Window: unload event

The unload event is fired when the document or a child resource is being unloaded.

Bubbles No
Cancelable No
Interface Event
Event handler property onunload

It is fired after:

The document is in the following state:

  • All the resources still exist (img, iframe etc.)
  • Nothing is visible anymore to the end user
  • UI interactions are ineffective (window.open, alert, confirm, etc.)
  • An error won't stop the unloading workflow

Please note that the unload event also follows the document tree: parent frame unload will happen before child frame unload (see example below).

Examples

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>Parent Frame</title>
    <script>
      window.addEventListener('beforeunload', function(event) {
        console.log('I am the 1st one.');
      });
      window.addEventListener('unload', function(event) {
        console.log('I am the 3rd one.');
      });
    </script>
  </head>
  <body>
    <iframe src="child-frame.html"></iframe>
  </body>
</html>

Below, the content of child-frame.html:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>Child Frame</title>
    <script>
      window.addEventListener('beforeunload', function(event) {
        console.log('I am the 2nd one.');
      });
      window.addEventListener('unload', function(event) {
        console.log('I am the 4th and last one…');
      });
    </script>
  </head>
  <body>
      ☻
  </body>
</html>

When the parent frame is unloaded, events will be fired in the order described by the console.log() messages.

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
UI Events
The definition of 'unload' in that specification.		 Working Draft

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
unload eventChrome Full support 1Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 1IE Full support 4Opera Full support 4Safari Full support 3WebView Android Full support 1Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support 10.1Safari iOS Full support 1Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0

Legend

Full support
Full support

See also