The EventListener interface represents an object that can handle an event dispatched by an EventTarget object.
Note: Due to the need for compatibility with legacy content, EventListener accepts both a function and an object with a handleEvent() property function. This is shown in the example below.
Properties
This interface neither implements, nor inherits, any properties.
Methods
This interface doesn't inherit any methods.
EventListener.handleEvent()- A function that is called whenever an event of the specified type occurs.
Example
HTML
<button id="btn">Click here!</button>
JavaScript
const buttonElement = document.getElementById('btn');
// Add a handler for the 'click' event by providing a callback function.
// Whenever the element is clicked, a pop-up with "Element clicked!" will
// appear.
buttonElement.addEventListener('click', function (event) {
alert('Element clicked through function!');
});
// For compatibility, a non-function object with a `handleEvent` property is
// treated just the same as a function itself.
buttonElement.addEventListener('click', {
handleEvent: function (event) {
alert('Element clicked through handleEvent property!');
}
});
Result
Specifications
| Specification | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| DOM The definition of 'EventListener' in that specification. |
Living Standard | No change. |
| Document Object Model (DOM) Level 2 Events Specification The definition of 'EventListener' in that specification. |
Obsolete | Initial definition. |