.focus() JQ Home  <<  Events  <<  .focus()

Focus event handler.

Description

The .focus() method is used to bind an event handler to The JavaScript focus event or trigger that event on the specified element.

  • The focus event is sent to an element when the element gains focus.
  • Do not use the .focus() method on hidden elements as this can cause problems in some browsers.
  • The focus event is useful for input, link and select type HTML elements although this functionality can be extended to any element type via use of the element's tabindex property.
  • Browser vendors usually highlight the element in focus with a dotted border.
  • Use the the .triggerHandler() method instead of the .focus() method when you want to run an element's focus event handlers without setting focus on the element.

Syntax

Signature Description
.focus( )Trigger the focus JavaScript event on the specified element.
.focus( handler(eventObject) )Bind an event handler to the focus JavaScript event.
.focus( [eventData ,] handler(eventObject) )Bind an event handler to the focus JavaScript event, optionally passing an object of data.

Parameters

Parameter Description Type
handler( eventObject )A function to execute each time the event is triggered.Function
eventDataAn object of data to pass to the event handler.Anything

Return

A jQuery object.

.focus( ) Example  Events  <<  Top

Trigger the focus JavaScript event on the specified element.

  • This signature is a shortcut for .trigger('focus').

In the example below we show a new message in the 'div' element with an id of 'div1' every time the radio button for 'chicken pie' gets focus.

When the radio button is pushed we trigger off the focus JavaScript event on the 'div1'. This then fires off the $('#div1').focus(function(){}) code which outputs the message.

Pie Survey

Which pie do you prefer?:

Select a pie shape: 

div1. Some initial text.



$(function(){
  $('#chicken').focus(function () {
    $('#div1').append('<code>focus</code> JavaScript event triggered<br>');
  });

  $('#chicken').click(function() {
    $('#div1').focus();
  });
});




.focus( handler(eventObject) ) Example  Events  <<  Top

Bind an event handler to the focus JavaScript event.

  • This signature is a shortcut for .on('focus', handler).

In the example below we show a new message in the 'p' element with an id of 'scrollspan1' each time the input element with an id of 'input1' below gains focus.

When the input is typed in, the focus JavaScript event fires off the addText(event) mothod which outputs a message.

What we are doing here is passing across the event object to the function addText(event)method. The data we specify gets tagged onto the event.data property.



$(function(){
  $('#input1').focus(addText);

  function addText(event) {
    $('#scrollspan1').append('focus 1 **JavaScript event triggered**<br>');
  }
});



We will show a message here.


.focus( [eventData ,] handler(eventObject) ) Example  Events  <<  Top

Bind an event handler to the focus JavaScript event, optionally passing a map of data.


  • This signature is a shortcut for .on('focus', handler).

In the example below we show a new message in the 'p' element with an id of 'scrollspan1' each time the input element with an id of 'input2' below gains focus.

When the input field gets focus, the focus JavaScript event fires off the $('#input2').focus({ param1: '#scrollspan2', param2: 'focus 2 ', param3: '**JavaScript event triggered** ' }, addText2); code.

What we are doing here is passing across the event object to the function addText2(event). The map we specify, in our case { param1: '#scrollspan2', param2: 'focus', param3: '**JavaScript event triggered** ' } gets tagged onto the event.data property. We then access this parameter in the function via event.data.param and use it as part of the appended data.



$(function(){
  $('#input2').focus({ param1: '#scrollspan2', param2: 'focus 2 ', 
                         param3: '**JavaScript event triggered**<br>' }, addText2);

  function addText2(event) {
    $(event.data.param1).append( event.data.param2 + event.data.param3);
  }
});



We will show a message here.


Related Tutorials

jQuery Advanced Tutorials - Lesson 3 - Form Events