[Chapter 21] Reference: Element.onchange()
Author: David Flanagan
Date: Fri Aug 29 11:15:35 1997

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| Chapter 21 JavaScript Reference |

# Element.onchange() Handler

## Name

Element.onchange() Handler---invoked when a form element's value changes

## Availability

Navigator 2.0, Internet Explorer 3.0

## Synopsis

    element.onchange

## Description

The `onchange()` event handler of a form element is invoked by the web browser when the user changes the value displayed by a form element. Such a change may be an edit to the text displayed in Text, Textarea, Password, or FileUpload elements, or the selection or deselection of an option in a Select element. Note that this event handler is only invoked when the user makes such a change--it is not invoked if a JavaScript program changes the value displayed by an element.

Also note that the `onchange()` handler is not invoked every time the user enters or deletes a character in a text-entry form element. `onchange()` is not intended for that type of character-by-character event handling. Instead, `onchange()` is invoked when the user's edit is complete. The user assumes that the edit is complete when keyboard focus is moved to some other element--for example, when the user clicks on the next element in the form.

The `onchange()` event handler is a function defined through the `onchange` 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 `onchange()` event handler may also be defined by assigning a function directly to the `onchange` property of a form element.

The `onchange()` event handler is not used by the Hidden element, or by any of the button elements. Those elements, Button, Checkbox, Radio, Reset, and Submit use the `onclick()` event handler instead.

## See Also

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

Element.onblur() |  | Element.onclick()