Web/API/IntersectionObserver/observe

This is an experimental technologyCheck the Browser compatibility table carefully before using this in production.

The IntersectionObserver method observe() adds an element to the set of target elements being watched by the IntersectionObserver. One observer has one set of thresholds and one root, but can watch multiple target elements for visibility changes in keeping with those. To stop observing the element, call IntersectionObserver.unobserve().

When the visibility of the specified element crosses over one of the observer's visibility thresholds (as listed in IntersectionObserver.thresholds), the observer's callback is executed with an array of IntersectionObserverEntry objects representing the intersection changes which occurred. Note that this design allows multiple elements' intersection changes to be processed by a single call to the callback.

Syntax

IntersectionObserver.observe(targetElement);

Parameters

targetElement: An element whose visibility within the root is to be monitored. This element must be a descendant of the root element (or contained wtihin the current document, if the root is the document's viewport).

Return value

undefined.

Examples

<<<...>>>

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
Intersection ObserverThe definition of 'IntersectionObserver.observe()' in that specification.	Working Draft	Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

The compatibility table in 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
`observe` Experimental'	Chrome Full support 51	Edge Full support 15	Firefox Full support 55 Full support 55 No support 53 — 55 Disabled' Disabled' From version 53 until version 55 (exclusive): this feature is behind the `dom.IntersectionObserver.enabled` preference (needs to be set to `true`). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.	IE No support No	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support 12.1	WebView Android Full support 51	Chrome Android Full support 51	Firefox Android ?	Opera Android ?	Safari iOS Full support 12.2	Samsung Internet Android Full support 5.0

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support
Compatibility unknown: Compatibility unknown
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.': Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
User must explicitly enable this feature.': User must explicitly enable this feature.