Web/HTML/Global attributes/data-

From Get docs


The data-* global attributes form a class of attributes called custom data attributes, that allow proprietary information to be exchanged between the HTML and its DOM representation by scripts.


All such custom data are available via the HTMLElement interface of the element the attribute is set on. The HTMLElement.dataset property gives access to them. The * may be replaced by any name following the production rule of XML names with the following restrictions:

  • the name must not start with xml, whatever case is used for these letters;
  • the name must not contain any semicolon (U+003A);
  • the name must not contain capital letters.

Note that the HTMLElement.dataset property is a DOMStringMap, and the name of the custom data attribute data-test-value will be accessible via HTMLElement.dataset.testValue (or by HTMLElement.dataset["testValue"]) as any dash (U+002D) is replaced by the capitalization of the next letter, converting the name to camelcase.

Usage

By adding data-* attributes, even ordinary HTML elements can become rather complex and powerful program-objects. For example, a space-ship "sprite" in a game could be a simple <img> element with a class attribute and several data-* attributes:

<img class="spaceship cruiserX3" src="shipX3.png"
  data-ship-id="324" data-weapons="laserI laserII" data-shields="72%"
  data-x="414354" data-y="85160" data-z="31940"
  onclick="spaceships[this.dataset.shipId].blasted()">

For a more in-depth tutorial about using HTML data attributes, see [[../../../../Learn/HTML/Howto/Use_data_attributes|Using data attributes]].

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
HTML Living StandardThe definition of 'data-*' in that specification. Living Standard No change from latest snapshot, HTML 5.1
HTML 5.1The definition of 'data-*' in that specification. Recommendation Snapshot of HTML Living Standard, no change from HTML5
HTML5The definition of 'data-*' in that specification. Recommendation Snapshot of HTML Living Standard, initial definition.

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
data-* attributes Chrome

Full support Yes

Edge

Full support 12

Firefox

Full support Yes

IE

Full support Yes

Opera

Full support Yes

Safari

Full support Yes

WebView Android

Full support Yes

Chrome Android

Full support Yes

Firefox Android

Full support Yes

Opera Android

Full support Yes

Safari iOS

Full support Yes

Samsung Internet Android

Full support Yes

Legend

Full support  
Full support


See also

data-* by Mozilla Contributors is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.5.