[Chapter 21] Reference: Element.onclick()
Author: David Flanagan
Date: Fri Aug 29 11:15:36 1997

#

| Chapter 21 JavaScript Reference |

# Element.onclick() Handler

## Name

Element.onclick() Handler---invoked when a form element is clicked

## Availability

Navigator 2.0, Internet Explorer 3.0; enhanced in Navigator 3.0

## Synopsis

    element.onclick

## Description

The `onclick()` event handler of a form element is invoked by the web browser when the user clicks on the element. Note, however, that it is not invoked when JavaScript calls the `click()` method of an element.

The `onclick()` event handler is a function defined through the `onClick` attribute of the HTML tag that defined the form element. The value of this attribute is a string that may contain any number of JavaScript statements, separated by semicolons. In Navigator 3.0, the `onclick()` event handler may also be defined by assigning a function directly to the `onclick` property of an element.

Only form elements that are buttons invoke the `onclick()` event handler. These are the Button, Checkbox, Radio, Reset and Submit elements. Other form elements use the `onchange()` event handler instead of `onclick()`.

Note that the Reset and Submit elements perform a default action when clicked: they reset and submit, respectively, the form that they are a part of. You can use the `onclick()` event handlers of each of these elements to perform actions in addition to these default actions. In Navigator 3.0, you can also prevent these default actions from occurring by returning `false`. That is, if the `onclick()` handler of a Reset button returns `false`, then the form will not be reset, and if the `onclick()` handler of a Submit button returns `false`, then the form will not be submitted. Note that you do similar things with the `onsubmit()` and `onreset()` event handlers of the Form object itself.

Finally, note that Link object also defines an `onclick()` event handler.

## See Also

"Element", "Element.onblur()", "Element.onchange()", "Element.onfocus()"

Element.onchange() |  | Element.onfocus()