Element

BaselineWidely available *

This feature is well established and works across many devices and browser versions. It’s been available across browsers since July 2015.

* Some parts of this feature may have varying levels of support.

Element is the most general base class from which all element objects (i.e., objects that represent elements) in aDocument inherit. It only has methods and properties common to all kinds of elements. More specific classes inherit fromElement.

For example, theHTMLElement interface is the base interface for HTML elements. Similarly, theSVGElement interface is the basis for all SVG elements, and theMathMLElement interface is the base interface for MathML elements. Most functionality is specified further down the class hierarchy.

Languages outside the realm of the Web platform, like XUL through theXULElement interface, also implementElement.

Instance properties

Element inherits properties from its parent interface,Node, and by extension that interface's parent,EventTarget.

Element.assignedSlotRead only: Returns aHTMLSlotElement representing the<slot> the node is inserted in.
Element.attributesRead only: Returns aNamedNodeMap object containing the assigned attributes of the corresponding HTML element.
Element.childElementCountRead only: Returns the number of child elements of this element.
Element.childrenRead only: Returns the child elements of this element.
Element.classListRead only: Returns aDOMTokenList containing the list of class attributes.
Element.className: A string representing the class of the element.
Element.clientHeightRead only: Returns a number representing the inner height of the element.
Element.clientLeftRead only: Returns a number representing the width of the left border of the element.
Element.clientTopRead only: Returns a number representing the width of the top border of the element.
Element.clientWidthRead only: Returns a number representing the inner width of the element.
Element.currentCSSZoomRead only: A number indicating the effective zoom size of the element, or 1.0 if the element is not rendered.
Element.elementTimingExperimental: A string reflecting the elementtiming attribute which marks an element for observation in thePerformanceElementTiming API.
Element.firstElementChildRead only: Returns the first child element of this element.
Element.id: A string representing the id of the element.
Element.innerHTML: A string representing the markup of the element's content.
Element.lastElementChildRead only: Returns the last child element of this element.
Element.localNameRead only: A string representing the local part of the qualified name of the element.
Element.namespaceURIRead only: The namespace URI of the element, ornull if it is no namespace.
Element.nextElementSiblingRead only: AnElement, the element immediately following the given one in the tree, ornull if there's no sibling node.
Element.outerHTML: A string representing the markup of the element including its content. When used as a setter, replaces the element with nodes parsed from the given string.
Element.part: Represents the part identifier(s) of the element (i.e., set using thepart attribute), returned as aDOMTokenList.
Element.prefixRead only: A string representing the namespace prefix of the element, ornull if no prefix is specified.
Element.previousElementSiblingRead only: AnElement, the element immediately preceding the given one in the tree, ornull if there is no sibling element.
Element.scrollHeightRead only: Returns a number representing the scroll view height of an element.
Element.scrollLeft: A number representing the left scroll offset of the element.
Element.scrollLeftMaxNon-standardRead only: Returns a number representing the maximum left scroll offset possible for the element.
Element.scrollTop: A number representing number of pixels the top of the element is scrolled vertically.
Element.scrollTopMaxNon-standardRead only: Returns a number representing the maximum top scroll offset possible for the element.
Element.scrollWidthRead only: Returns a number representing the scroll view width of the element.
Element.shadowRootRead only: Returns the open shadow root that is hosted by the element, or null if no open shadow root is present.
Element.slot: Returns the name of the shadow DOM slot the element is inserted in.
Element.tagNameRead only: Returns a string with the name of the tag for the given element.

Instance properties included from ARIA

TheElement interface also includes the following properties.

Element.ariaAtomic: A string reflecting thearia-atomic attribute, which indicates whether assistive technologies will present all, or only parts of, the changed region based on the change notifications defined by thearia-relevant attribute.
Element.ariaAutoComplete: A string reflecting thearia-autocomplete attribute, which indicates whether inputting text could trigger display of one or more predictions of the user's intended value for a combobox, searchbox, or textbox and specifies how predictions would be presented if they were made.
Element.ariaBrailleLabel: A string reflecting thearia-braillelabel attribute, which defines the braille label of the element.
Element.ariaBrailleRoleDescription: A string reflecting thearia-brailleroledescription attribute, which defines the ARIA braille role description of the element.
Element.ariaBusy: A string reflecting thearia-busy attribute, which indicates whether an element is being modified, as assistive technologies may want to wait until the modifications are complete before exposing them to the user.
Element.ariaChecked: A string reflecting thearia-checked attribute, which indicates the current "checked" state of checkboxes, radio buttons, and other widgets that have a checked state.
Element.ariaColCount: A string reflecting thearia-colcount attribute, which defines the number of columns in a table, grid, or treegrid.
Element.ariaColIndex: A string reflecting thearia-colindex attribute, which defines an element's column index or position with respect to the total number of columns within a table, grid, or treegrid.
Element.ariaColIndexText: A string reflecting thearia-colindextext attribute, which defines a human readable text alternative of aria-colindex.
Element.ariaColSpan: A string reflecting thearia-colspan attribute, which defines the number of columns spanned by a cell or gridcell within a table, grid, or treegrid.
Element.ariaCurrent: A string reflecting thearia-current attribute, which indicates the element that represents the current item within a container or set of related elements.
Element.ariaDescription: A string reflecting thearia-description attribute, which defines a string value that describes or annotates the current element.
Element.ariaDisabled: A string reflecting thearia-disabled attribute, which indicates that the element is perceivable but disabled, so it is not editable or otherwise operable.
Element.ariaExpanded: A string reflecting thearia-expanded attribute, which indicates whether a grouping element owned or controlled by this element is expanded or collapsed.
Element.ariaHasPopup: A string reflecting thearia-haspopup attribute, which indicates the availability and type of interactive popup element, such as menu or dialog, that can be triggered by an element.
Element.ariaHidden: A string reflecting thearia-hidden attribute, which indicates whether the element is exposed to an accessibility API.
Element.ariaInvalid: A string reflecting thearia-invalid attribute, which indicates the entered value does not conform to the format expected by the application.
Element.ariaKeyShortcuts: A string reflecting thearia-keyshortcuts attribute, which indicates keyboard shortcuts that an author has implemented to activate or give focus to an element.
Element.ariaLabel: A string reflecting thearia-label attribute, which defines a string value that labels the current element.
Element.ariaLevel: A string reflecting thearia-level attribute, which defines the hierarchical level of an element within a structure.
Element.ariaLive: A string reflecting thearia-live attribute, which indicates that an element will be updated, and describes the types of updates the user agents, assistive technologies, and user can expect from the live region.
Element.ariaModal: A string reflecting thearia-modal attribute, which indicates whether an element is modal when displayed.
Element.ariaMultiline: A string reflecting thearia-multiline attribute, which indicates whether a text box accepts multiple lines of input or only a single line.
Element.ariaMultiSelectable: A string reflecting thearia-multiselectable attribute, which indicates that the user may select more than one item from the current selectable descendants.
Element.ariaOrientation: A string reflecting thearia-orientation attribute, which indicates whether the element's orientation is horizontal, vertical, or unknown/ambiguous.
Element.ariaPlaceholder: A string reflecting thearia-placeholder attribute, which defines a short hint intended to aid the user with data entry when the control has no value.
Element.ariaPosInSet: A string reflecting thearia-posinset attribute, which defines an element's number or position in the current set of listitems or treeitems.
Element.ariaPressed: A string reflecting thearia-pressed attribute, which indicates the current "pressed" state of toggle buttons.
Element.ariaReadOnly: A string reflecting thearia-readonly attribute, which indicates that the element is not editable, but is otherwise operable.
Element.ariaRelevantNon-standard: A string reflecting the aria-relevant attribute, which indicates what notifications the user agent will trigger when the accessibility tree within a live region is modified. This is used to describe what changes in anaria-live region are relevant and should be announced.
Element.ariaRequired: A string reflecting thearia-required attribute, which indicates that user input is required on the element before a form may be submitted.
Element.ariaRoleDescription: A string reflecting thearia-roledescription attribute, which defines a human-readable, author-localized description for the role of an element.
Element.ariaRowCount: A string reflecting thearia-rowcount attribute, which defines the total number of rows in a table, grid, or treegrid.
Element.ariaRowIndex: A string reflecting thearia-rowindex attribute, which defines an element's row index or position with respect to the total number of rows within a table, grid, or treegrid.
Element.ariaRowIndexText: A string reflecting thearia-rowindextext attribute, which defines a human readable text alternative of aria-rowindex.
Element.ariaRowSpan: A string reflecting thearia-rowspan attribute, which defines the number of rows spanned by a cell or gridcell within a table, grid, or treegrid.
Element.ariaSelected: A string reflecting thearia-selected attribute, which indicates the current "selected" state of elements that have a selected state.
Element.ariaSetSize: A string reflecting thearia-setsize attribute, which defines the number of items in the current set of listitems or treeitems.
Element.ariaSort: A string reflecting thearia-sort attribute, which indicates if items in a table or grid are sorted in ascending or descending order.
Element.ariaValueMax: A string reflecting thearia-valueMax attribute, which defines the maximum allowed value for a range widget.
Element.ariaValueMin: A string reflecting thearia-valueMin attribute, which defines the minimum allowed value for a range widget.
Element.ariaValueNow: A string reflecting thearia-valueNow attribute, which defines the current value for a range widget.
Element.ariaValueText: A string reflecting thearia-valuetext attribute, which defines the human-readable text alternative ofaria-valuenow for a range widget.
Element.role: A string reflecting the explicitly setrole attribute, which provides the semantic role of the element.

Instance properties reflected from ARIA element references

The properties reflect the elements specified byid reference in the corresponding attributes, but with some caveats. SeeReflected element references in theReflected attributes guide for more information.

Element.ariaActiveDescendantElement: An element that represents the current active element when focus is on acomposite widget,combobox,textbox,group, orapplication.Reflects thearia-activedescendant attribute.
Element.ariaControlsElements: An array of elements whose contents or presence are controlled by the element it is applied to.Reflects thearia-controls attribute.
Element.ariaDescribedByElements: An array of elements that contain the accessible description for the element it is applied to.Reflects thearia-describedby attribute.
Element.ariaDetailsElements: An array of elements that provide accessible details for the element it is applied to.Reflects thearia-details attribute.
Element.ariaErrorMessageElements: An array of elements that provide an error message for the element it is applied to.Reflects thearia-errormessage attribute.
Element.ariaFlowToElements: An array of elements that identify the next element (or elements) in an alternate reading order of content, overriding the general default reading order at the user's discretion.Reflects thearia-flowto attribute.
Element.ariaLabelledByElements: An array of elements that provide the accessible name for the element it is applied to.Reflects thearia-labelledby attribute.
Element.ariaOwnsElements: An array of elements owned by the element this is applied to.This is used to define a visual, functional, or contextual relationship between a parent and its child elements when the DOM hierarchy cannot be used to represent the relationship.Reflects thearia-owns attribute.

Instance methods

Element inherits methods from its parentsNode, and its own parent,EventTarget.

Element.after(): Inserts a set ofNode objects or strings in the children list of theElement's parent, just after theElement.
Element.animate(): A shortcut method to create and run an animation on an element. Returns the created Animation object instance.
Element.append(): Inserts a set ofNode objects or strings after the last child of the element.
Element.attachShadow(): Attaches a shadow DOM tree to the specified element and returns a reference to itsShadowRoot.
Element.before(): Inserts a set ofNode objects or strings in the children list of theElement's parent, just before theElement.
Element.checkVisibility(): Returns whether an element is expected to be visible or not based on configurable checks.
Element.closest(): Returns theElement which is the closest ancestor of the current element (or the current element itself) which matches the selectors given in parameter.
Element.computedStyleMap(): Returns aStylePropertyMapReadOnly interface which provides a read-only representation of a CSS declaration block that is an alternative toCSSStyleDeclaration.
Element.getAnimations(): Returns an array of Animation objects currently active on the element.
Element.getAttribute(): Retrieves the value of the named attribute from the current node and returns it as a string.
Element.getAttributeNames(): Returns an array of attribute names from the current element.
Element.getAttributeNode(): Retrieves the node representation of the named attribute from the current node and returns it as anAttr.
Element.getAttributeNodeNS(): Retrieves the node representation of the attribute with the specified name and namespace, from the current node and returns it as anAttr.
Element.getAttributeNS(): Retrieves the value of the attribute with the specified namespace and name from the current node and returns it as a string.
Element.getBoundingClientRect(): Returns the size of an element and its position relative to the viewport.
Element.getBoxQuads()Experimental: Returns a list of DOMQuad objects representing the CSS fragments of the node.
Element.getClientRects(): Returns a collection of rectangles that indicate the bounding rectangles for each line of text in a client.
Element.getElementsByClassName(): Returns a liveHTMLCollection that contains all descendants of the current element that possess the list of classes given in the parameter.
Element.getElementsByTagName(): Returns a liveHTMLCollection containing all descendant elements, of a particular tag name, from the current element.
Element.getElementsByTagNameNS(): Returns a liveHTMLCollection containing all descendant elements, of a particular tag name and namespace, from the current element.
Element.getHTML(): Returns the DOM content of the element as an HTML string, optionally including any shadow DOM.
Element.hasAttribute(): Returns a boolean value indicating if the element has the specified attribute or not.
Element.hasAttributeNS(): Returns a boolean value indicating if the element has the specified attribute, in the specified namespace, or not.
Element.hasAttributes(): Returns a boolean value indicating if the element has one or more HTML attributes present.
Element.hasPointerCapture(): Indicates whether the element on which it is invoked has pointer capture for the pointer identified by the given pointer ID.
Element.insertAdjacentElement(): Inserts a given element node at a given position relative to the element it is invoked upon.
Element.insertAdjacentHTML(): Parses the text as HTML or XML and inserts the resulting nodes into the tree in the position given.
Element.insertAdjacentText(): Inserts a given text node at a given position relative to the element it is invoked upon.
Element.matches(): Returns a boolean value indicating whether or not the element would be selected by the specified selector string.
Element.moveBefore()Experimental: Moves a given Node inside the invoking node as a direct child, before a given reference node, without removing and then inserting the node.
Element.prepend(): Inserts a set ofNode objects or strings before the first child of the element.
Element.querySelector(): Returns the firstNode which matches the specified selector string relative to the element.
Element.querySelectorAll(): Returns aNodeList of nodes which match the specified selector string relative to the element.
Element.releasePointerCapture(): Releases (stops) pointer capture that was previously set for a specificPointerEvent.
Element.remove(): Removes the element from the children list of its parent.
Element.removeAttribute(): Removes the named attribute from the current node.
Element.removeAttributeNode(): Removes the node representation of the named attribute from the current node.
Element.removeAttributeNS(): Removes the attribute with the specified name and namespace, from the current node.
Element.replaceChildren(): Replaces the existing children of aNode with a specified new set of children.
Element.replaceWith(): Replaces the element in the children list of its parent with a set ofNode objects or strings.
Element.requestFullscreen(): Asynchronously asks the browser to make the element fullscreen.
Element.requestPointerLock(): Allows to asynchronously ask for the pointer to be locked on the given element.
Element.scroll(): Scrolls to a particular set of coordinates inside a given element.
Element.scrollBy(): Scrolls an element by the given amount.
Element.scrollIntoView(): Scrolls the page until the element gets into the view.
Element.scrollIntoViewIfNeeded()Non-standard: Scrolls the current element into the visible area of the browser window if it's not already within the visible area of the browser window.Use the standardElement.scrollIntoView() instead.
Element.scrollTo(): Scrolls to a particular set of coordinates inside a given element.
Element.setAttribute(): Sets the value of a named attribute of the current node.
Element.setAttributeNode(): Sets the node representation of the named attribute from the current node.
Element.setAttributeNodeNS(): Sets the node representation of the attribute with the specified name and namespace, from the current node.
Element.setAttributeNS(): Sets the value of the attribute with the specified name and namespace, from the current node.
Element.setCapture()Non-standard Deprecated: Sets up mouse event capture, redirecting all mouse events to this element.
Element.setHTML()Secure contextExperimental: Parses and sanitizes a string of HTML into a document fragment, which then replaces the element's original subtree in the DOM.
Element.setHTMLUnsafe(): Parses a string of HTML into a document fragment, without sanitization, which then replaces the element's original subtree in the DOM. The HTML string may include declarative shadow roots, which would be parsed as template elements if the HTML was set usingElement.innerHTML.
Element.setPointerCapture(): Designates a specific element as the capture target of futurepointer events.
Element.toggleAttribute(): Toggles a boolean attribute, removing it if it is present and adding it if it is not present, on the specified element.

Events

Listen to these events usingaddEventListener() or by assigning an event listener to theoneventname property of this interface.

afterscriptexecuteNon-standard Deprecated: Fired when a script has been executed.
beforeinput: Fired when the value of an input element is about to be modified.
beforematch: Fires on an element that is in thehidden until found state, when the browser is about to reveal its content because the user has found the content through the "find in page" feature or through fragment navigation.
beforescriptexecuteNon-standard Deprecated: Fired when a script is about to be executed.
beforexrselectExperimental: Fired before WebXR select events (select,selectstart,selectend) are dispatched.
contentvisibilityautostatechange: Fires on any element withcontent-visibility: auto set on it when it starts or stops beingrelevant to the user andskipping its contents.
input: Fires when an element's value is changed as a direct result of a user action.
securitypolicyviolation: Fired when aContent Security Policy is violated.
wheel: Fired when the user rotates a wheel button on a pointing device (typically a mouse).

Animation events

animationcancel: Fired when an animation unexpectedly aborts.
animationend: Fired when an animation has completed normally.
animationiteration: Fired when an animation iteration has completed.
animationstart: Fired when an animation starts.

Clipboard events

copy: Fired when the user initiates a copy action through the browser's user interface.
cut: Fired when the user initiates a cut action through the browser's user interface.
paste: Fired when the user initiates a paste action through the browser's user interface.

Composition events

compositionend: Fired when a text composition system such as aninput method editor completes or cancels the current composition session.
compositionstart: Fired when a text composition system such as aninput method editor starts a new composition session.
compositionupdate: Fired when a new character is received in the context of a text composition session controlled by a text composition system such as aninput method editor.

Focus events

blur: Fired when an element has lost focus.
focus: Fired when an element has gained focus.
focusin: Fired when an element has gained focus, afterfocus.
focusout: Fired when an element has lost focus, afterblur.

Fullscreen events

fullscreenchange: Sent to anElement when it transitions into or out offullscreen mode.
fullscreenerror: Sent to anElement if an error occurs while attempting to switch it into or out offullscreen mode.

Keyboard events

keydown: Fired when a key is pressed.
keypressDeprecated: Fired when a key that produces a character value is pressed down.
keyup: Fired when a key is released.

Mouse events

auxclick: Fired when a non-primary pointing device button (e.g., any mouse button other than the left button) has been pressed and released on an element.
click: Fired when a pointing device button (e.g., a mouse's primary button) is pressed and released on a single element.
contextmenu: Fired when the user attempts to open a context menu.
dblclick: Fired when a pointing device button (e.g., a mouse's primary button) is clicked twice on a single element.
DOMActivateDeprecated: Occurs when an element is activated, for instance, through a mouse click or a keypress.
DOMMouseScrollDeprecated Non-standard: Occurs when mouse wheel or similar device is operated and the accumulated scroll amount is over 1 line or 1 page since last event.
mousedown: Fired when a pointing device button is pressed on an element.
mouseenter: Fired when a pointing device (usually a mouse) is moved over the element that has the listener attached.
mouseleave: Fired when the pointer of a pointing device (usually a mouse) is moved out of an element that has the listener attached to it.
mousemove: Fired when a pointing device (usually a mouse) is moved while over an element.
mouseout: Fired when a pointing device (usually a mouse) is moved off the element to which the listener is attached or off one of its children.
mouseover: Fired when a pointing device is moved onto the element to which the listener is attached or onto one of its children.
mouseup: Fired when a pointing device button is released on an element.
mousewheelDeprecated Non-standard: Fired when a mouse wheel or similar device is operated.
MozMousePixelScrollDeprecated Non-standard: Fired when a mouse wheel or similar device is operated.
webkitmouseforcechangedNon-standard: Fired each time the amount of pressure changes on the trackpad touch screen.
webkitmouseforcedownNon-standard: Fired after the mousedown event as soon as sufficient pressure has been applied to qualify as a "force click".
webkitmouseforcewillbeginNon-standard: Fired before the mousedown event.
webkitmouseforceupNon-standard: Fired after the webkitmouseforcedown event as soon as the pressure has been reduced sufficiently to end the "force click".

Pointer events

gotpointercapture: Fired when an element captures a pointer usingsetPointerCapture().
lostpointercapture: Fired when acaptured pointer is released.
pointercancel: Fired when a pointer event is canceled.
pointerdown: Fired when a pointer becomes active.
pointerenter: Fired when a pointer is moved into the hit test boundaries of an element or one of its descendants.
pointerleave: Fired when a pointer is moved out of the hit test boundaries of an element.
pointermove: Fired when a pointer changes coordinates.
pointerout: Fired when a pointer is moved out of thehit test boundaries of an element (among other reasons).
pointerover: Fired when a pointer is moved into an element's hit test boundaries.
pointerrawupdate: Fired when a pointer changes any properties that don't firepointerdown orpointerup events.
pointerup: Fired when a pointer is no longer active.

Scroll events

scroll: Fired when the document view or an element has been scrolled.
scrollend: Fires when the document view has completed scrolling.
scrollsnapchangeExperimental: Fired on the scroll container at the end of a scrolling operation when a new scroll snap target has been selected.
scrollsnapchangingExperimental: Fired on the scroll container when the browser determines a new scroll snap target is pending, i.e., it will be selected when the current scroll gesture ends.

Touch events

gesturechangeNon-standard: Fired when digits move during a touch gesture.
gestureendNon-standard: Fired when there are no longer multiple fingers contacting the touch surface, thus ending the gesture.
gesturestartNon-standard: Fired when multiple fingers contact the touch surface, thus starting a new gesture.
touchcancel: Fired when one or more touch points have been disrupted in an implementation-specific manner (for example, too many touch points are created).
touchend: Fired when one or more touch points are removed from the touch surface.
touchmove: Fired when one or more touch points are moved along the touch surface.
touchstart: Fired when one or more touch points are placed on the touch surface.

Transition events

transitioncancel: AnEvent fired when aCSS transition has been cancelled.
transitionend: AnEvent fired when aCSS transition has finished playing.
transitionrun: AnEvent fired when aCSS transition is created (i.e., when it is added to a set of running transitions), though not necessarily started.
transitionstart: AnEvent fired when aCSS transition has started transitioning.

Specifications

Specification
DOM # interface-element
Pointer Events # extensions-to-the-element-interface
Fullscreen API # api
DOM Parsing and Serialization # extensions-to-the-element-interface
CSSOM View Module # extension-to-the-element-interface

Browser compatibility

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