Audio Dictation In Web SDK For JavaScript

This guide walks you through the process of integrating audio dictation using the Suki Web SDK in a JavaScript application (browser-based) using the JavaScript package provided by Suki. You will create Auth Manager and Dictation Client, then start audio dictation by calling await dictationClient.show({ ... }) from your own code when the user is ready. Let’s get started!

Prerequisites

Before you begin, you must have the following requirements met:

Packages: Install @suki-sdk/js and @suki-sdk/core packages.
Partner credentials: Obtain partnerId and partnerToken from Suki after Partner onboarding.
Browser and layout: Your app runs in a browser, with a real DOM and a dictation container that has height.

Refer to Prerequisites guide for more details.

Install the packages

Add both packages to the same project you load in the browser:

pnpm add @suki-sdk/core @suki-sdk/js

npm install @suki-sdk/core @suki-sdk/js

yarn add @suki-sdk/core @suki-sdk/js

After you install, pull the SDK into your files with import, the same way as in the examples below. Use whatever approach your project already uses for other npm libraries.

Step 1: Add container and field HTML

For this example we will assume you are using in-field mode as your preferred mode. In in-field mode you need two nodes in the page: a div (or similar) that you pass as rootElement, where the dictation controls show up, and a textarea (or input) that onSubmit will update when the user finishes. The dictation layer matches the size of rootElement, so that node should have a height you control. Refer to Wrapper layout guide for recommended markup and CSS.

HTML

<div id="dictation-root"></div>
<label for="clinical-notes">Clinical notes</label>
<textarea id="clinical-notes" rows="8"></textarea>
<button type="button" id="start-dictation">Start dictation</button>

Step 2: Create auth manager

Now you need to create the Auth Manager for your application. To create the Auth Manager, you must have the partnerId and partnerToken credentials from Suki. Refer to Partner onboarding guide to learn how to get these credentials. Once you have all the required credentials, create one auth manager for the page (or app shell). Code example for creating auth manager

JavaScript

import { SukiAuthManager } from "@suki-sdk/core";

const authManager = new SukiAuthManager({
  partnerId: "YOUR_PARTNER_ID", // replace with your partner ID - required
  partnerToken: "YOUR_PARTNER_TOKEN", // replace with your partner token - required
  environment: "staging", // optional: "staging" | "production"
  loginOnInitialize: true, // optional: sign in as soon as this runs
  autoRegister: false, // optional: enable provider auto-registration
  providerId: "YOUR_PROVIDER_ID", // optional: provider identifier in your system
  providerName: "YOUR_PROVIDER_NAME", // optional: full provider display name
  providerOrgId: "YOUR_PROVIDER_ORG_ID", // optional: organization identifier for the provider in your system
  providerSpecialty: "YOUR_PROVIDER_SPECIALTY", // optional: clinical specialty
});

Step 3: Create dictation client

After you have created the auth manager, you can create the dictation client for your application. The Dictation Client is the object that will be used to start the dictation session. Create one dictation client and reuse it for every show() call on that page. Code example for creating dictation client

JavaScript

import { DictationClient } from "@suki-sdk/js";

const dictationClient = new DictationClient({ authManager });

Step 4: Call show() to start dictation

Now you can start the dictation session by calling the show() method on the dictation client. Call await dictationClient.show({ ... }) from a click handler (or similar) when the DOM is ready. Pass mode, fieldId, rootElement, onSubmit, and any optional fields you need. Refer to Configuration guide for more details on the available options and how to use them. Code example for starting dictation

JavaScript

async function startDictation() {
  const root = document.getElementById("dictation-root");
  const notes = document.getElementById("clinical-notes");

  if (!root || !notes) {
    console.error("Missing dictation-root or clinical-notes in the DOM");
    return;
  }

  try {
    await dictationClient.show({
      mode: "in-field", // replace with your preferred mode - required
      fieldId: "clinical-notes", // often the same string as the textarea id
      rootElement: root, // replace with the DOM element where the dictation controls will be shown - required
      initialText: notes.value ?? "", // replace with the initial text for the dictation session - optional
      onSubmit: ({ fieldId, text }) => { 
        const el = document.getElementById(fieldId);
        if (el) el.value = text;
      },
      onCancel: ({ fieldId }) => {
        console.log("Dictation cancelled", fieldId);
      },
      onDraft: ({ fieldId, text }) => {
        const el = document.getElementById(fieldId);
        if (el) el.value = text; 
      },
    });
  } catch (err) {
    console.error("Dictation show() failed", err);
  }
}

document.getElementById("start-dictation")?.addEventListener("click", () => {
  void startDictation();
});

onSubmit is required for a good user experience. If you omit it, dictation often closes immediately after the user acts.

Callbacks

Every callback receives the same shape as shown in the code example below:

JavaScript

{ fieldId: string, 
text: string 
}

Refer to Callbacks guide for more details on the available callbacks and how to use them.

Switching fields

Calling show() again replaces the active session. You do not need to call hide() manually just to move from one field to another:

JavaScript

await dictationClient.show({ /* field A options */ });
await dictationClient.show({ /* field B options */ });

Complete code example

Below is a complete code example in JavaScript for in-field mode with a single field.

JavaScript

import { SukiAuthManager } from "@suki-sdk/core";
import { DictationClient } from "@suki-sdk/js";

const authManager = new SukiAuthManager({
  partnerId: "YOUR_PARTNER_ID", // replace with your partner ID - required
  partnerToken: "YOUR_PARTNER_TOKEN", // replace with your partner token - required
  environment: "staging", // optional: "staging" | "production"
  loginOnInitialize: true, // optional: sign in as soon as this runs
  autoRegister: false, // optional: enable provider auto-registration
  providerId: "YOUR_PROVIDER_ID", // optional: provider identifier in your system
  providerName: "YOUR_PROVIDER_NAME", // optional: full provider display name
  providerOrgId: "YOUR_PROVIDER_ORG_ID", // optional: organization identifier for the provider in your system
  providerSpecialty: "YOUR_PROVIDER_SPECIALTY", // optional: clinical specialty
});

const dictationClient = new DictationClient({ authManager });

async function startClinicalNotesDictation() {
  const root = document.getElementById("dictation-root");
  const notes = document.getElementById("clinical-notes");
  if (!root || !notes) return;

  try {
    await dictationClient.show({
      mode: "in-field",
      fieldId: "clinical-notes",
      rootElement: root,
      initialText: notes.value ?? "",
      onSubmit: ({ fieldId, text }) => {
        const el = document.getElementById(fieldId);
        if (el) el.value = text;
      },
      onCancel: ({ fieldId }) => {
        console.log("Cancelled", fieldId);
      },
    });
  } catch (e) {
    console.error(e);
  }
}

document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => {
  document
    .getElementById("start-dictation")
    ?.addEventListener("click", () => void startClinicalNotesDictation());
});

This page focuses on in-field dictation next to a specific input. If you want a floating dictation panel instead, set mode to "scratchpad" and follow Scratchpad mode guide.

Best practices

Reuse one dictation client. Build a single DictationClient for the page or shell and call it again for each dictation session. Creating a new client on every click or for every field often resets the hosted UI and feels flaky.
Reuse one auth manager. Create SukiAuthManager once and pass that same instance into the client, the same pattern as in the steps above.
Handle when the user commits. You must supply a submit handler so the SDK can deliver the final text. Without it, dictation often closes right after the user tries to finish.
Pick a clear field label. Each session needs a stable, unique fieldId in callbacks. Using the same value as the target input’s id is a simple way to know which element to update. Refer to Field IDs guide for more details.
Open dictation only when the host is ready. The DOM node you use as the dictation host should exist and have real height before you open. Otherwise the dictation area can look blank. Refer to Error handling and In-field mode guides for more details.
Catch failures when opening dictation. Wrap the open call so auth or setup errors show up in your logs instead of disappearing.
Move to another field by opening again. A new open call replaces the active session. You usually do not need a separate hide step when you are only switching which field is dictating.

Next steps

Refer to the following guides for more information. Configuration to learn about the available options and how to use them. React integration to learn how to integrate audio dictation in a React application using the Suki Web SDK.

Get Started

Feature Guides

API Reference

Resources

Audio Dictation In Web SDK For JavaScript

Prerequisites

Install the packages

Step 1: Add container and field HTML

Step 2: Create auth manager

Step 3: Create dictation client

Step 4: Call show() to start dictation

Callbacks

Switching fields

Complete code example

Best practices

Next steps

​Prerequisites

​Install the packages

​Step 1: Add container and field HTML

​Step 2: Create auth manager

​Step 3: Create dictation client

​Step 4: Call show() to start dictation

​Callbacks

​Switching fields

​Complete code example

​Best practices

​Next steps

Prerequisites

Install the packages

Step 1: Add container and field HTML

Step 2: Create auth manager

Step 3: Create dictation client

Step 4: Call show() to start dictation

Callbacks

Switching fields

Complete code example

Best practices

Next steps