HTML ondragover Event Attribute

HTML Event Attributes : Execute a JavaScript when an element is being dragged over a drop target

Definition and Usage

The ondragover attribute fires when a draggable element or text selection is being dragged over a valid drop target.

By default, data/elements cannot be dropped in other elements. To allow a drop, we must prevent the default handling of the element. This is done by calling the event.preventDefault() method for the ondragover attribute.

Drag and drop is a very common feature in HTML5. It is when you "grab" an object and drag it to a different location. For more information, see our HTML Tutorial on HTML5 Drag and Drop.

Note: To make an element draggable, use the global HTML5 draggable attribute.
Tip: Links and images are draggable by default, and do not need the draggable attribute.

There are many event attributes that are used, and can occur, in the different stages of a drag and drop operation:

  • Events fired on the draggable target (the source element):
    • ondragstart - fires when the user starts to drag an element
    • ondrag - fires when an element is being dragged
    • ondragend - fires when the user has finished dragging the element

  • Events fired on the drop target:
    • ondragenter - fires when the dragged element enters the drop target
    • ondragover - fires when the dragged element is over the drop target
    • ondragleave - fires when the dragged element leaves the drop target
    • ondrop - fires when the dragged element is dropped on the drop target
  • Note: While dragging an element, the ondragover event fires every 350 milliseconds.

    Browser Support

    The numbers in the table specify the first browser version that fully supports the event attribute.

    Event Attribute
    ondragover 4.0 9.0 3.5 6.0 12.0

    Syntax

    <element ondragover="script">

    Attribute Values

    Value Description
    script The script to be run on ondragover

    Technical Details

    Supported HTML tags: ALL HTML elements

    Related Pages

    HTML Tutorial: HTML5 Drag and Drop

    HTML Reference: HTML draggable Attribute

    HTML DOM Reference: ondragover Event

    ❮ HTML Event Attributes