4.1.11. setLocalDescription

4.1.11. setLocalDescription

The setLocalDescription method instructs the PeerConnection to apply the supplied session description as its local configuration. The type field indicates whether the description should be processed as an offer, provisional answer, final answer, or rollback; offers and answers are checked differently, using the various rules that exist for each SDP line.

This API changes the local media state; among other things, it sets up local resources for receiving and decoding media. In order to successfully handle scenarios where the application wants to offer to change from one media format to a different, incompatible format, the PeerConnection MUST be able to simultaneously support use of both the current and pending local descriptions (e.g., support the codecs that exist in either description). This dual processing begins when the PeerConnection enters the "have-local-offer" state, and it continues until setRemoteDescription is called with either (1) a final answer, at which point the PeerConnection can fully adopt the pending local description or (2) a rollback, which results in a revert to the current local description.

This API indirectly controls the candidate gathering process. When a local description is supplied and the number of transports currently in use does not match the number of transports needed by the local description, the PeerConnection will create transports as needed and begin gathering candidates for each transport, using ones from the candidate pool if available.

If (1) setRemoteDescription was previously called with an offer, (2) setLocalDescription is called with an answer (provisional or final), (3) the media directions are compatible, and (4) media is available to send, this will result in the starting of media transmission.