PointerEvent.pointerType

The pointerType read-only property of the PointerEvent interface indicates the device type (mouse, pen, or touch) that caused a given pointer event.

Syntax

var pType = pointerEvent.pointerType;

Return value

pType
The event's pointer type. The supported values are the following strings:
"mouse"
The event was generated by a mouse device.
"pen"
The event was generated by a pen or stylus device.
"touch"
The event was generated by a touch, such as a finger.

If the device type cannot be detected by the browser, the value can be an empty string (""). If the browser supports pointer device types other than those listed above, the value should be vendor-prefixed to avoid conflicting names for different types of devices.

Example

This example illustrates using the value of the pointerType property to call the appropriate pointer type processing function.

targetElement.addEventListener('pointerdown', function(event) {
  // Call the appropriate pointer type handler
  switch (event.pointerType) {
    case 'mouse':
      process_pointer_mouse(event);
      break;
    case 'pen':
      process_pointer_pen(event);
      break;
    case 'touch':
      process_pointer_touch(event);
      break;
    default:
      console.log(`pointerType ${event.pointerType} is not suported`);
  }
}, false);

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
Pointer Events
The definition of 'pointerType' in that specification.
Obsolete Initial definition.
Pointer Events – Level 2
The definition of 'pointerType' in that specification.
Recommendation Non-stable version.
CSS Object Model (CSSOM) View Module
The definition of 'MouseEvent' in that specification.
Working Draft Redefines MouseEvent from long to double. This means that a PointerEvent whose pointerType is mouse will be a double.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
pointerTypeChrome Full support 55Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 59
Full support 59
Full support 41
Disabled
Disabled From version 41: this feature is behind the dom.w3c_pointer_events.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
IE Full support 11
Full support 11
Partial support 10
Notes
Notes Returns an integer enumeration instead of a string.
Opera Full support 42Safari Full support 13WebView Android Full support 55Chrome Android Full support 55Firefox Android Full support 41
Disabled
Full support 41
Disabled
Disabled From version 41: this feature is behind the dom.w3c_pointer_events.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
Opera Android Full support 42Safari iOS Full support 13Samsung Internet Android Full support 6.0
Fractional coordinates for mouse.Chrome Partial support 64
Notes
Partial support 64
Notes
Notes movementX and movementY are not fractional, see Chromium bug 802067.
Edge Partial support 79
Notes
Partial support 79
Notes
Notes movementX and movementY are not fractional, see Chromium bug 802067.
No support 12 — 79
Notes
Notes Only clientX, clientY, pageX and pageY are fractional.
Firefox No support NoIE Partial support Partial
Notes
Partial support Partial
Notes
Notes Only clientX, clientY, pageX and pageY are fractional.
Opera Partial support 51
Notes
Partial support 51
Notes
Notes movementX and movementY are not fractional, see Chromium bug 802067.
Safari No support NoWebView Android Partial support 64
Notes
Partial support 64
Notes
Notes movementX and movementY are not fractional, see Chromium bug 802067.
Chrome Android Partial support 64
Notes
Partial support 64
Notes
Notes movementX and movementY are not fractional, see Chromium bug 802067.
Firefox Android No support NoOpera Android Partial support 47
Notes
Partial support 47
Notes
Notes movementX and movementY are not fractional, see Chromium bug 802067.
Safari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android Partial support 9.0
Notes
Partial support 9.0
Notes
Notes movementX and movementY are not fractional, see Chromium bug 802067.

Legend

Full support
Full support
Partial support
Partial support
No support
No support
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.
User must explicitly enable this feature.
User must explicitly enable this feature.