Document.readyState

The Document.readyState property describes the loading state of the document.

When the value of this property changes, a readystatechange event fires on the document object.

Syntax

var string = document.readyState;

Values

The readyState of a document can be one of following:

loading
The document is still loading.
interactive
The document has finished loading and the document has been parsed but sub-resources such as images, stylesheets and frames are still loading.
complete
The document and all sub-resources have finished loading. The state indicates that the load event is about to fire.

Examples

Different states of readiness

switch (document.readyState) {
  case "loading":
    // The document is still loading.
    break;
  case "interactive":
    // The document has finished loading. We can now access the DOM elements.
    // But sub-resources such as images, stylesheets and frames are still loading.
    var span = document.createElement("span");
    span.textContent = "A <span> element.";
    document.body.appendChild(span);
    break;
  case "complete":
    // The page is fully loaded.
    console.log("The first CSS rule is: " + document.styleSheets[0].cssRules[0].cssText);
    break;
}

readystatechange as an alternative to DOMContentLoaded event

// Alternative to DOMContentLoaded event
document.onreadystatechange = function () {
  if (document.readyState === 'interactive') {
    initApplication();
  }
}

readystatechange as an alternative to load event

// Alternative to load event
document.onreadystatechange = function () {
  if (document.readyState === 'complete') {
    initApplication();
  }
}

readystatechange as event listener to insert or modify the DOM before DOMContentLoaded

document.addEventListener('readystatechange', event => {
  if (event.target.readyState === 'interactive') {
    initLoader();
  }
  else if (event.target.readyState === 'complete') {
    initApp();
  }
});

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
HTML Living Standard
The definition of 'Document readiness' in that specification.
Living Standard
HTML 5.1
The definition of 'Document readiness' in that specification.
Recommendation
HTML5
The definition of 'Document readiness' in that specification.
Recommendation Initial specification.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
readyStateChrome Full support 1Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 4IE Full support 11
Full support 11
No support 9 — 11
Notes
Notes Internet Explorer 9 and 10 have bugs where the 'interactive' state can be fired too early before the document has finished parsing.
No support 8 — 9
Notes
Notes Only supports 'complete'.
Opera Full support 11
Notes
Full support 11
Notes
Notes Opera Presto fires 'complete' late after the 'load' event (in an incorrect order as per HTML5 standard specification).
Safari Full support 1WebView Android Full support 1Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support 11
Notes
Full support 11
Notes
Notes Opera Presto fires 'complete' late after the 'load' event (in an incorrect order as per HTML5 standard specification).
Safari iOS Full support 1Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0

Legend

Full support
Full support
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.

See also