HTMLElement.offsetParent

The HTMLElement.offsetParent read-only property returns a reference to the element which is the closest (nearest in the containment hierarchy) positioned ancestor element. If there is no positioned ancestor element, the nearest ancestor td, th, table will be returned, or the body if there are no ancestor table elements either.

NOTE:

offsetParent returns null in the following situations:

  • The element or its parent element has the display property set to none.
  • The element has the position property set to fixed (firefox returns <body>).
  • The element is <body> or <html>.

offsetParent is useful because offsetTop and offsetLeft are relative to its padding edge.

Syntax

parentObj = element.offsetParent;
  • parentObj is an object reference to the element in which the current element is offset.

Specification

Specification Status Comment
CSS Object Model (CSSOM) View Module
The definition of 'offsetParent' in that specification.
Working Draft

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
offsetParentChrome Full support 1Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 1IE Full support 8Opera Full support 8Safari 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