console.log not showing output in Chrome browser

Question

I am using Chrome browser Version 52.0.2743.116 (64-bit) on Mac OSX 10.11.6.

I have a chrome extension with a background.js where I have a console.log statement for debugging purposes. However, I am unable to see the output in the Chrome browser console. Alert works fine but console.log outputs nothing.

alert("CSS code: "+css);
console.log("CSS code:"+css);

I have checked to make sure "All" messages are selected, the context is set to "top", etc. When the page loads, I see other console.log messages (not from my extension), the alert window pop up but nothing printed to the console.

How do I see console.log output?

EDIT: Adding the function code where the alert and console.log statements appear.

function doSomething(tab) {
    var tabUrl = tab.url;

        if (tabUrl && tabUrl.indexOf("my-site.com") != -1) {

            var css = "";

            if (hideAds == true) {
                css += ".adsBanner {display: none !important;} .promo {display: none !important;} ";
            }

            alert("CSS code: "+css);
            console.log("CSS code:"+css);

            chrome.tabs.insertCSS(tab.id, {
                code: css
            });

        }       
}

EDIT 2: In response to the comment that this is a duplicate of this question, I want to print console.log statements from the background file, I don't have a popup.html file. The other question has solutions to execute console.log on the background page called from the popup page.

I initially thought it might be the script not being loaded but if you're sure the alert is showing, could you share the rest of your code so we can replicate? — Tom Nijs, Aug 11 '16 at 11:58
Can you try switching the statements so that console log is executed first and let us know what happens? (if you haven't done this already) — mkaran, Aug 11 '16 at 12:04
I have added the function code. @mkaran I switched the statements but no dice. — zeeshan, Aug 11 '16 at 12:09
@zeeshan This looks like a duplicate of http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3829150/google-chrome-extension-console-log-from-background-page — styfle, Aug 11 '16 at 12:10
OK found this previously answered here that solved my problem: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/10257301/where-to-read-console-messages-from-background-js-in-a-chrome-extension — zeeshan, Aug 11 '16 at 12:24
Possible duplicate of [Where to read console messages from background.js in a Chrome extension?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/10257301/where-to-read-console-messages-from-background-js-in-a-chrome-extension) — brasofilo, Jul 06 '19 at 13:52

score 9 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:25

9

This has been previously answered here. It seems the background.js has its own console window that needs to be watched (launched from the extension's inpsect view link under chrome://extensions).

edited May 23 '17 at 12:25

Community

1
1

answered Aug 11 '16 at 12:26

zeeshan

699
2
7
12

4

Cheers for this - While having my first go at extensions I did not realize the console output of your background script does get a separate console and it was driving my crazy! – Templerschaf Nov 12 '16 at 17:28

score -7 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 06 '19 at 13:31

-7

The answer to your problem is to use document.write();

answered Jul 06 '19 at 13:31

Adedolapo Dolexy Sokoya

1

2

Care to elaborate why it will solve the issue at hand? – Coder Jul 06 '19 at 13:42
Writing on the document would be the last debugging resort, isn't it? – brasofilo Jul 06 '19 at 13:52

console.log not showing output in Chrome browser

2 Answers2