MouseEvent.initMouseEvent()

Deprecated: This feature is no longer recommended. Though some browsers might still support it, it may have already been removed from the relevant web standards, may be in the process of being dropped, or may only be kept for compatibility purposes. Avoid using it, and update existing code if possible; see the compatibility table at the bottom of this page to guide your decision. Be aware that this feature may cease to work at any time.

The MouseEvent.initMouseEvent() method initializes the value of a mouse event once it's been created (normally using the Document.createEvent() method).

Warning: Do not use this method anymore as it is deprecated.

Instead use specific event constructors, like MouseEvent(). The page on Creating and triggering events gives more information about the way to use these.

Events initialized in this way must have been created with the Document.createEvent() method. This method must be called to set the event before it is dispatched, using EventTarget.dispatchEvent().

Syntax

event.initMouseEvent(type, canBubble, cancelable, view,
                     detail, screenX, screenY, clientX, clientY,
                     ctrlKey, altKey, shiftKey, metaKey,
                     button, relatedTarget);

Parameters

type

the string to set the event's type to. Possible types for mouse events include: click, mousedown, mouseup, mouseover, mousemove, mouseout.

canBubble

whether or not the event can bubble. Sets the value of Event.bubbles.

cancelable

whether or not the event's default action can be prevented. Sets the value of Event.cancelable.

view

the event's AbstractView. You should pass the window object here. Sets the value of UIEvent.view.

detail

the event's mouse click count. Sets the value of UIEvent.detail.

screenX

the event's screen x coordinate. Sets the value of MouseEvent.screenX.

screenY

the event's screen y coordinate. Sets the value of MouseEvent.screenY.

clientX

the event's client x coordinate. Sets the value of MouseEvent.clientX.

clientY

the event's client y coordinate. Sets the value of MouseEvent.clientY.

ctrlKey

whether or not control key was depressed during the Event. Sets the value of MouseEvent.ctrlKey.

altKey

whether or not alt key was depressed during the Event. Sets the value of MouseEvent.altKey.

shiftKey

whether or not shift key was depressed during the Event. Sets the value of MouseEvent.shiftKey.

metaKey

whether or not meta key was depressed during the Event. Sets the value of MouseEvent.metaKey.

button

the event's mouse button.

relatedTarget

the event's related EventTarget. Only used with some event types (e.g., mouseover and mouseout). In other cases, pass null.

Example

HTML

<div style="background:red; width:180px; padding:10px;">
  <div id="out"></div>
  <input type="text">
</div>

JavaScript

document.body.onclick = function(){
  e = arguments[0];
  var dt = e.target,stag = dt.tagName.toLowerCase();
  document.getElementById("out").innerHTML = stag;
};

var simulateClick = function(){
  var evt = document.createEvent("MouseEvents");
  evt.initMouseEvent("click", true, true, window, 0, 0, 0, 80, 20, false, false, false, false, 0, null);
  document.body.dispatchEvent(evt);
}

simulateClick();

Result

Specifications

This feature is not part of any specification. It is no longer on track to becoming a standard.

Use the MouseEvent() constructor instead.

Browser compatibility

Desktop Mobile
Chrome Edge Firefox Internet Explorer Opera Safari WebView Android Chrome Android Firefox for Android Opera Android Safari on IOS Samsung Internet
initMouseEvent
1
12
1.5
9
≤12.1
≤4
≤37
18
4
≤12.1
≤3
1.0

See also

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Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/MouseEvent/initMouseEvent