Web/API/DataTransferItem/getAsString

The DataTransferItem.getAsString() method invokes the given callback with the drag data item's string data as the argument if the item's kind is a Plain unicode string (i.e. kind is string).

Syntax

dataTransferItem.getAsString(callback);

Parameters

callback: A callback function that has access to the data transfer item's string data. See Callback below for details.

Return value

undefined

Callback

The callback parameter is a callback function which accepts one parameter:

DOMString: The drag data item's string data.

The callback return value is undefined.

Example

This example shows the use of the getAsString() method as an inline function in a drop event handler.

function drop_handler(ev) {
 console.log("Drop");
 ev.preventDefault();
 var data = ev.dataTransfer.items;
 for (var i = 0; i < data.length; i += 1) {
   if ((data[i].kind == 'string') && 
       (data[i].type.match('^text/plain'))) {
     // This item is the target node
     data[i].getAsString(function (s){
       ev.target.appendChild(document.getElementById(s)); 
     });
   } else if ((data[i].kind == 'string') && 
              (data[i].type.match('^text/html'))) {
     // Drag data item is HTML
     console.log("... Drop: HTML");
   } else if ((data[i].kind == 'string') && 
              (data[i].type.match('^text/uri-list'))) {
     // Drag data item is URI
     console.log("... Drop: URI");
   } else if ((data[i].kind == 'file') && 
              (data[i].type.match('^image/'))) {
     // Drag data item is an image file
     var f = data[i].getAsFile();
     console.log("... Drop: File ");
   }
 }
}

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
HTML Living StandardThe definition of 'getAsString()' in that specification.	Living Standard	Initial definition.
HTML 5.1The definition of 'getAsString()' in that specification.	Recommendation	Snapshot fo HTML WHATWG document

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
`getAsString`	Chrome Full support 11	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 50	IE No support No	Opera Full support 12	Safari Full support 5.1	WebView Android Full support 4	Chrome Android Full support 18	Firefox Android Full support 50	Opera Android No support No	Safari iOS Full support 5	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support