HTMLDialogElement

This is an experimental technology
Check the Browser compatibility table carefully before using this in production.

The HTMLDialogElement interface provides methods to manipulate <dialog> elements. It inherits properties and methods from the HTMLElement interface.

Properties

Inherits properties from its parent, HTMLElement.

HTMLDialogElement.open
A Boolean reflecting the open HTML attribute, indicating whether the dialog is available for interaction.
HTMLDialogElement.returnValue
A DOMString that sets or returns the return value for the dialog.

Methods

Inherits methods from its parent, HTMLElement.

HTMLDialogElement.close()
Closes the dialog. An optional DOMString may be passed as an argument, updating the returnValue of the the dialog.
HTMLDialogElement.show()
Displays the dialog modelessly, i.e. still allowing interaction with content outside of the dialog.
HTMLDialogElement.showModal()
Displays the dialog as a modal, over the top of any other dialogs that might be present. Interaction outside the dialog is blocked.

Events

close
Fired when the dialog is closed.
Also available via the onclose property.

Examples

The following example shows a simple button that, when clicked, opens a <dialog> containing a form via the HTMLDialogElement.showModal() function. From there you can click the Cancel button to close the dialog (via the HTMLDialogElement.close() function), or submit the form via the submit button.

  <!-- Simple pop-up dialog box, containing a form -->
  <dialog id="favDialog">
    <form method="dialog">
      <section>
        <p><label for="favAnimal">Favorite animal:</label>
        <select id="favAnimal" name="favAnimal">
          <option></option>
          <option>Brine shrimp</option>
          <option>Red panda</option>
          <option>Spider monkey</option>
        </select></p>
      </section>
      <menu>
        <button id="cancel" type="reset">Cancel</button>
        <button type="submit">Confirm</button>
      </menu>
    </form>
  </dialog>

  <menu>
    <button id="updateDetails">Update details</button>
  </menu>

  <script>
    (function() {
      var updateButton = document.getElementById('updateDetails');
      var cancelButton = document.getElementById('cancel');
      var dialog = document.getElementById('favDialog');
      dialog.returnValue = 'favAnimal';

      function openCheck(dialog) {
        if(dialog.open) {
          console.log('Dialog open');
        } else {
          console.log('Dialog closed');
        }
      }

      // Update button opens a modal dialog
      updateButton.addEventListener('click', function() {
        dialog.showModal();
        openCheck(dialog);
      });

      // Form cancel button closes the dialog box
      cancelButton.addEventListener('click', function() {
        dialog.close('animalNotChosen');
        openCheck(dialog);
      });

    })();
  </script>

Note: You can find this example on GitHub as htmldialogelement-basic (see it live also).

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
HTML Living Standard
The definition of 'HTMLDialogElement' in that specification.
Living Standard
HTML 5.2
The definition of '<dialog>' in that specification.
Recommendation Initial definition

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
HTMLDialogElement
Experimental
Chrome Full support 37Edge Full support 79Firefox Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Notes See bug 840640.
Disabled From version 53: this feature is behind the dom.dialog_element.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
IE No support NoOpera Full support YesSafari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android No support NoFirefox Android Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Notes See bug 840640.
Disabled From version 53: this feature is behind the dom.dialog_element.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
Opera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android No support No
cancel eventChrome Full support YesEdge Full support 79Firefox Full support 78IE No support NoOpera ? Safari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android No support NoFirefox Android No support NoOpera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android No support No
close
Experimental
Chrome Full support 37Edge Full support 79Firefox Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Notes See bug 840640.
Disabled From version 53: this feature is behind the dom.dialog_element.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
IE No support NoOpera Full support YesSafari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android No support NoFirefox Android Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Notes See bug 840640.
Disabled From version 53: this feature is behind the dom.dialog_element.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
Opera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android No support No
close eventChrome Full support YesEdge Full support 79Firefox No support NoIE No support NoOpera ? Safari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android No support NoFirefox Android No support NoOpera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android No support No
open
Experimental
Chrome Full support 37Edge Full support 79Firefox Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Notes See bug 840640.
Disabled From version 53: this feature is behind the dom.dialog_element.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
IE No support NoOpera Full support YesSafari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android No support NoFirefox Android Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Notes See bug 840640.
Disabled From version 53: this feature is behind the dom.dialog_element.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
Opera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android No support No
returnValue
Experimental
Chrome Full support 37Edge Full support 79Firefox Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Notes See bug 840640.
Disabled From version 53: this feature is behind the dom.dialog_element.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
IE No support NoOpera Full support YesSafari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android No support NoFirefox Android Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Notes See bug 840640.
Disabled From version 53: this feature is behind the dom.dialog_element.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
Opera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android No support No
show
Experimental
Chrome Full support 37Edge Full support 79Firefox Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Notes See bug 840640.
Disabled From version 53: this feature is behind the dom.dialog_element.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
IE No support NoOpera Full support YesSafari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android No support NoFirefox Android Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Notes See bug 840640.
Disabled From version 53: this feature is behind the dom.dialog_element.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
Opera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android No support No
showModal
Experimental
Chrome Full support 37Edge Full support 79Firefox Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Notes See bug 840640.
Disabled From version 53: this feature is behind the dom.dialog_element.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
IE No support NoOpera Full support YesSafari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android No support NoFirefox Android Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Full support 53
Notes Disabled
Notes See bug 840640.
Disabled From version 53: this feature is behind the dom.dialog_element.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
Opera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android No support No

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
Compatibility unknown
Compatibility unknown
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.
User must explicitly enable this feature.
User must explicitly enable this feature.

See also

  • The HTML element implementing this interface: <dialog>.