Web/HTML/Element/shadow

DeprecatedThis feature is no longer recommended. Though some browsers might still support it, it may have already been removed from the relevant web standards, may be in the process of being dropped, or may only be kept for compatibility purposes. Avoid using it, and update existing code if possible; see the compatibility table at the bottom of this page to guide your decision. Be aware that this feature may cease to work at any time.

The HTML <shadow> element—an obsolete part of the Web Components technology suite—was intended to be used as a shadow DOM insertion point. You might have used it if you have created multiple shadow roots under a shadow host. It is not useful in ordinary HTML.

Content categories	Transparent content
Permitted content	Flow content
Tag omission	None, both the starting and ending tag are mandatory.
Permitted parents	Any element that accepts flow content.
Permitted ARIA roles	None
DOM interface	`HTMLShadowElement`

Attributes

This element includes the global attributes.

Example

Here is a simple example of using the <shadow> element. It is an HTML file with everything needed in it.

Note: This is an experimental technology. For this code to work, the browser you display it in must support Web Components. See Enabling Web Components in Firefox.

<html>
  <head></head>
  <body>

  <!-- This <div> will hold the shadow roots. -->
  <div>
    <!-- This heading will not be displayed -->
    <h4>My Original Heading</h4>
  </div>

  <script>
    // Get the <div> above with its content
    var origContent = document.querySelector('div');
    // Create the first shadow root
    var shadowroot1 = origContent.createShadowRoot();
    // Create the second shadow root
    var shadowroot2 = origContent.createShadowRoot();

    // Insert something into the older shadow root
    shadowroot1.innerHTML =
      '<p>Older shadow root inserted by
          &lt;shadow&gt;</p>';
    // Insert into younger shadow root, including <shadow>.
    // The previous markup will not be displayed unless
    // <shadow> is used below.
    shadowroot2.innerHTML =
      '<shadow></shadow> <p>Younger shadow
       root, displayed because it is the youngest.</p>';
  </script>

  </body>
</html>

If you display this in a web browser it should look like the following.

[[File:../../../../../../media.prod.mdn.mozit.cloud/attachments/2015/02/04/10083/3f01843ca6e2e5df18a67595e32f8aff/shadow-example.png|shadow example]]

Specifications

This element is no longer defined by any specifications.

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
`shadow` Deprecated'Non-standard'	Chrome Full support 35	Edge Full support 79	Firefox No support 33 — 59 Disabled' No support 33 — 59 Disabled' Disabled' From version 33 until version 59 (exclusive): this feature is behind the `dom.webcomponents.enabled` preference (needs to be set to `true`). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.	IE No support No	Opera Full support 26	Safari No support No	WebView Android Full support 37	Chrome Android Full support 37	Firefox Android No support 33 — 58 Disabled' No support 33 — 58 Disabled' Disabled' From version 33 until version 58 (exclusive): this feature is behind the `dom.webcomponents.enabled` preference (needs to be set to `true`). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.	Opera Android ?	Safari iOS No support No	Samsung Internet Android Full support 3.0

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support
Compatibility unknown: Compatibility unknown
Non-standard. Expect poor cross-browser support.': Non-standard. Expect poor cross-browser support.
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.': Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.
User must explicitly enable this feature.': User must explicitly enable this feature.