HTMLMediaElement: canplay event

The canplay event is fired when the user agent can play the media, but estimates that not enough data has been loaded to play the media up to its end without having to stop for further buffering of content.

Bubbles No
Cancelable No
Interface Event
Target Element
Default Action None
Event handler property GlobalEventHandlers.oncanplay
Specification HTML5 media

Examples

These examples add an event listener for the HTMLMediaElement's canplay event, then post a message when that event handler has reacted to the event firing.

Using addEventListener():

const video = document.querySelector('video');

video.addEventListener('canplay', (event) => {
  console.log('Video can start, but not sure it will play through.');
});

Using the oncanplay event handler property:

const video = document.querySelector('video');

video.oncanplay = (event) => {
  console.log('Video can start, but not sure it will play through.');
};

Specifications

Specification Status
HTML Living Standard
The definition of 'canplay media event' in that specification.
Living Standard
HTML5
The definition of 'canplay media event' in that specification.
Recommendation

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
canplay eventChrome Full support 3Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 3.5IE Full support 9Opera Full support 10.5Safari Full support 3.1WebView Android Full support YesChrome 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

See Also