Web/API/Event/returnValue

The Event property returnValue indicates whether the default action for this event has been prevented or not. It is set to true by default, allowing the default action to occur. Setting this property to false prevents the default action.

Note: While returnValue has been adopted into the DOM standard, it is present primarily to support existing code. You should use preventDefault(), and defaultPrevented instead of this historical property.

Syntax

event.returnValue = bool;

var bool = event.returnValue;

Value

A Boolean value which is true if the event has not been canceled; otherwise, if the event has been canceled or the default has been prevented, the value is false.

The value returned by returnValue is the opposite of the value returned by defaultPrevented.

Usage notes

returnValue was introduced into the DOM by Internet Explorer 6, and due to that browser's ubiquity became so commonly used that other browsers eventually implemented it as well. It has been adopted into the DOM specification, primarily to ensure that existing web content continues to function going forward.

New projects should generally avoid using returnValue, although they may if they choose to do so.

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
DOMThe definition of 'returnValue' in that specification.	Living Standard	Added for legacy compatibility.

Browser compatibility

The compatibility table on this page is generated from structured data. If you'd like to contribute to the data, please check out https://github.com/mdn/browser-compat-data and send us a pull request.

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
returnValue Deprecated'	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' Temporarily added in 63, removed in 64, briefly added in 65, then removed again while related compatibility issues are sorted out (see bug 1520756).	IE Full support 6	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android No support No Notes' No support No Notes' Notes' Temporarily added in 63, removed in 64, briefly added in 65, then removed again while related compatibility issues are sorted out (see bug 1520756).	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes

Legend

Full support  

Full support

No support  

No support

Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.'

Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.

See implementation notes.'

See implementation notes.

Event.returnValue by Mozilla Contributors is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.5.