What is the difference between Firebase push-notifications and FCM messages?

Question

Heloo, I am building an app where I am using push notifications via Firebase Console. I want to know what is a difference between simply push-notification and cloud message? Is it that messages from cloud messaging are data messages(have key and value) and notifications are just text without key and value?Am I right?

Answer 1

Firebase API has two types of messages, they call them:

• notification
• data

Explanation:

1. notification - messages that goes directly to Android's Notification tray only if your application is in background/killed or gets delivered to onMessageReceived() method if your app is in foreground.

Sample:

{
    "notification" : { "body" : "Hi"}
}

2. data payload - Doesn't matter whether your application is in forground or background or killed, these messages will always be delivered to onMessageReceived() method.

Sample:

{
    "data" : { "message" : "Hi", "whatever_key": "value"}
 }

Reference link

IMPORTANT : You can't send data payload messages from Firebase Console, Console only delivers notification message. However using API you can send both type of messages.

To send a data payload message you have to make a curl request:

HTTP POST Request

https://fcm.googleapis.com/fcm/send
Content-Type:application/json
Authorization:key=AIzaSyZ-1u...0GBYzPu7Udno5aA

{ "data": {
    "score": "5x1",
    "time": "15:10"
  },
  "to" : "bk3RNwTe3H0:CI2k_HHwgIpoDKCIZvvDMExUdFQ3P1..."
}

You can get the server key (AIzaSyZ-1u...0GBYzPu7Udno5aA), from firebase console: Your project -> settings -> Project settings -> Cloud messaging -> Server Key

Answer 2

Firebase Cloud Messaging provides a complete set of messaging capabilities through its client SDKs and HTTP and XMPP server protocols. For deployments with more complex messaging requirements, FCM is the right choice.

Firebase Notifications is a lightweight, serverless messaging solution built on Firebase Cloud Messaging. With a user-friendly graphical console and reduced coding requirements, Firebase Notifications lets users easily send messages to reengage and retain users, foster app growth, and support marketing campaigns.

Check the comparison here