Web/API/MutationObserverInit/subtree

The MutationObserverInit dictionary's optional subtree property can be set to true to monitor the targeted node and all of its descendants. The default value, false, indicates only the target node itself is to be monitored for changes.

subtree can be used in concert with the other options to extend monitoring of attributes, text content, and child lists to the entire subtree rooted at the target node.

Syntax

var options = {
  subtree: true | false
}

Value

A Boolean value. The default, false, indicates that only the target node specified when calling MutationObserver.observe() is to be monitored for changes. Changing this value to true causes the entire subtree rooted at the specified target node to be monitored for the changes indicated by the other options.

For example, to watch the target node only for attribute changes, the MutationObserverInit passed into MutationObserver() can be:

var options = {
  attributes: true,
  subtree: false
};

Since the default value of subtree is false, line 3 is optional.

To monitor the entire subtree for attribute changes, simply set subtree to true:

var options = {
  attributes: true,
  subtree: true
};

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
DOMThe definition of 'MutationObserverInit.subtree' in that specification.	Living Standard

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
subtree	Chrome Full support 26 Full support 26 No support 18 — 26 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: webkit	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 14	IE Full support 11	Opera Full support 15	Safari Full support 7 Full support 7 No support 6 — 7 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: webkit	WebView Android ?	Chrome Android Full support 26 Full support 26 No support 18 — 26 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: webkit	Firefox Android Full support 14	Opera Android Full support 14	Safari iOS Full support 7 Full support 7 No support 6 — 7 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: webkit	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.5 Full support 1.5 No support 1.0 — 1.5 Prefixed' Prefixed' Implemented with the vendor prefix: webkit

Legend

Full support  

Full support

Compatibility unknown  

Compatibility unknown

Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.'

Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.

MutationObserverInit.subtree by Mozilla Contributors is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.5.