ESP32 - LED Matrix via Web
In this tutorial, we will learn how to control LED matrix signboard via web interface using ESP32. In detail, we will program ESP32 to become a web server that does the following:
- Returns a web interface to users when receiving a request from a web browser.
- Provides the web interface that users can send the message to ESP32
- Displays the messages on the LED matrix once receiving the message.
Hardware Used In This Tutorial
Or you can buy the following kits:
| 1 | × | DIYables ESP32 Starter Kit (ESP32 included) | |
| 1 | × | DIYables Sensor Kit (30 sensors/displays) | |
| 1 | × | DIYables Sensor Kit (18 sensors/displays) |
Disclosure: Some of the links in this section are Amazon affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase through them. Additionally, some links direct you to products from our own brand, DIYables .
Introduction to LED Matrix and Web Server
We can use a pure HTTP to send a text from web interface to ESP32. However, using WebSocket makes it looks more responsive and does not add much difficuity, So in this tutorial, we will use the WebSocket.
Unfamiliar with LED Matrix and Web Server and WebSocket, including their pinouts, functionality, and programming? Explore comprehensive tutorials on these topics below:
- ESP32 - LED Matrix tutorial
- ESP32 - Web Server tutorial
- ESP32 - WebSocket tutorial
Wiring Diagram
This image is created using Fritzing. Click to enlarge image
If you're unfamiliar with how to supply power to the ESP32 and other components, you can find guidance in the following tutorial: The best way to Power ESP32 and sensors/displays.
ESP32 Code
The webpage's content (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) are stored separately on an index.h file. So, we will have two code files on Arduino IDE:
- An .ino file that is ESP32 code, which creates a web sever and WebSocket server
- An .h file, which contains the webpage's content.
Quick Instructions
- If this is the first time you use ESP32, see how to setup environment for ESP32 on Arduino IDE.
- Connect the ESP32 board to your PC via a micro USB caweb server
- Open Arduino IDE on your PC.
- Select the right ESP32 board (e.g. ESP32 Dev Module) and COM port.
- Open the Library Manager by clicking on the Library Manager icon on the left navigation bar of Arduino IDE.
- Search “ESPAsyncWebServer”, then find the ESPAsyncWebServer created by lacamera.
- Click Install button to install ESPAsyncWebServer library.
- You will be asked to install the dependency. Click Install All button.
- Search “WebSockets”, then find the WebSockets created by Markus Sattler.
- Click Install button to install WebSockets library.
- Search “MD_Parola”, then find the MD_Parola library
- Click Install button.
- You will be asked to install the “MD_MAX72XX” library
- Click Install All button to install the dependency.
- On Arduino IDE, create new sketch, Give it a name, for example, esp32io.com.ino
- Copy the below code and open with Arduino IDE
/*
* This ESP32 code is created by esp32io.com
*
* This ESP32 code is released in the public domain
*
* For more detail (instruction and wiring diagram), visit https://esp32io.com/tutorials/esp32-led-matrix-via-web
*/
#include <WiFi.h>
#include <ESPAsyncWebServer.h>
#include <WebSocketsServer.h>
#include "index.h"
#include <MD_Parola.h>
#include <MD_MAX72xx.h>
#define HARDWARE_TYPE MD_MAX72XX::FC16_HW
#define MAX_DEVICES 4 // 4 blocks
#define CS_PIN 21 // ESP32 pin GPIO21
const char* ssid = "YOUR_WIFI_SSID"; // CHANGE IT
const char* password = "YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD"; // CHANGE IT
AsyncWebServer server(80);
WebSocketsServer webSocket = WebSocketsServer(81); // WebSocket server on port 81
// create an instance of the MD_Parola class
MD_Parola ledMatrix = MD_Parola(HARDWARE_TYPE, CS_PIN, MAX_DEVICES);
void webSocketEvent(uint8_t num, WStype_t type, uint8_t* payload, size_t length) {
switch (type) {
case WStype_DISCONNECTED:
Serial.printf("[%u] Disconnected!\n", num);
break;
case WStype_CONNECTED:
{
IPAddress ip = webSocket.remoteIP(num);
Serial.printf("[%u] Connected from %d.%d.%d.%d\n", num, ip[0], ip[1], ip[2], ip[3]);
}
break;
case WStype_TEXT:
String text = String((char*)payload);
Serial.println("Received: " + text);
ledMatrix.displayClear(); // clear led matrix display
ledMatrix.displayScroll(text.c_str(), PA_CENTER, PA_SCROLL_LEFT, 100);
webSocket.sendTXT(num, "Displayed: " + String((char*)payload) + "on LED Matrix");
break;
}
}
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
ledMatrix.begin(); // initialize the object
ledMatrix.setIntensity(15); // set the brightness of the LED matrix display (from 0 to 15)
ledMatrix.displayClear(); // clear led matrix display
ledMatrix.displayScroll("esp32io.com", PA_CENTER, PA_SCROLL_LEFT, 100);
// Connect to Wi-Fi
WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
delay(1000);
Serial.println("Connecting to WiFi...");
}
Serial.println("Connected to WiFi");
// Initialize WebSocket server
webSocket.begin();
webSocket.onEvent(webSocketEvent);
// Serve a basic HTML page with JavaScript to create the WebSocket connection
server.on("/", HTTP_GET, [](AsyncWebServerRequest* request) {
Serial.println("Web Server: received a web page request");
String html = HTML_CONTENT; // Use the HTML content from the index.h file
request->send(200, "text/html", html);
});
server.begin();
Serial.print("ESP32 Web Server's IP address: ");
Serial.println(WiFi.localIP());
}
void loop() {
webSocket.loop();
if (ledMatrix.displayAnimate()) {
ledMatrix.displayReset();
}
}
- Create the index.h file On Arduino IDE by:
- Either click on the button just below the serial monitor icon and choose New Tab, or use Ctrl+Shift+N keys.
- Give the file's name index.h and click OK button
- Copy the below code and paste it to the index.h.
- Now you have the code in two files: esp32io.com.ino and index.h
- Click Upload button on Arduino IDE to upload code to ESP32.
- Open the Serial Monitor
- Check out the result on Serial Monitor.
- Take note of the IP address displayed, and enter this address into the address bar of a web browser on your smartphone or PC.
- You will see the webpage it as below:
- Click the CONNECT button to connect the webpage to ESP32 via WebSocket.
- Type some words and send them to ESP32.
- You will see the response from ESP32.
- If you modify the HTML content in the index.h and does not touch anything in esp32io.com.ino file, when you compile and upload code to ESP32, Arduino IDE will not update the HTML content.
- To make Arduino IDE update the HTML content in this case, make a change in the esp32io.com.ino file (e.g. adding empty line, add a comment....)
/*
* This ESP32 code is created by esp32io.com
*
* This ESP32 code is released in the public domain
*
* For more detail (instruction and wiring diagram), visit https://esp32io.com/tutorials/esp32-led-matrix-via-web
*/
const char *HTML_CONTENT = R"=====(
<!DOCTYPE html>
<!-- saved from url=(0019)http://192.168.0.2/ -->
<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">
<title>ESP32 WebSocket</title>
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=0.7">
<link rel="icon" href="https://diyables.io/images/page/diyables.svg">
<style>
/* Add some basic styling for the chat window */
body {
font-size: 16px;
}
.chat-container {
width: 400px;
margin: 0 auto;
padding: 10px;
}
.chat-messages {
height: 250px;
overflow-y: auto;
border: 1px solid #444;
padding: 5px;
margin-bottom: 5px;
}
.user-input {
display: flex;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.user-input input {
flex: 1;
border: 1px solid #444;
padding: 5px;
}
.user-input button {
margin-left: 5px;
background-color: #007bff;
color: #fff;
border: none;
padding: 5px 10px;
cursor: pointer;
}
.websocket {
display: flex;
align-items: center;
margin-bottom: 5px;
}
.websocket button {
background-color: #007bff;
color: #fff;
border: none;
padding: 5px 10px;
cursor: pointer;
}
.websocket .label {
margin-left: auto;
}
</style>
<script>
var ws;
var wsm_max_len = 4096; /* bigger length causes uart0 buffer overflow with low speed smart device */
function update_text(text) {
var chat_messages = document.getElementById("chat-messages");
chat_messages.innerHTML += text + '<br>';
chat_messages.scrollTop = chat_messages.scrollHeight;
}
function send_onclick() {
if(ws != null) {
var message = document.getElementById("message").value;
if (message) {
document.getElementById("message").value = "";
ws.send(message + "\n");
update_text('<span style="color:navy">' + message + '</span>');
// You can send the message to the server or process it as needed
}
}
}
function connect_onclick() {
if(ws == null) {
ws = new WebSocket("ws://" + window.location.host + ":81");
document.getElementById("ws_state").innerHTML = "CONNECTING";
ws.onopen = ws_onopen;
ws.onclose = ws_onclose;
ws.onmessage = ws_onmessage;
} else
ws.close();
}
function ws_onopen() {
document.getElementById("ws_state").innerHTML = "<span style='color:blue'>CONNECTED</span>";
document.getElementById("bt_connect").innerHTML = "Disconnect";
document.getElementById("chat-messages").innerHTML = "";
}
function ws_onclose() {
document.getElementById("ws_state").innerHTML = "<span style='color:gray'>CLOSED</span>";
document.getElementById("bt_connect").innerHTML = "Connect";
ws.onopen = null;
ws.onclose = null;
ws.onmessage = null;
ws = null;
}
function ws_onmessage(e_msg) {
e_msg = e_msg || window.event; // MessageEvent
console.log(e_msg.data);
update_text('<span style="color:blue">' + e_msg.data + '</span>');
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<div class="chat-container">
<h2>ESP32 WebSocket</h2>
<div class="websocket">
<button class="connect-button" id="bt_connect" onclick="connect_onclick()">Connect</button>
<span class="label">WebSocket: <span id="ws_state"><span style="color:blue">CLOSED</span></span></span>
</div>
<div class="chat-messages" id="chat-messages"></div>
<div class="user-input">
<input type="text" id="message" placeholder="Type your message...">
<button onclick="send_onclick()">Send</button>
</div>
<div class="sponsor">Sponsored by <a href="https://amazon.com/diyables">DIYables</a></div>
</div>
</body></html>
)=====";
COM6
Connecting to WiFi...
Connected to WiFi
ESP32 Web Server's IP address IP address: 192.168.0.2
Autoscroll
Clear output
9600 baud
Newline
※ NOTE THAT:
Line-by-line Code Explanation
The above ESP32 code contains line-by-line explanation. Please read the comments in the code!