This is an experimental technology
Check the Browser compatibility table carefully before using this in production.
The open property of the HTMLDialogElement interface is a Boolean reflecting the open HTML attribute, indicating whether the dialog is available for interaction.
Syntax
dialogInstance.open = true; var myOpenValue = dialogInstance.open;
Value
A Boolean representing the state of the open HTML attribute. true means it is set, and therefore the dialog is shown. false means it not set, and therefore the dialog is not shown.
The property is now read only — it is possible to set the value to programmatically show or hide the dialog.
Examples
The following example shows a simple button that, when clicked, opens a <dialog> containing a form via the showModal() method. From there you can click the Cancel button to close the dialog (via the HTMLDialogElement.close() method), 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 'open' in that specification. |
Living Standard | |
| HTML 5.1 The definition of 'open' in that specification. |
Recommendation |
Browser compatibility
| Desktop | Mobile | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
open | Chrome Full support 37 | Edge Full support 79 | Firefox
Full support
53
| IE No support No | Opera Full support Yes | Safari No support No | WebView Android No support No | Chrome Android No support No | Firefox Android
Full support
53
| Opera Android No support No | Safari iOS No support No | Samsung Internet Android No support No |
Legend
- Full support
- Full support
- No support
- No support
- 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>.
