Chrome extension message parssing

Send a message from content script:

chrome.runtime.sendMessage({greeting: "hello"}, function(response) {
  console.log(response.farewell);
});

Send a message from an extension to content script:

chrome.tabs.query({active: true, currentWindow: true}, function(tabs) {
  chrome.tabs.sendMessage(tabs[0].id, {greeting: "hello"}, function(response) {
    console.log(response.farewell);
  });
});

On the receiving end, you need to set up an runtime.onMessage event listener to handle the message. This looks the same from a content script or extension page.

chrome.runtime.onMessage.addListener(
  function(request, sender, sendResponse) {
    console.log(sender.tab ?
                "from a content script:" + sender.tab.url :
                "from the extension");
    if (request.greeting == "hello")
      sendResponse({farewell: "goodbye"});
  });

APIs

chrome.runtime.onMessage.addListener(function callback)

Fired when a message is sent from either an extension process or a content script.

chrome.runtime.sendMessage(string extensionId, any message, object options, function responseCallback)

Sends a single message to event listeners within your extension or a different extension.
If sending to your extension, the runtime.onMessage event will be fired in each page.
Note that extensions cannot send messages to content scripts using this method. To send messages to content scripts, use tabs.sendMessage.