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HTML DOM `addEventListener()` Method

Example

Add a click event to a <button> element. When the user clicks the button, output "Hello World" on the <p> element with id="demo":

document.getElementById("myBtn").addEventListener("click", function(){
    document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = "Hello World";
});

Definition and Usage

The addEventListener() method is used to attach an event handler to a specified element.

Tip: Use the removeEventListener() method to remove an event handler that has been attached with the addEventListener() method.

Browser Support

The numbers in the table specify the first browser version that fully supports the method.

Method	Chrome	IE	Firefox	Safari	Opera
addEventListener()	1.0	9.0	1.0	1.0	7.0

Note: Internet Explorer 8 and earlier versions do not support the addEventListener() method, and Opera 7.0 and earlier versions do not support it either. However, for browsers that do not support this function, you can use the attachEvent() method to add event handlers (see "More Examples" for a cross-browser solution).

Syntax

Parameter Values

Parameter	Description
event	Required. A string that specifies the event name. <br><br> Note: Do not use the "on" prefix. For example, use "click" instead of "onclick". <br><br> Tip: For a complete list of all HTML DOM events, see our HTML DOM Event Object Reference.
function	Required. Specifies the function to run when the event occurs. <br><br> The event object is passed to the function as the first parameter. The type of the event object depends on the specific event. For example, the "click" event belongs to the MouseEvent object.
useCapture	Optional. A boolean value that specifies whether the event should be executed in the capturing or bubbling phase. <br><br> Possible values: <br> true - The event handler is executed in the capturing phase. <br> false - Default. The event handler is executed in the bubbling phase.

Technical Details

DOM Version:	DOM Level 2 Events
Return Value:	No return value
Record:	In Firefox 6 and Opera 11.60, the useCapture parameter is optional. (It has always been optional in Chrome, IE, and Safari).

More Examples

Example

You can refer to an external function by name.

This example demonstrates how to execute a function when the user clicks a <button> element:

document.getElementById("myBtn").addEventListener("click", myFunction);
function myFunction() {
    document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = "Hello World";
}

Example

You can add many events to the same element without overwriting existing events.

This example demonstrates how to add two click events to a <button> element:

document.getElementById("myBtn").addEventListener("click", myFunction);
document.getElementById("myBtn").addEventListener("click", someOtherFunction);

Example

You can add different types of events to the same element.

This example demonstrates how to add multiple events to the same <button> element:

document.getElementById("myBtn").addEventListener("mouseover", myFunction);
document.getElementById("myBtn").addEventListener("click", someOtherFunction);
document.getElementById("myBtn").addEventListener("mouseout", someOtherFunction);

Example

When passing parameter values, use an "anonymous function" to call a function with parameters:

document.getElementById("myBtn").addEventListener("click", function() {
    myFunction(p1, p2);
});

Example

Change the background color of a <button> element:

document.getElementById("myBtn").addEventListener("click", function(){
    this.style.backgroundColor = "red";
});

Example

Use the optional parameter useCapture to demonstrate the difference between the bubbling and capturing phases:

document.getElementById("myDiv").addEventListener("click", myFunction, true);

Example

Use the removeEventListener() method to remove an event handler added with the addEventListener() method:

// Add event handler to <div>
document.getElementById("myDIV").addEventListener("mousemove", myFunction);
// Remove event handler from <div>
document.getElementById("myDIV").removeEventListener("mousemove", myFunction);

Example

If the browser does not support the addEventListener() method, you can use the attachEvent() method as an alternative.

This example demonstrates a cross-browser solution:

var x = document.getElementById("myBtn");
if (x.addEventListener) {
    // All major browsers, except IE 8 and earlier
    x.addEventListener("click", myFunction);
} else if (x.attachEvent) {
    // IE 8 and earlier versions
    x.attachEvent("onclick", myFunction);
}

JavaScript Tutorial: HTML DOM EventListener

JavaScript Reference: document.addEventListener()

Element Object

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