worker: add ref/unref to web workers

doc/api/globals.md

@@ -1401,6 +1401,10 @@ Inside a worker, \[`worker_threads.parentPort`]\[] is the port behind
 `self.postMessage()` and the worker's `message` events, `isMainThread` is
 `false`, and `workerData` is `undefined`.
 
+Web Workers, like `node:worker_threads` workers, keep the event loop alive by
+default. In Node.js, Web Workers implement the [Refable protocol][], and can be
+ref'd and unref'd using `process.ref(worker)` and `process.unref(worker)`.
+
 As a rule of thumb, use [`node:worker_threads`][] directly when a program
 needs `workerData`, a custom `env` or `execArgv`, resource limits, stdio
 redirection, the `'online'` and `'exit'` events, or `worker.threadId`;
@@ -1457,6 +1461,7 @@ A browser-compatible implementation of [`WritableStreamDefaultWriter`][].
 [HTML Standard]: https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/workers.html
 [Navigator API]: https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/system-state.html#the-navigator-object
 [RFC 5646]: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5646.txt
+[Refable protocol]: process.md#processrefmayberefable
 [Web Crypto API]: webcrypto.md
 [`--experimental-eventsource`]: cli.md#--experimental-eventsource
 [`--experimental-web-worker`]: cli.md#--experimental-web-worker

lib/internal/webworker.js

@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@ const {
 
 const kCurrentlyReceivingPorts =
  SymbolFor('nodejs.internal.kCurrentlyReceivingPorts');
+const kRef = SymbolFor('nodejs.ref');
+const kUnref = SymbolFor('nodejs.unref');
 
 const kCreate = Symbol('kCreate');
 const kInsidePort = Symbol('kInsidePort');
@@ -865,6 +867,17 @@ class Worker extends EventTarget {
  // arguments, and returned the same return value."
  this[kWorker]?.postMessage(message, transfer);
  }
+
+ // The following properties are non-standard, Node.js extensions
+ [kRef]() {
+ validateThisInternalField(this, kWorker, 'Worker');
+ this[kWorker]?.ref();
+ }
+
+ [kUnref]() {
+ validateThisInternalField(this, kWorker, 'Worker');
+ this[kWorker]?.unref();
+ }
 }
 
 ObjectDefineProperties(Worker.prototype, {

test/fixtures/web-worker/echo.js

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+'use strict';
+
+addEventListener('message', (event) => {
+ postMessage(event.data);
+});

test/parallel/test-webworker-ref-unref.js

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+// Flags: --experimental-web-worker
+'use strict';
+
+const common = require('../common');
+const fixtures = require('../common/fixtures');
+const assert = require('assert');
+
+{
+ // Both are no-ops on a worker whose script could not be loaded.
+ const worker = new Worker(fixtures.fileURL('web-worker', 'nonexistent.js').href);
+ worker.addEventListener('error', common.mustCall());
+ process.unref(worker);
+ process.ref(worker);
+}
+
+const worker = new Worker(fixtures.fileURL('web-worker', 'echo.js').href);
+
+worker.addEventListener('error', common.mustNotCall('worker failed'));
+worker.addEventListener('message', common.mustCall(({ data }) => {
+ assert.strictEqual(data, 'hello');
+ worker.terminate();
+}));
+
+process.once('beforeExit', common.mustCall(() => {
+ process.ref(worker);
+ worker.postMessage('hello');
+}));
+
+process.unref(worker);

doc/api/globals.md

@@ -1401,6 +1401,10 @@ Inside a worker, \[`worker_threads.parentPort`]\[] is the port behind
 `self.postMessage()` and the worker's `message` events, `isMainThread` is
 `false`, and `workerData` is `undefined`.
 
+Web Workers, like `node:worker_threads` workers, keep the event loop alive by
+default. In Node.js, Web Workers implement the [Refable protocol][], and can be
+ref'd and unref'd using `process.ref(worker)` and `process.unref(worker)`.
+
 As a rule of thumb, use [`node:worker_threads`][] directly when a program
 needs `workerData`, a custom `env` or `execArgv`, resource limits, stdio
 redirection, the `'online'` and `'exit'` events, or `worker.threadId`;
@@ -1457,6 +1461,7 @@ A browser-compatible implementation of [`WritableStreamDefaultWriter`][].
 [HTML Standard]: https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/workers.html
 [Navigator API]: https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/system-state.html#the-navigator-object
 [RFC 5646]: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5646.txt
+[Refable protocol]: process.md#processrefmayberefable
 [Web Crypto API]: webcrypto.md
 [`--experimental-eventsource`]: cli.md#--experimental-eventsource
 [`--experimental-web-worker`]: cli.md#--experimental-web-worker

lib/internal/webworker.js

@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@ const {
 
 const kCurrentlyReceivingPorts =
  SymbolFor('nodejs.internal.kCurrentlyReceivingPorts');
+const kRef = SymbolFor('nodejs.ref');
+const kUnref = SymbolFor('nodejs.unref');
 
 const kCreate = Symbol('kCreate');
 const kInsidePort = Symbol('kInsidePort');
@@ -865,6 +867,17 @@ class Worker extends EventTarget {
  // arguments, and returned the same return value."
  this[kWorker]?.postMessage(message, transfer);
  }
+
+ // The following properties are non-standard, Node.js extensions
+ [kRef]() {
+ validateThisInternalField(this, kWorker, 'Worker');
+ this[kWorker]?.ref();
+ }
+
+ [kUnref]() {
+ validateThisInternalField(this, kWorker, 'Worker');
+ this[kWorker]?.unref();
+ }
 }
 
 ObjectDefineProperties(Worker.prototype, {

test/fixtures/web-worker/echo.js

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+'use strict';
+
+addEventListener('message', (event) => {
+ postMessage(event.data);
+});

test/parallel/test-webworker-ref-unref.js

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+// Flags: --experimental-web-worker
+'use strict';
+
+const common = require('../common');
+const fixtures = require('../common/fixtures');
+const assert = require('assert');
+
+{
+ // Both are no-ops on a worker whose script could not be loaded.
+ const worker = new Worker(fixtures.fileURL('web-worker', 'nonexistent.js').href);
+ worker.addEventListener('error', common.mustCall());
+ process.unref(worker);
+ process.ref(worker);
+}
+
+const worker = new Worker(fixtures.fileURL('web-worker', 'echo.js').href);
+
+worker.addEventListener('error', common.mustNotCall('worker failed'));
+worker.addEventListener('message', common.mustCall(({ data }) => {
+ assert.strictEqual(data, 'hello');
+ worker.terminate();
+}));
+
+process.once('beforeExit', common.mustCall(() => {
+ process.ref(worker);
+ worker.postMessage('hello');
+}));
+
+process.unref(worker);

doc/api/globals.md

@@ -1401,6 +1401,10 @@ Inside a worker, \[`worker_threads.parentPort`]\[] is the port behind
 `self.postMessage()` and the worker's `message` events, `isMainThread` is
 `false`, and `workerData` is `undefined`.
 
+Web Workers, like `node:worker_threads` workers, keep the event loop alive by
+default. In Node.js, Web Workers implement the [Refable protocol][], and can be
+ref'd and unref'd using `process.ref(worker)` and `process.unref(worker)`.
+
 As a rule of thumb, use [`node:worker_threads`][] directly when a program
 needs `workerData`, a custom `env` or `execArgv`, resource limits, stdio
 redirection, the `'online'` and `'exit'` events, or `worker.threadId`;
@@ -1457,6 +1461,7 @@ A browser-compatible implementation of [`WritableStreamDefaultWriter`][].
 [HTML Standard]: https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/workers.html
 [Navigator API]: https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/system-state.html#the-navigator-object
 [RFC 5646]: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5646.txt
+[Refable protocol]: process.md#processrefmayberefable
 [Web Crypto API]: webcrypto.md
 [`--experimental-eventsource`]: cli.md#--experimental-eventsource
 [`--experimental-web-worker`]: cli.md#--experimental-web-worker

lib/internal/webworker.js

@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@ const {
 
 const kCurrentlyReceivingPorts =
  SymbolFor('nodejs.internal.kCurrentlyReceivingPorts');
+const kRef = SymbolFor('nodejs.ref');
+const kUnref = SymbolFor('nodejs.unref');
 
 const kCreate = Symbol('kCreate');
 const kInsidePort = Symbol('kInsidePort');
@@ -865,6 +867,17 @@ class Worker extends EventTarget {
  // arguments, and returned the same return value."
  this[kWorker]?.postMessage(message, transfer);
  }
+
+ // The following properties are non-standard, Node.js extensions
+ [kRef]() {
+ validateThisInternalField(this, kWorker, 'Worker');
+ this[kWorker]?.ref();
+ }
+
+ [kUnref]() {
+ validateThisInternalField(this, kWorker, 'Worker');
+ this[kWorker]?.unref();
+ }
 }
 
 ObjectDefineProperties(Worker.prototype, {

test/fixtures/web-worker/echo.js

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+'use strict';
+
+addEventListener('message', (event) => {
+ postMessage(event.data);
+});

test/parallel/test-webworker-ref-unref.js

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+// Flags: --experimental-web-worker
+'use strict';
+
+const common = require('../common');
+const fixtures = require('../common/fixtures');
+const assert = require('assert');
+
+{
+ // Both are no-ops on a worker whose script could not be loaded.
+ const worker = new Worker(fixtures.fileURL('web-worker', 'nonexistent.js').href);
+ worker.addEventListener('error', common.mustCall());
+ process.unref(worker);
+ process.ref(worker);
+}
+
+const worker = new Worker(fixtures.fileURL('web-worker', 'echo.js').href);
+
+worker.addEventListener('error', common.mustNotCall('worker failed'));
+worker.addEventListener('message', common.mustCall(({ data }) => {
+ assert.strictEqual(data, 'hello');
+ worker.terminate();
+}));
+
+process.once('beforeExit', common.mustCall(() => {
+ process.ref(worker);
+ worker.postMessage('hello');
+}));
+
+process.unref(worker);

doc/api/globals.md

@@ -1401,6 +1401,10 @@ Inside a worker, \[`worker_threads.parentPort`]\[] is the port behind
 `self.postMessage()` and the worker's `message` events, `isMainThread` is
 `false`, and `workerData` is `undefined`.
 
+Web Workers, like `node:worker_threads` workers, keep the event loop alive by
+default. In Node.js, Web Workers implement the [Refable protocol][], and can be
+ref'd and unref'd using `process.ref(worker)` and `process.unref(worker)`.
+
 As a rule of thumb, use [`node:worker_threads`][] directly when a program
 needs `workerData`, a custom `env` or `execArgv`, resource limits, stdio
 redirection, the `'online'` and `'exit'` events, or `worker.threadId`;
@@ -1457,6 +1461,7 @@ A browser-compatible implementation of [`WritableStreamDefaultWriter`][].
 [HTML Standard]: https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/workers.html
 [Navigator API]: https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/system-state.html#the-navigator-object
 [RFC 5646]: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5646.txt
+[Refable protocol]: process.md#processrefmayberefable
 [Web Crypto API]: webcrypto.md
 [`--experimental-eventsource`]: cli.md#--experimental-eventsource
 [`--experimental-web-worker`]: cli.md#--experimental-web-worker

lib/internal/webworker.js

@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@ const {
 
 const kCurrentlyReceivingPorts =
  SymbolFor('nodejs.internal.kCurrentlyReceivingPorts');
+const kRef = SymbolFor('nodejs.ref');
+const kUnref = SymbolFor('nodejs.unref');
 
 const kCreate = Symbol('kCreate');
 const kInsidePort = Symbol('kInsidePort');
@@ -865,6 +867,17 @@ class Worker extends EventTarget {
  // arguments, and returned the same return value."
  this[kWorker]?.postMessage(message, transfer);
  }
+
+ // The following properties are non-standard, Node.js extensions
+ [kRef]() {
+ validateThisInternalField(this, kWorker, 'Worker');
+ this[kWorker]?.ref();
+ }
+
+ [kUnref]() {
+ validateThisInternalField(this, kWorker, 'Worker');
+ this[kWorker]?.unref();
+ }
 }
 
 ObjectDefineProperties(Worker.prototype, {

test/fixtures/web-worker/echo.js

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+'use strict';
+
+addEventListener('message', (event) => {
+ postMessage(event.data);
+});

test/parallel/test-webworker-ref-unref.js

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+// Flags: --experimental-web-worker
+'use strict';
+
+const common = require('../common');
+const fixtures = require('../common/fixtures');
+const assert = require('assert');
+
+{
+ // Both are no-ops on a worker whose script could not be loaded.
+ const worker = new Worker(fixtures.fileURL('web-worker', 'nonexistent.js').href);
+ worker.addEventListener('error', common.mustCall());
+ process.unref(worker);
+ process.ref(worker);
+}
+
+const worker = new Worker(fixtures.fileURL('web-worker', 'echo.js').href);
+
+worker.addEventListener('error', common.mustNotCall('worker failed'));
+worker.addEventListener('message', common.mustCall(({ data }) => {
+ assert.strictEqual(data, 'hello');
+ worker.terminate();
+}));
+
+process.once('beforeExit', common.mustCall(() => {
+ process.ref(worker);
+ worker.postMessage('hello');
+}));
+
+process.unref(worker);

doc/api/globals.md

@@ -1401,6 +1401,10 @@ Inside a worker, \[`worker_threads.parentPort`]\[] is the port behind
 `self.postMessage()` and the worker's `message` events, `isMainThread` is
 `false`, and `workerData` is `undefined`.
 
+Web Workers, like `node:worker_threads` workers, keep the event loop alive by
+default. In Node.js, Web Workers implement the [Refable protocol][], and can be
+ref'd and unref'd using `process.ref(worker)` and `process.unref(worker)`.
+
 As a rule of thumb, use [`node:worker_threads`][] directly when a program
 needs `workerData`, a custom `env` or `execArgv`, resource limits, stdio
 redirection, the `'online'` and `'exit'` events, or `worker.threadId`;
@@ -1457,6 +1461,7 @@ A browser-compatible implementation of [`WritableStreamDefaultWriter`][].
 [HTML Standard]: https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/workers.html
 [Navigator API]: https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/system-state.html#the-navigator-object
 [RFC 5646]: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5646.txt
+[Refable protocol]: process.md#processrefmayberefable
 [Web Crypto API]: webcrypto.md
 [`--experimental-eventsource`]: cli.md#--experimental-eventsource
 [`--experimental-web-worker`]: cli.md#--experimental-web-worker

lib/internal/webworker.js

@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@ const {
 
 const kCurrentlyReceivingPorts =
  SymbolFor('nodejs.internal.kCurrentlyReceivingPorts');
+const kRef = SymbolFor('nodejs.ref');
+const kUnref = SymbolFor('nodejs.unref');
 
 const kCreate = Symbol('kCreate');
 const kInsidePort = Symbol('kInsidePort');
@@ -865,6 +867,17 @@ class Worker extends EventTarget {
  // arguments, and returned the same return value."
  this[kWorker]?.postMessage(message, transfer);
  }
+
+ // The following properties are non-standard, Node.js extensions
+ [kRef]() {
+ validateThisInternalField(this, kWorker, 'Worker');
+ this[kWorker]?.ref();
+ }
+
+ [kUnref]() {
+ validateThisInternalField(this, kWorker, 'Worker');
+ this[kWorker]?.unref();
+ }
 }
 
 ObjectDefineProperties(Worker.prototype, {

test/fixtures/web-worker/echo.js

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+'use strict';
+
+addEventListener('message', (event) => {
+ postMessage(event.data);
+});

test/parallel/test-webworker-ref-unref.js

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+// Flags: --experimental-web-worker
+'use strict';
+
+const common = require('../common');
+const fixtures = require('../common/fixtures');
+const assert = require('assert');
+
+{
+ // Both are no-ops on a worker whose script could not be loaded.
+ const worker = new Worker(fixtures.fileURL('web-worker', 'nonexistent.js').href);
+ worker.addEventListener('error', common.mustCall());
+ process.unref(worker);
+ process.ref(worker);
+}
+
+const worker = new Worker(fixtures.fileURL('web-worker', 'echo.js').href);
+
+worker.addEventListener('error', common.mustNotCall('worker failed'));
+worker.addEventListener('message', common.mustCall(({ data }) => {
+ assert.strictEqual(data, 'hello');
+ worker.terminate();
+}));
+
+process.once('beforeExit', common.mustCall(() => {
+ process.ref(worker);
+ worker.postMessage('hello');
+}));
+
+process.unref(worker);

doc/api/globals.md

@@ -1401,6 +1401,10 @@ Inside a worker, \[`worker_threads.parentPort`]\[] is the port behind
 `self.postMessage()` and the worker's `message` events, `isMainThread` is
 `false`, and `workerData` is `undefined`.
 
+Web Workers, like `node:worker_threads` workers, keep the event loop alive by
+default. In Node.js, Web Workers implement the [Refable protocol][], and can be
+ref'd and unref'd using `process.ref(worker)` and `process.unref(worker)`.
+
 As a rule of thumb, use [`node:worker_threads`][] directly when a program
 needs `workerData`, a custom `env` or `execArgv`, resource limits, stdio
 redirection, the `'online'` and `'exit'` events, or `worker.threadId`;
@@ -1457,6 +1461,7 @@ A browser-compatible implementation of [`WritableStreamDefaultWriter`][].
 [HTML Standard]: https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/workers.html
 [Navigator API]: https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/system-state.html#the-navigator-object
 [RFC 5646]: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5646.txt
+[Refable protocol]: process.md#processrefmayberefable
 [Web Crypto API]: webcrypto.md
 [`--experimental-eventsource`]: cli.md#--experimental-eventsource
 [`--experimental-web-worker`]: cli.md#--experimental-web-worker

lib/internal/webworker.js

@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@ const {
 
 const kCurrentlyReceivingPorts =
  SymbolFor('nodejs.internal.kCurrentlyReceivingPorts');
+const kRef = SymbolFor('nodejs.ref');
+const kUnref = SymbolFor('nodejs.unref');
 
 const kCreate = Symbol('kCreate');
 const kInsidePort = Symbol('kInsidePort');
@@ -865,6 +867,17 @@ class Worker extends EventTarget {
  // arguments, and returned the same return value."
  this[kWorker]?.postMessage(message, transfer);
  }
+
+ // The following properties are non-standard, Node.js extensions
+ [kRef]() {
+ validateThisInternalField(this, kWorker, 'Worker');
+ this[kWorker]?.ref();
+ }
+
+ [kUnref]() {
+ validateThisInternalField(this, kWorker, 'Worker');
+ this[kWorker]?.unref();
+ }
 }
 
 ObjectDefineProperties(Worker.prototype, {

test/fixtures/web-worker/echo.js

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+'use strict';
+
+addEventListener('message', (event) => {
+ postMessage(event.data);
+});

test/parallel/test-webworker-ref-unref.js

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+// Flags: --experimental-web-worker
+'use strict';
+
+const common = require('../common');
+const fixtures = require('../common/fixtures');
+const assert = require('assert');
+
+{
+ // Both are no-ops on a worker whose script could not be loaded.
+ const worker = new Worker(fixtures.fileURL('web-worker', 'nonexistent.js').href);
+ worker.addEventListener('error', common.mustCall());
+ process.unref(worker);
+ process.ref(worker);
+}
+
+const worker = new Worker(fixtures.fileURL('web-worker', 'echo.js').href);
+
+worker.addEventListener('error', common.mustNotCall('worker failed'));
+worker.addEventListener('message', common.mustCall(({ data }) => {
+ assert.strictEqual(data, 'hello');
+ worker.terminate();
+}));
+
+process.once('beforeExit', common.mustCall(() => {
+ process.ref(worker);
+ worker.postMessage('hello');
+}));
+
+process.unref(worker);

doc/api/globals.md

@@ -1401,6 +1401,10 @@ Inside a worker, \[`worker_threads.parentPort`]\[] is the port behind
 `self.postMessage()` and the worker's `message` events, `isMainThread` is
 `false`, and `workerData` is `undefined`.
 
+Web Workers, like `node:worker_threads` workers, keep the event loop alive by
+default. In Node.js, Web Workers implement the [Refable protocol][], and can be
+ref'd and unref'd using `process.ref(worker)` and `process.unref(worker)`.
+
 As a rule of thumb, use [`node:worker_threads`][] directly when a program
 needs `workerData`, a custom `env` or `execArgv`, resource limits, stdio
 redirection, the `'online'` and `'exit'` events, or `worker.threadId`;
@@ -1457,6 +1461,7 @@ A browser-compatible implementation of [`WritableStreamDefaultWriter`][].
 [HTML Standard]: https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/workers.html
 [Navigator API]: https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/system-state.html#the-navigator-object
 [RFC 5646]: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5646.txt
+[Refable protocol]: process.md#processrefmayberefable
 [Web Crypto API]: webcrypto.md
 [`--experimental-eventsource`]: cli.md#--experimental-eventsource
 [`--experimental-web-worker`]: cli.md#--experimental-web-worker

lib/internal/webworker.js

@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@ const {
 
 const kCurrentlyReceivingPorts =
  SymbolFor('nodejs.internal.kCurrentlyReceivingPorts');
+const kRef = SymbolFor('nodejs.ref');
+const kUnref = SymbolFor('nodejs.unref');
 
 const kCreate = Symbol('kCreate');
 const kInsidePort = Symbol('kInsidePort');
@@ -865,6 +867,17 @@ class Worker extends EventTarget {
  // arguments, and returned the same return value."
  this[kWorker]?.postMessage(message, transfer);
  }
+
+ // The following properties are non-standard, Node.js extensions
+ [kRef]() {
+ validateThisInternalField(this, kWorker, 'Worker');
+ this[kWorker]?.ref();
+ }
+
+ [kUnref]() {
+ validateThisInternalField(this, kWorker, 'Worker');
+ this[kWorker]?.unref();
+ }
 }
 
 ObjectDefineProperties(Worker.prototype, {

test/fixtures/web-worker/echo.js

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+'use strict';
+
+addEventListener('message', (event) => {
+ postMessage(event.data);
+});

test/parallel/test-webworker-ref-unref.js

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+// Flags: --experimental-web-worker
+'use strict';
+
+const common = require('../common');
+const fixtures = require('../common/fixtures');
+const assert = require('assert');
+
+{
+ // Both are no-ops on a worker whose script could not be loaded.
+ const worker = new Worker(fixtures.fileURL('web-worker', 'nonexistent.js').href);
+ worker.addEventListener('error', common.mustCall());
+ process.unref(worker);
+ process.ref(worker);
+}
+
+const worker = new Worker(fixtures.fileURL('web-worker', 'echo.js').href);
+
+worker.addEventListener('error', common.mustNotCall('worker failed'));
+worker.addEventListener('message', common.mustCall(({ data }) => {
+ assert.strictEqual(data, 'hello');
+ worker.terminate();
+}));
+
+process.once('beforeExit', common.mustCall(() => {
+ process.ref(worker);
+ worker.postMessage('hello');
+}));
+
+process.unref(worker);

doc/api/globals.md

@@ -1401,6 +1401,10 @@ Inside a worker, \[`worker_threads.parentPort`]\[] is the port behind
 `self.postMessage()` and the worker's `message` events, `isMainThread` is
 `false`, and `workerData` is `undefined`.
 
+Web Workers, like `node:worker_threads` workers, keep the event loop alive by
+default. In Node.js, Web Workers implement the [Refable protocol][], and can be
+ref'd and unref'd using `process.ref(worker)` and `process.unref(worker)`.
+
 As a rule of thumb, use [`node:worker_threads`][] directly when a program
 needs `workerData`, a custom `env` or `execArgv`, resource limits, stdio
 redirection, the `'online'` and `'exit'` events, or `worker.threadId`;
@@ -1457,6 +1461,7 @@ A browser-compatible implementation of [`WritableStreamDefaultWriter`][].
 [HTML Standard]: https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/workers.html
 [Navigator API]: https://html.spec.whatwg.org/multipage/system-state.html#the-navigator-object
 [RFC 5646]: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5646.txt
+[Refable protocol]: process.md#processrefmayberefable
 [Web Crypto API]: webcrypto.md
 [`--experimental-eventsource`]: cli.md#--experimental-eventsource
 [`--experimental-web-worker`]: cli.md#--experimental-web-worker

lib/internal/webworker.js

@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@ const {
 
 const kCurrentlyReceivingPorts =
  SymbolFor('nodejs.internal.kCurrentlyReceivingPorts');
+const kRef = SymbolFor('nodejs.ref');
+const kUnref = SymbolFor('nodejs.unref');
 
 const kCreate = Symbol('kCreate');
 const kInsidePort = Symbol('kInsidePort');
@@ -865,6 +867,17 @@ class Worker extends EventTarget {
  // arguments, and returned the same return value."
  this[kWorker]?.postMessage(message, transfer);
  }
+
+ // The following properties are non-standard, Node.js extensions
+ [kRef]() {
+ validateThisInternalField(this, kWorker, 'Worker');
+ this[kWorker]?.ref();
+ }
+
+ [kUnref]() {
+ validateThisInternalField(this, kWorker, 'Worker');
+ this[kWorker]?.unref();
+ }
 }
 
 ObjectDefineProperties(Worker.prototype, {

test/fixtures/web-worker/echo.js

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+'use strict';
+
+addEventListener('message', (event) => {
+ postMessage(event.data);
+});

test/parallel/test-webworker-ref-unref.js

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+// Flags: --experimental-web-worker
+'use strict';
+
+const common = require('../common');
+const fixtures = require('../common/fixtures');
+const assert = require('assert');
+
+{
+ // Both are no-ops on a worker whose script could not be loaded.
+ const worker = new Worker(fixtures.fileURL('web-worker', 'nonexistent.js').href);
+ worker.addEventListener('error', common.mustCall());
+ process.unref(worker);
+ process.ref(worker);
+}
+
+const worker = new Worker(fixtures.fileURL('web-worker', 'echo.js').href);
+
+worker.addEventListener('error', common.mustNotCall('worker failed'));
+worker.addEventListener('message', common.mustCall(({ data }) => {
+ assert.strictEqual(data, 'hello');
+ worker.terminate();
+}));
+
+process.once('beforeExit', common.mustCall(() => {
+ process.ref(worker);
+ worker.postMessage('hello');
+}));
+
+process.unref(worker);