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noVNC

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noVNC's own site

What noVNC is

noVNC is a free, browser-based VNC client and JavaScript library for accessing remote desktops. It runs in modern desktop browsers and mobile browsers on iOS and Android. Desktop controls include scaling, clipping, resizing, local cursor rendering, and back and forward mouse buttons. Touch gestures support common mouse actions, while the clipboard handles full Unicode copy and paste. Authentication options include classical VNC, RealVNC RSA-AES, Tight, VeNCrypt Plain, XVP, Apple Diffie-Hellman, and UltraVNC MSLogonII. Supported encodings include raw, copyrect, RRE, hextile, tight, tightPNG, ZRLE, JPEG, Zlib, and H.264. Connections require WebSockets; servers without them need a WebSockets-to-TCP proxy such as websockify. Deployment can use release archives or a snap package, and the core library is available on NPM as @novnc/novnc. File transfer is not supported. The project is mainly licensed under MPL 2.0.

Who it suits

noVNC suits users and developers needing browser access to VNC desktops on desktop or mobile browsers. It also fits self-hosted deployments that can provide WebSockets or a proxy.

What it does well

  • Runs in desktop and mobile browsers
  • Supports Unicode clipboard operations
  • Offers multiple VNC authentication methods
  • Provides many VNC encoding options
  • Free and mainly MPL 2.0 licensed

What to know first

  • File transfer is not supported
  • WebSockets are required for connections
  • Internet Explorer is unsupported
  • Core NPM package excludes the user application

Plans

PlanBilled and limitsPrice
noVNCOpen-source VNC browser client and JavaScript libraryFree

As novnc.com lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Verdict

noVNC provides broad browser-based VNC access with touch, clipboard, authentication, and encoding support. Deployment requires WebSockets, and users needing file transfer will need another solution.

Facts from noVNC's own pages

Authentication
Supported authentication methods include classical VNC, RealVNC RSA-AES, Tight, VeNCrypt Plain, XVP, Apple Diffie-Hellman, and UltraVNC MSLogonII. · novnc.com, 12 Oct 2026
Browser limits
The project says noVNC does not work in Internet Explorer and lists Chrome 89, Firefox 89, Safari 15, Opera 75, and Edge 89 as minimum versions it is aware of. · novnc.com, 12 Oct 2026
Browser use
It runs in modern browsers, including mobile browsers on iOS and Android. · novnc.com, 12 Oct 2026
Clipboard and touch
It supports full Unicode clipboard copy and paste and touch gestures for common mouse actions. · novnc.com, 12 Oct 2026
Connection requirement
noVNC requires WebSockets support; servers without it need a WebSockets to TCP proxy, such as the sister project websockify. · novnc.com, 12 Oct 2026
Deployment
The project documents downloading release archives, running a VNC server and WebSocket proxy, and installing a snap package. · novnc.com, 12 Oct 2026
Desktop controls
Features include desktop scaling, clipping and resizing, local cursor rendering, and back and forward mouse buttons. · novnc.com, 12 Oct 2026
File transfer
No · novnc.com, 20 Sept 2026
Free plan
Yes · novnc.com, 20 Sept 2026
Integrations
The project names OpenStack, OpenNebula, LibVNCServer, and ThinLinc among projects that have integrated noVNC. · novnc.com, 12 Oct 2026
Library integration
The core library is available through NPM as @novnc/novnc, and the package does not include the user application. · novnc.com, 12 Oct 2026
License
The project says noVNC is licensed mainly under MPL 2.0. · novnc.com, 12 Oct 2026
Purpose
noVNC is a browser based VNC client JavaScript library and application. · novnc.com, 12 Oct 2026
Security
The project documents using certificate and key files with its snap installation to enable a TLS listener. · novnc.com, 12 Oct 2026
Support
Users are directed to the discussion group for questions and GitHub issues for bugs and feature requests. · novnc.com, 12 Oct 2026
Supported platforms
web browsers,mobile browsers on iOS and Android · novnc.com, 20 Sept 2026
VNC encodings
Supported encodings include raw, copyrect, RRE, hextile, tight, tightPNG, ZRLE, JPEG, Zlib, and H.264. · novnc.com, 12 Oct 2026

Where noVNC stands on Freedom251

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