This is an experimental technologyCheck the Browser compatibility table carefully before using this in production.
The showModal()
method of the HTMLDialogElement
interface displays the dialog as a modal, over the top of any other dialogs that might be present. It displays into the top layer, along with a ::backdrop
pseudo-element. Interaction outside the dialog is blocked and the content outside it is rendered inert.
Syntax
dialogInstance.showModal();
Parameters
None.
Return value
Void.
Exceptions
If the dialog is already open (i.e. if the open
attribute is already set on the <dialog>
element), an InvalidStateError
is thrown.
Examples
The following example shows a simple button that, when clicked, opens a <dialog>
containing a form via the showModal()
method. From there you can click the Cancel button to close the dialog (via the HTMLDialogElement.close()
method), 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>
Note: You can find this example on GitHub as htmldialogelement-basic ([[../../../../../../../mdn.github.io/dom-examples/htmldialogelement-basic/index|see it live also]]).
Specifications
Specification | Status | Comment |
---|---|---|
HTML Living StandardThe definition of 'showModal()' in that specification. | Living Standard | |
HTML 5.1The definition of 'showModal()' in that specification. | Recommendation |
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
Full support 37 |
Edge
Full support 79 |
Firefox Full support 53 Full support 53 Notes' See bug 840640.
Disabled' From version 53: this feature is behind the |
IE
No support No |
Opera
Full support Yes |
Safari
No support No |
WebView Android
No support No |
Chrome Android
No support No |
Firefox Android Full support 53 Full support 53 Notes' See bug 840640.
Disabled' From version 53: this feature is behind the |
Opera Android
No support No |
Safari iOS
No support No |
Samsung Internet Android
No support No |
Legend
- Full support
- Full support
- No support
- No support
- Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.'
- Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
- See implementation notes.'
- See implementation notes.
- User must explicitly enable this feature.'
- User must explicitly enable this feature.
See also
- The HTML element implementing this interface:
<dialog>
.
HTMLDialogElement.showModal() by Mozilla Contributors is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.5.