# Is there an API (like in Android TV) to overlay UI element on the screen?

**URL:** <https://forum.webostv.developer.lge.com/t/is-there-an-api-like-in-android-tv-to-overlay-ui-element-on-the-screen/1418>\
**Category:** Web App Development\
**Created:** [December 19, 2022, 7:33pm UTC](https://forum.webostv.developer.lge.com/t/is-there-an-api-like-in-android-tv-to-overlay-ui-element-on-the-screen/1418 "2022-12-19T19:33:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![user1042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19b73/32.png) [@user1042](https://forum.webostv.developer.lge.com/u/user1042)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2022, 7:33pm UTC](https://forum.webostv.developer.lge.com/t/is-there-an-api-like-in-android-tv-to-overlay-ui-element-on-the-screen/1418/1 "2022-12-19T19:33:06Z")

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Hi, I am looking for an API in webOS TV that allows a third-party app to render UI elements on the screen, and it should also work when I pick an HDMI source on my TV.

In Android TV, it is possible; here are a few references:

1. In the following video, at 1:47, you can see that a third-party app can render the clock on the screen and even in HDMI source:  
[AndroidTV - Aplikacja zegar na ekranie na stałe - OnScreenClock - YouTube](https://youtu.be/SuFIHnPwR6M?t=107)

2. Developer reference: [Is it possible to draw overlay over any screen using 3rd party app in android TV? - Stack Overflow](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/42069561/is-it-possible-to-draw-overlay-over-any-screen-using-3rd-party-app-in-android-tv?fbclid=IwAR1NThXgI25Ko8pdVk3BfQY77dqviGpJVICvTFp03gKbdO7zh1_9sPqNp4s)

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**Author:** ![narae0.kim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/87869e/32.png) [@narae0.kim](https://forum.webostv.developer.lge.com/u/narae0.kim)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2022, 2:59am UTC](https://forum.webostv.developer.lge.com/t/is-there-an-api-like-in-android-tv-to-overlay-ui-element-on-the-screen/1418/2 "2022-12-20T02:59:55Z")

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Currently, no APIs for overlaying UI elements on the screen are provided. Sorry for not being helpful.

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**Author:** ![user1042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19b73/32.png) [@user1042](https://forum.webostv.developer.lge.com/u/user1042)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2022, 8:38pm UTC](https://forum.webostv.developer.lge.com/t/is-there-an-api-like-in-android-tv-to-overlay-ui-element-on-the-screen/1418/3 "2022-12-21T20:38:04Z")

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Hi, thanks for the answer.  
I thought that maybe the toast API could help.  
My use case is to show text on the screen, and it seems that this API can do it, right?  
[com.webos.notification | webOS Open Source Edition (webosose.org)](https://www.webosose.org/docs/reference/ls2-api/com-webos-notification/)

Can I use this API from my app, or is it limited to the system only?  
Is it possible to update the text in the toast while it still displays? I can’t see anything about it in the docs, but maybe I am missing something.

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**Author:** ![narae0.kim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/87869e/32.png) [@narae0.kim](https://forum.webostv.developer.lge.com/u/narae0.kim)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2022, 12:02am UTC](https://forum.webostv.developer.lge.com/t/is-there-an-api-like-in-android-tv-to-overlay-ui-element-on-the-screen/1418/4 "2022-12-22T00:02:41Z")

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We do not guarantee the compatibility of webOS TV apps with webOS OSE APIs. For webOS TV apps, please use [webOS TV APIs](https://webostv.developer.lge.com/develop/references) only. Thank you.