14 DAY TRIAL // Background pages in Google Chrome have been around for a while now, in the dev channel. While Google has provided some info, it's only now explaining in detail what the feature does and how it's useful. It's also making the functionality available to hosted apps, it has only been available for packaged apps and extensions so far.
"Apps and extensions that use the new 'background' feature can continue to run in the background—even if the user closes down all of Chrome’s windows," Andrew Wilson, Software Engineer and Michael Mahemoff, Developer Relations, wrote.
"These windows are not going to be visible but they will be able to perform tasks like checking for server-side changes and pre-emptively loading content into local storage," they explained.
Until now, the 'background' functionality was available to regular browser extensions and so called packaged apps, web apps that are installed locally and function more like extensions.
Hosted apps on the other hand are mostly re-purposed web pages, they serve more as a shortcut to a website or web app than anything else.
But having it installed as a Chrome app has some advantages for developers, the apps can gain more privileges, store more locally and, now, it can access the 'background' feature.
"One way you can use background windows is to preload content and data so that they are immediately available when the user opens your app. You could also issue HTML5 notifications to alert the user when important events occur," Google explained.
Essentially, it enables Chrome apps to run without using a tab, completely hidden from the user. This comes in especially handy for apps that don't need to interface with the user at all times.
All of the functionality is now available in the latest Google Chrome dev channel releases. When background apps are running, Chrome will still be running even if you close all the windows. On Windows and Linux it will be accessible via a system tray shortcut, on Macs it will still be in the dock.