HTMLDialogElement

The HTMLDialogElement interface provides methods to manipulate <dialog> elements. It inherits properties and methods from the HTMLElement interface.

Properties

Inherits properties from its parent, HTMLElement.

HTMLDialogElement.open

A Boolean reflecting the open HTML attribute, indicating whether the dialog is available for interaction.

HTMLDialogElement.returnValue

A DOMString that sets or returns the return value for the dialog.

Methods

Inherits methods from its parent, HTMLElement.

HTMLDialogElement.close()

Closes the dialog. An optional DOMString may be passed as an argument, updating the returnValue of the the dialog.

HTMLDialogElement.show()

Displays the dialog modelessly, i.e. still allowing interaction with content outside of the dialog.

HTMLDialogElement.showModal()

Displays the dialog as a modal, over the top of any other dialogs that might be present. Interaction outside the dialog is blocked.

Examples

The following example shows a simple button that, when clicked, opens a <dialog> containing a form via the HTMLDialogElement.showModal() function. From there you can click the Cancel button to close the dialog (via the HTMLDialogElement.close() function), or submit the form via the submit button.

  <!-- Simple pop-up dialog box, containing a form -->
  <dialog id="favDialog">
    <form method="dialog">
      <section>
        <p><label for="favAnimal">Favorite animal:</label>
        <select id="favAnimal" name="favAnimal">
          <option></option>
          <option>Brine shrimp</option>
          <option>Red panda</option>
          <option>Spider monkey</option>
        </select></p>
      </section>
      <menu>
        <button id="cancel" type="reset">Cancel</button>
        <button type="submit">Confirm</button>
      </menu>
    </form>
  </dialog>

  <menu>
    <button id="updateDetails">Update details</button>
  </menu>

  <script>
    (function() {
      var updateButton = document.getElementById('updateDetails');
      var cancelButton = document.getElementById('cancel');
      var dialog = document.getElementById('favDialog');
      dialog.returnValue = 'favAnimal';

      function openCheck(dialog) {
        if(dialog.open) {
          console.log('Dialog open');
        } else {
          console.log('Dialog closed');
        }
      }

      // Update button opens a modal dialog
      updateButton.addEventListener('click', function() {
        dialog.showModal();
        openCheck(dialog);
      });

      // Form cancel button closes the dialog box
      cancelButton.addEventListener('click', function() {
        dialog.close('animalNotChosen');
        openCheck(dialog);
      });

    })();
  </script>

Specifications

Browser compatibility

[1] Implemented since Firefox 53, but disabled by default; can be enabled via the dom.dialog_element.enabled preference.

See also

• The HTML element implementing this interface: <dialog>.