HTMLOrForeignElement.tabIndex

The tabIndex property of the HTMLOrForeignElement interface represents the tab order of the current element.

Tab order is as follows:

  1. Elements with a positive tabIndex. Elements that have identical tabIndex values should be navigated in the order they appear. Navigation proceeds from the lowest tabIndex to the highest tabIndex.
  2. Elements that do not support the tabIndex attribute or support it and assign tabIndex to 0, in the order they appear.

Elements that are disabled do not participate in the tabbing order.

Values don't need to be sequential, nor must they begin with any particular value. They may even be negative, though each browser trims very large values.

Syntax

element.tabIndex = index;
var index = element.tabIndex;

Value

index is an integer

Example

const b1 = document.getElementById('button1');

b1.tabIndex = 1;

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
HTML Living Standard
The definition of 'tabindex' in that specification.
Living Standard No change from Document Object Model (DOM) Level 2 HTML Specification.
Document Object Model (DOM) Level 2 HTML Specification
The definition of 'tabindex' in that specification.
Obsolete No change from Document Object Model (DOM) Level 1 Specification.
Document Object Model (DOM) Level 1 Specification
The definition of 'tabindex' in that specification.
Obsolete Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
tabIndexChrome Full support 1Edge Full support 18
Full support 18
Partial support 12
Notes
Notes Returns incorrect value for elements without an explicit tabindex attribute. See issue 4365703 for details.
Firefox Full support 1IE Partial support 8
Notes
Partial support 8
Notes
Notes Returns incorrect value for elements without an explicit tabindex attribute. See issue 4365703 for details.
Opera Full support YesSafari Full support 6WebView Android Full support 4.4Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support YesSafari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support 1.0

Legend

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

See also