOutgoingCallAccepted: (call) => { /* start session */ },
  onOutgoingCallRejected: (call) => { /* dismiss UI */ },
  onIncomingCallCancelled: (call) => { /* dismiss UI */ }
}));

// Accept / Reject / Cancel
await CometChat.acceptCall(sessionId);
await CometChat.rejectCall(sessionId, CometChat.CALL_STATUS.REJECTED);
await CometChat.rejectCall(sessionId, CometChat.CALL_STATUS.CANCELLED);

Flow: Initiate → Receiver notified → Accept/Reject → Start session

Overview

This section explains how to implement a complete calling workflow with ringing functionality, including incoming/outgoing call UI, call acceptance, rejection, and cancellation. Previously known as Default Calling.

After the call is accepted, you need to start the call session. See the Call Session guide for details on starting and managing the actual call.

Call Flow:

1. Caller initiates a call using initiateCall()
2. Receiver gets notified via onIncomingCallReceived() callback
3. Receiver can either:
   • Accept the call using acceptCall()
   • Reject the call using rejectCall() with status CALL_STATUS_REJECTED
4. Caller can cancel the call using rejectCall() with status CALL_STATUS_CANCELLED
5. Once accepted, both participants call startSession() to join the call

Initiate Call

The initiateCall() method sends a call request to a user or a group. On success, the receiver gets an onIncomingCallReceived() callback.

User Call (TypeScript)

const receiverID: string = "UID";
const callType: string = CometChat.CALL_TYPE.VIDEO;
const receiverType: string = CometChat.RECEIVER_TYPE.USER;

const call: CometChat.Call = new CometChat.Call(receiverID, callType, receiverType);

CometChat.initiateCall(call).then(
  (outgoingCall: CometChat.Call) => {
    console.log("Call initiated:", outgoingCall);
  },
  (error: CometChat.CometChatException) => {
    console.log("Call initiation failed:", error);
  }
);

User Call (JavaScript)

const receiverID = "UID";
const callType = CometChat.CALL_TYPE.VIDEO;
const receiverType = CometChat.RECEIVER_TYPE.USER;

const call = new CometChat.Call(receiverID, callType, receiverType);

CometChat.initiateCall(call).then(
  (outgoingCall) => {
    console.log("Call initiated:", outgoingCall);
    // Show outgoing call UI
    // Store outgoingCall.getSessionId() for later use
  },
  (error) => {
    console.log("Call initiation failed:", error);
  }
);

Group Call (TypeScript)

const receiverID: string = "GUID";
const callType: string = CometChat.CALL_TYPE.VIDEO;
const receiverType: string = CometChat.RECEIVER_TYPE.GROUP;

const call: CometChat.Call = new CometChat.Call(receiverID, callType, receiverType);

CometChat.initiateCall(call).then(
  (outgoingCall: CometChat.Call) => {
    console.log("Call initiated:", outgoingCall);
  },
  (error: CometChat.CometChatException) => {
    console.log("Call initiation failed:", error);
  }
);

Group Call (JavaScript)

const receiverID = "GUID";
const callType = CometChat.CALL_TYPE.VIDEO;
const receiverType = CometChat.RECEIVER_TYPE.GROUP;

const call = new CometChat.Call(receiverID, callType, receiverType);

CometChat.initiateCall(call).then(
  (outgoingCall) => {
    console.log("Call initiated:", outgoingCall);
    // Show outgoing call UI
  },
  (error) => {
    console.log("Call initiation failed:", error);
  }
);

Parameter	Description
receiverID	The UID or GUID of the recipient
receiverType	CometChat.RECEIVER_TYPE.USER or CometChat.RECEIVER_TYPE.GROUP
callType	CometChat.CALL_TYPE.AUDIO or CometChat.CALL_TYPE.VIDEO

On success, a Call object is returned containing the call details including a unique sessionId required for starting the call session.

By default, an unanswered call automatically cancels after 45 seconds. You can customize this duration by passing an optional timeout parameter (in seconds) as the second argument to initiateCall().

User Call (TypeScript)

const receiverID: string = "UID";
const callType: string = CometChat.CALL_TYPE.VIDEO;
const receiverType: string = CometChat.RECEIVER_TYPE.USER;

const call: CometChat.Call = new CometChat.Call(receiverID, callType, receiverType);

// Set a custom timeout of 60 seconds
CometChat.initiateCall(call, 60).then(
  (outgoingCall: CometChat.Call) => {
    console.log("Call initiated with 60s timeout:", outgoingCall);
  },
  (error: CometChat.CometChatException) => {
    console.log("Call initiation failed:", error);
  }
);

User Call (JavaScript)

const receiverID = "UID";
const callType = CometChat.CALL_TYPE.VIDEO;
const receiverType = CometChat.RECEIVER_TYPE.USER;

const call = new CometChat.Call(receiverID, callType, receiverType);

// Set a custom timeout of 60 seconds
CometChat.initiateCall(call, 60).then(
  (outgoingCall) => {
    console.log("Call initiated with 60s timeout:", outgoingCall);
  },
  (error) => {
    console.log("Call initiation failed:", error);
  }
);

Group Call (TypeScript)

const receiverID: string = "GUID";
const callType: string = CometChat.CALL_TYPE.VIDEO;
const receiverType: string = CometChat.RECEIVER_TYPE.GROUP;

const call: CometChat.Call = new CometChat.Call(receiverID, callType, receiverType);

// Set a custom timeout of 60 seconds
CometChat.initiateCall(call, 60).then(
  (outgoingCall: CometChat.Call) => {
    console.log("Call initiated with 60s timeout:", outgoingCall);
  },
  (error: CometChat.CometChatException) => {
    console.log("Call initiation failed:", error);
  }
);

Group Call (JavaScript)

const receiverID = "GUID";
const callType = CometChat.CALL_TYPE.VIDEO;
const receiverType = CometChat.RECEIVER_TYPE.GROUP;

const call = new CometChat.Call(receiverID, callType, receiverType);

// Set a custom timeout of 60 seconds
CometChat.initiateCall(call, 60).then(
  (outgoingCall) => {
    console.log("Call initiated with 60s timeout:", outgoingCall);
  },
  (error) => {
    console.log("Call initiation failed:", error);
  }
);

Parameter	Type	Description
call	Call	The call object created with receiver ID, call type, and receiver type.
timeout	number	Optional. The ringing duration in seconds before an unanswered call is automatically cancelled. Default: 45.

Call Listeners

Register the CallListener to receive real-time call events. Each listener requires a unique listenerId string to prevent duplicate registrations and enable targeted removal.

TypeScript

const listenerId: string = "UNIQUE_LISTENER_ID";

// Register listener
CometChat.addCallListener(
  listenerId,
  new CometChat.CallListener({
    onIncomingCallReceived: (call: CometChat.Call) => {
      console.log("Incoming call:", call);
    },
    onOutgoingCallAccepted: (call: CometChat.Call) => {
      console.log("Outgoing call accepted:", call);
    },
    onOutgoingCallRejected: (call: CometChat.Call) => {
      console.log("Outgoing call rejected:", call);
    },
    onIncomingCallCancelled: (call: CometChat.Call) => {
      console.log("Incoming call cancelled:", call);
    },
    onCallEndedMessageReceived: (call: CometChat.Call) => {
      console.log("Call ended message:", call);
    }
  })
);

// Unregister listener when done
CometChat.removeCallListener(listenerId);

JavaScript

const listenerId = "UNIQUE_LISTENER_ID";

// Register listener
CometChat.addCallListener(
  listenerId,
  new CometChat.CallListener({
    onIncomingCallReceived: (call) => {
      console.log("Incoming call:", call);
      // Show incoming call UI
    },
    onOutgoingCallAccepted: (call) => {
      console.log("Outgoing call accepted:", call);
      // Receiver accepted, start the call session
    },
    onOutgoingCallRejected: (call) => {
      console.log("Outgoing call rejected:", call);
      // Receiver rejected, dismiss outgoing call UI
    },
    onIncomingCallCancelled: (call) => {
      console.log("Incoming call cancelled:", call);
      // Caller cancelled, dismiss incoming call UI
    },
    onCallEndedMessageReceived: (call) => {
      console.log("Call ended message:", call);
      // Call ended by remote participant
    }
  })
);

// Unregister listener when done
CometChat.removeCallListener(listenerId);

Events

Event	Description
onIncomingCallReceived(call)	Invoked when an incoming call is received. The call contains caller details, session ID, and call type. Display incoming call UI here.
onOutgoingCallAccepted(call)	Invoked on the caller’s device when the receiver accepts. Generate call token and start the session here.
onOutgoingCallRejected(call)	Invoked on the caller’s device when the receiver rejects the call. Dismiss outgoing call UI here.
onIncomingCallCancelled(call)	Invoked on the receiver’s device when the caller cancels before answering. Dismiss incoming call UI here.
onCallEndedMessageReceived(call)	Invoked when a call ends. The call contains final status and duration. Update call history here.

All call listener callbacks receive a Call object.

Accept Call

When an incoming call is received via onIncomingCallReceived(), use acceptCall() to accept it. On success, start the call session.

TypeScript

const sessionId: string = call.getSessionId(); // From onIncomingCallReceived

CometChat.acceptCall(sessionId).then(
  (call: CometChat.Call) => {
    console.log("Call accepted:", call);
  },
  (error: CometChat.CometChatException) => {
    console.log("Accept call failed:", error);
  }
);

JavaScript

const sessionId = call.getSessionId(); // From onIncomingCallReceived

CometChat.acceptCall(sessionId).then(
  (call) => {
    console.log("Call accepted:", call);
    // Call accepted, now start the call session
    // Generate token and call startSession()
  },
  (error) => {
    console.log("Accept call failed:", error);
  }
);

Reject Call

Use rejectCall() to reject an incoming call. Set the status to CALL_STATUS_REJECTED.

TypeScript

const sessionId: string = call.getSessionId();
const status: string = CometChat.CALL_STATUS.REJECTED;

CometChat.rejectCall(sessionId, status).then(
  (call: CometChat.Call) => {
    console.log("Call rejected:", call);
  },
  (error: CometChat.CometChatException) => {
    console.log("Reject call failed:", error);
  }
);

JavaScript

const sessionId = call.getSessionId();
const status = CometChat.CALL_STATUS.REJECTED;

CometChat.rejectCall(sessionId, status).then(
  (call) => {
    console.log("Call rejected:", call);
    // Dismiss incoming call UI
  },
  (error) => {
    console.log("Reject call failed:", error);
  }
);

Cancel Call

The caller can cancel an outgoing call before it’s answered using rejectCall() with status CALL_STATUS_CANCELLED.

TypeScript

const sessionId: string = call.getSessionId();
const status: string = CometChat.CALL_STATUS.CANCELLED;

CometChat.rejectCall(sessionId, status).then(
  (call: CometChat.Call) => {
    console.log("Call cancelled:", call);
  },
  (error: CometChat.CometChatException) => {
    console.log("Cancel call failed:", error);
  }
);

JavaScript

const sessionId = call.getSessionId();
const status = CometChat.CALL_STATUS.CANCELLED;

CometChat.rejectCall(sessionId, status).then(
  (call) => {
    console.log("Call cancelled:", call);
    // Dismiss outgoing call UI
  },
  (error) => {
    console.log("Cancel call failed:", error);
  }
);

Start Call Session

Once the call is accepted, both participants need to start the call session.

Caller flow: In the onOutgoingCallAccepted() callback, generate a token and start the session.

Receiver flow: In the acceptCall() success callback, generate a token and start the session.

TypeScript

const sessionId: string = call.getSessionId();
const loggedInUser = await CometChat.getLoggedinUser();
const authToken: string = loggedInUser.getAuthToken();

// Step 1: Generate call token
CometChatCalls.generateToken(sessionId, authToken).then(
  (callToken: any) => {
    // Step 2: Configure call settings
    const callListener = new CometChatCalls.OngoingCallListener({
      onCallEnded: () => {
        CometChat.clearActiveCall();
        CometChatCalls.endSession();
        // Close calling screen
      },
      onCallEndButtonPressed: () => {
        CometChat.endCall(sessionId).then(
          () => {
            CometChat.clearActiveCall();
            CometChatCalls.endSession();
            // Close calling screen
          },
          (error: CometChat.CometChatException) => console.log("End call failed:", error)
        );
      },
      onUserJoined: (user: any) => console.log("User joined:", user),
      onUserLeft: (user: any) => console.log("User left:", user),
      onError: (error: any) => console.log("Call error:", error)
    });

    const callSettings = new CometChatCalls.CallSettingsBuilder()
      .enableDefaultLayout(true)
      .setIsAudioOnlyCall(false)
      .setCallListener(callListener)
      .build();

    // Step 3: Start the session
    const htmlElement = document.getElementById("call-container") as HTMLElement;
    CometChatCalls.startSession(callToken, callSettings, htmlElement);
  },
  (error: CometChat.CometChatException) => {
    console.log("Token generation failed:", error);
  }
);

JavaScript

const sessionId = call.getSessionId();
const loggedInUser = await CometChat.getLoggedinUser();
const authToken = loggedInUser.getAuthToken();

// Step 1: Generate call token
CometChatCalls.generateToken(sessionId, authToken).then(
  (callToken) => {
    // Step 2: Configure call settings
    const callListener = new CometChatCalls.OngoingCallListener({
      onCallEnded: () => {
        CometChat.clearActiveCall();
        CometChatCalls.endSession();
        // Close calling screen
      },
      onCallEndButtonPressed: () => {
        CometChat.endCall(sessionId).then(
          () => {
            CometChat.clearActiveCall();
            CometChatCalls.endSession();
            // Close calling screen
          },
          (error) => console.log("End call failed:", error)
        );
      },
      onUserJoined: (user) => console.log("User joined:", user),
      onUserLeft: (user) => console.log("User left:", user),
      onError: (error) => console.log("Call error:", error)
    });

    const callSettings = new CometChatCalls.CallSettingsBuilder()
      .enableDefaultLayout(true)
      .setIsAudioOnlyCall(false)
      .setCallListener(callListener)
      .build();

    // Step 3: Start the session
    const htmlElement = document.getElementById("call-container");
    CometChatCalls.startSession(callToken, callSettings, htmlElement);
  },
  (error) => {
    console.log("Token generation failed:", error);
  }
);

For more details on call settings and customization, see the Call Session guide.

End Call

To end an active call in the ringing flow, the process differs based on who ends the call.

User who ends the call:

When the user clicks the end call button, the onCallEndButtonPressed() callback is triggered. Inside this callback, call CometChat.endCall() to notify other participants. On success, call CometChat.clearActiveCall() and CometChatCalls.endSession() to release resources.

TypeScript

onCallEndButtonPressed: () => {
  CometChat.endCall(sessionId).then(
    (call: CometChat.Call) => {
      console.log("Call ended successfully");
      CometChat.clearActiveCall();
      CometChatCalls.endSession();
      // Close the calling screen
    },
    (error: CometChat.CometChatException) => {
      console.log("End call failed:", error);
    }
  );
}

JavaScript

onCallEndButtonPressed: () => {
  CometChat.endCall(sessionId).then(
    (call) => {
      console.log("Call ended successfully");
      CometChat.clearActiveCall();
      CometChatCalls.endSession();
      // Close the calling screen
    },
    (error) => {
      console.log("End call failed:", error);
    }
  );
}

Remote participant (receives onCallEnded() callback):

TypeScript

onCallEnded: () => {
  CometChat.clearActiveCall();
  CometChatCalls.endSession();
  // Close the calling screen
}

JavaScript

onCallEnded: () => {
  CometChat.clearActiveCall();
  CometChatCalls.endSession();
  // Close the calling screen
}

For more details, see the End Call Session guide.

Busy Call Handling

If the receiver is already on another call, you can reject the incoming call with CALL_STATUS_BUSY status.

TypeScript

const sessionId: string = call.getSessionId();
const status: string = CometChat.CALL_STATUS.BUSY;

CometChat.rejectCall(sessionId, status).then(
  (call: CometChat.Call) => {
    console.log("Busy status sent:", call);
  },
  (error: CometChat.CometChatException) => {
    console.log("Busy rejection failed:", error);
  }
);

JavaScript

const sessionId = call.getSessionId();
const status = CometChat.CALL_STATUS.BUSY;

CometChat.rejectCall(sessionId, status).then(
  (call) => {
    console.log("Busy status sent:", call);
  },
  (error) => {
    console.log("Busy rejection failed:", error);
  }
);

Always remove call listeners when they’re no longer needed (e.g., on component unmount or page navigation). Failing to remove listeners can cause memory leaks and duplicate event handling.

---

Next Steps

Call Session

Manage call sessions, tokens, and settings

Call Logs

Retrieve and display call history

Recording

Record audio and video calls

Calling Setup

Install and initialize the Calls SDK