Firebase, Swift: Send a push notification to specific user given device token

Question

I have a Firebase Swift chat app where I'd like to send a push notification to a specific user. I have already captured and have access to the user's device token.

All the references mention having to have a 'web app' to manage this, but I haven't managed to find any specific examples of this.

1. Is it necessary to have a web app to manage push notifications for Firebase?

2. If so, are there any examples of how this can work?

Thank you.

Answer 1

• First do the all configuration for Firebase Cloud Messaging. Can follow this link https://firebase.google.com/docs/cloud-messaging/ios/client
• Now you need to access Firebase registration token for your associated user whom you want to send a push notification. You can get this token by following below steps:
  1. Add 'Firebase/Messaging' pod to your project.
  2. import FirebaseMessaging in your AppDelegate.swift file.
  3. Conform MessagingDelegate protocol to your AppDelegate class.
  4. Write didRefreshRegistrationToken delegate method and get your user's registration token:

• Now you are ready to send push notification to your specific user. Send notification as below:

  func sendPushNotification(payloadDict: [String: Any]) {
     let url = URL(string: "https://fcm.googleapis.com/fcm/send")!
     var request = URLRequest(url: url)
     request.setValue("application/json", forHTTPHeaderField: "Content-Type")
     // get your **server key** from your Firebase project console under **Cloud Messaging** tab
     request.setValue("key=enter your server key", forHTTPHeaderField: "Authorization")
     request.httpMethod = "POST"
     request.httpBody = try? JSONSerialization.data(withJSONObject: payloadDict, options: [])
     let task = URLSession.shared.dataTask(with: request) { data, response, error in
        guard let data = data, error == nil else {
          print(error ?? "")
          return
        }
        if let httpStatus = response as? HTTPURLResponse, httpStatus.statusCode != 200 {
          print("statusCode should be 200, but is \(httpStatus.statusCode)")
          print(response ?? "")
        }
        print("Notfication sent successfully.")
        let responseString = String(data: data, encoding: .utf8)
        print(responseString ?? "")
     }
     task.resume()
  }
  

• Now call above function as:

  let userToken = "your specific user's firebase registration token"
  let notifPayload: [String: Any] = ["to": userToken,"notification": ["title":"You got a new meassage.","body":"This message is sent for you","badge":1,"sound":"default"]]
  self.sendPushNotification(payloadDict: notifPayload)