Event.composedPath()

The composedPath() method of the Event interface returns the event’s path which is an array of the objects on which listeners will be invoked. This does not include nodes in shadow trees if the shadow root was created with its ShadowRoot.mode closed.

Syntax

var composed = Event.composedPath();

Parameters

None.

Return value

An array of EventTarget objects representing the objects on which an event listener will be invoked.

Examples

In our composed-composed-path example (see it live), we define two trivial custom elements, <open-shadow> and <closed-shadow>, both of which take the contents of their text attribute and insert them into the element's shadow DOM as the text content of a <p> element. The only difference between the two is that their shadow roots are attached with their modes set to open and closed respectively.

The first definition looks like this, for example:

customElements.define('open-shadow',
  class extends HTMLElement {
    constructor() {
      super();

      let pElem = document.createElement('p');
      pElem.textContent = this.getAttribute('text');

      let shadowRoot = this.attachShadow({mode: 'open'})
        .appendChild(pElem);

  }
});

We then insert one of each element into our page:

<open-shadow text="I have an open shadow root"></open-shadow>
<closed-shadow text="I have a closed shadow root"></closed-shadow>

Then include a click event listener on the <html> element:

document.querySelector('html').addEventListener('click',function(e) {
  console.log(e.composed);
  console.log(e.composedPath());
});

When you click on the <open-shadow> element and then the <closed-shadow> element, you'll notice two things. First, the composed property returns true beause the click event is always able to propagate across shadow boundaries. Second, you'll notice a difference in the value of composedPath for the two elements. The <open-shadow> element's composed path is this:

Array [ p, ShadowRoot, open-shadow, body, html, HTMLDocument https://mdn.github.io/web-components-examples/composed-composed-path/, Window ]

Whereas the <closed-shadow> element's composed path is a follows:

Array [ closed-shadow, body, html, HTMLDocument https://mdn.github.io/web-components-examples/composed-composed-path/, Window ]

In the second case, the event listeners only propagate as far as the <closed-shadow> element itself, but not to the nodes inside the shadow boundary.

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
DOM
The definition of 'composedPath()' in that specification.		 Living Standard

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
composedPathChrome Full support 53
Full support 53
No support 50 — 53
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: deepPath
Edge Full support 79Firefox Full support 52IE No support NoOpera Full support 40
Full support 40
No support 37 — 40
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: deepPath
Safari Full support 10WebView Android Full support 53
Full support 53
No support 50 — 53
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: deepPath
Chrome Android Full support 53
Full support 53
No support 50 — 53
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: deepPath
Firefox Android Full support 52Opera Android Full support 41
Full support 41
No support 37 — 41
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: deepPath
Safari iOS Full support 10Samsung Internet Android Full support 6.0
Full support 6.0
No support 5.0 — 6.0
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: deepPath

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
Uses a non-standard name.
Uses a non-standard name.