onchange Event

Fires when the contents of the object or selection have changed.

Syntax

Inline HTML <ELEMENT onchange = "handler" ... > All platforms

Event property object.onchange = handler JScript (compatible with ECMA 262 language specification) only

Named script <SCRIPT FOR = object EVENT = onchange> Internet Explorer only

Inline HTML	<ELEMENT onchange = "handler" ... >	All platforms
Event property	object.onchange = handler	JScript (compatible with ECMA 262 language specification) only
Named script	<SCRIPT FOR = object EVENT = onchange>	Internet Explorer only

Remarks

Bubbles No

Cancels Yes

To invoke

Choose a different OPTION in a SELECT object using mouse or keyboard navigation.
Alter text in the text area and then navigate out of the object.

Default action Changed text selection is committed.

This event is fired when the contents are committed and not while the value is changing. For example, on a text box, this event is not fired while the user is typing, but rather when the user commits the change by leaving the text box that has focus. In addition, this event is executed before the code specified by onblur when the control is also losing the focus.
On the SELECT object, this event does not fire programmatically when the SELECTED attribute is changed from one OPTION to another.

Bubbles	No
Cancels	Yes
To invoke	Choose a different OPTION in a SELECT object using mouse or keyboard navigation. Alter text in the text area and then navigate out of the object.
Default action	Changed text selection is committed.

Event Object Properties

Although event handlers in the document object model do not receive parameters directly, the handler can query the event object for data.

Event Object Properties

clientX Retrieves the x-coordinate of the mouse cursor relative to the client area of the window, excluding window decorations or scroll bars.

clientY Retrieves the y-coordinate of the mouse cursor relative to the client area of the window, excluding window decorations or scroll bars.

offsetX Retrieves the horizontal coordinate of the mouse's position relative to the object firing the event.

offsetY Retrieves the vertical coordinate of the mouse's position relative to the object firing the event.

returnValue Sets or retrieves the return value from the event.

screenX Retrieves the horizontal position of the mouse, in pixels, relative to the user's screen.

screenY Retrieves the vertical position of the mouse, in pixels, relative to the user's screen.

srcElement Retrieves the object that fired the event.

type Retrieves the event name from the event object.

x Retrieves the x-coordinate of the mouse cursor relative to the parent element.

y Retrieves the y-coordinate of the mouse cursor relative to the parent element.

clientX	Retrieves the x-coordinate of the mouse cursor relative to the client area of the window, excluding window decorations or scroll bars.
clientY	Retrieves the y-coordinate of the mouse cursor relative to the client area of the window, excluding window decorations or scroll bars.
offsetX	Retrieves the horizontal coordinate of the mouse's position relative to the object firing the event.
offsetY	Retrieves the vertical coordinate of the mouse's position relative to the object firing the event.
returnValue	Sets or retrieves the return value from the event.
screenX	Retrieves the horizontal position of the mouse, in pixels, relative to the user's screen.
screenY	Retrieves the vertical position of the mouse, in pixels, relative to the user's screen.
srcElement	Retrieves the object that fired the event.
type	Retrieves the event name from the event object.
x	Retrieves the x-coordinate of the mouse cursor relative to the parent element.
y	Retrieves the y-coordinate of the mouse cursor relative to the parent element.

Example

This example uses the onchange event to retrieve the selected option of a SELECT object.
<BODY>
<FORM>
<P>Select a different option in the
   drop-down list box to trigger the onchange event.
  <SELECT NAME=selTest
     onchange="alert('Index: ' + this.selectedIndex
     + '\nValue: ' + this.options[this.selectedIndex].value)">
    <OPTION VALUE="Books">Books
    <OPTION VALUE="Clothing">Clothing
    <OPTION VALUE="Housewares">Housewares
  </SELECT>
</FORM>
</BODY>
This feature requires Internet Explorer 4.0 or later. Click the icon below to install the latest version. Then reload this page to view the sample.

Applies To

[ Object Name ]

Platform Version

Win16:

Win32:

Mac:

Unix:

WinCE:

Version data is listed when the mouse hovers over a link, or the link has focus.

INPUT TYPE=text, SELECT, TEXTAREA