Why can't JavaScript directly obtain hardware information on the user's computer?

Deep reasons why JavaScript is restricted to access user computer hardware information

Many developers have wondered why JavaScript cannot directly access the hardware information of users' computers, but local client software can easily do it? This seemingly contradictory phenomenon actually stems from the differences in security and trust mechanisms.

The core issue is the difference in trust. Installing the software means you authorize it to run within a specific scope and you trust it to do what you expect. However, the browser is an open platform that connects countless websites. The browser cannot endorse each website and cannot bear the risks arising from it.

ActiveX controls in history have given IE browser almost complete system permissions, and despite some restrictions, the threshold is extremely low. Many banks rely on such controls, which can be enabled by users with simple operations, putting users at potential risks. Users often blame the browser rather than their own lack of security awareness.

In recent years, JavaScript has gradually opened up some API interfaces, such as file system API, Bluetooth API and USB API, but the original design of these interfaces is to improve the user experience, rather than meet some unnecessary or even risky needs.

Therefore, if you need to obtain hardware information, there is not completely no way. You can choose:

1. Use frameworks such as Electron to package applications into standalone software to gain higher permissions.
2. Develop a local client software, establish an HTTP service, provide the required hardware information, and set it to boot up, and then access the service in JavaScript code.

Both approaches meet the needs, but require a trade-off between security and convenience. Directly using JavaScript to access hardware information poses huge security risks, so the browser strictly restricts it.

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