[Chapter 21] Reference: Element.blur()
Author: David Flanagan
Date: Fri Aug 29 11:15:26 1997

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| Chapter 21 JavaScript Reference |

# Element.blur() Method

## Name

Element.blur() Method---remove keyboard focus from a form element

## Availability

Navigator 2.0, Internet Explorer 3.0

## Synopsis

    element.blur()

### Arguments

none

### Returns

nothing

## Description

The `blur()` method of a form element removes keyboard focus from that element without invoking the `onblur()` event handler; it is essentially the opposite of the `focus()` method. The `blur()` method does not transfer keyboard focus anywhere, however, so the only time that it is actually useful to call this method is directly before you plan to transfer keyboard focus elsewhere with the `focus()` method, when you don't want the `onblur()` event handler to be triggered. That is, by removing focus explicitly from the element, you won't be notified when it is removed implicitly by a `focus()` call on another element.

In fact, because it is poor user-interface design to remove keyboard focus without transferring it somewhere else, Internet Explorer 3.0 does not actually remove keyboard focus when you call `blur()`. Instead, on this platform, calling `blur()` on a form element simply puts that element in a special state so that it won't trigger its `onblur()` event handler when focus actually is transferred somewhere else (either by the program or by the user.) Since this is the only reasonable use for `blur()` anyway, this incompatibility should not be a problem.

All form elements other than Hidden support the `blur()` method. Unfortunately, not all platforms support keyboard navigation equally well. In Navigator 2.0 and 3.0 for Unix platforms, the `blur()` method is only functional for those form elements that display text: Text, Textarea, Password and FileUpload.

## See Also

"Element", "Element.focus()", "Element.onblur()"

Element |  | Element.checked