Trezor Bridge®
Install Trezor Bridge in minutes to start securely managing your assets. Compatible across major operating systems with automatic updates for optimal performance.
Last updated
Install Trezor Bridge in minutes to start securely managing your assets. Compatible across major operating systems with automatic updates for optimal performance.
Last updated
Trezor Bridge is more than “just” a driver; it’s a miniature local web server designed to navigate modern browser security restrictions. By understanding its architecture, you can appreciate why it’s vital for interacting with your hardware wallet.
Architecture Overview At its core, Bridge consists of:
Web Service Layer: Listens on localhost:21325 for JSON-RPC calls from the browser.
USB Transport Layer: A native module handling raw USB communication with Trezor devices.
When a decentralized application (dApp) running in your browser needs to interact with your Trezor—say, to get a list of public addresses—it issues a web-USB API call. Bridge intercepts that request, wraps it in its own protocol, and forwards it to the USB stack. The device processes the command and returns a response, which Bridge then relays back to the dApp as JSON.
Security Considerations
By acting as an intermediary, Bridge isolates direct browser-to-device communication, reducing the attack surface. It only accepts requests from localhost, thus preventing remote web pages from hijacking your Trezor without explicit permission.
Performance Optimizations Bridge uses connection pooling: once a device is detected, it keeps the USB interface open, reducing latency for subsequent operations. It also batches certain commands—like requesting multiple public keys—to minimize USB transactions.
Cross-Platform Consistency Bridge’s codebase is largely shared among Windows, macOS, and Linux, with platform-specific modules for USB drivers. This ensures that whether you’re on Ubuntu or Windows 11, the interaction paradigm remains identical.
Developer Integration
For wallet developers, Trezor Bridge exposes a straightforward JavaScript library (@trezor/connect). By including it in your web project, you gain access to high-level methods such as TrezorConnect.getPublicKey() and TrezorConnect.signTransaction(), abstracting away the details of Bridge’s RPC transport.
Understanding Trezor Bridge’s internal workings not only demystifies the installation process but also highlights its role in maintaining a secure and efficient connection between your browser and your hardware wallet.
