ElementInternals: ariaControlsElements property

Baseline 2025
Newly available

Since April 2025, this feature works across the latest devices and browser versions. This feature might not work in older devices or browsers.

The ariaControlsElements property of the ElementInternals interface is an array containing the element (or elements) that are controlled by the element it is applied to. For example, this might be set on a combobox to indicate the element that it pops up, or on a scrollbar to indicate the ID of the element it controls.

The aria-controls topic contains additional information about how the attribute and property should be used.

Value

An array of subclasses of HTMLElement, representing the elements that are controlled by this element.

When read, the returned array is a static and read-only. When written, the assigned array is copied: subsequent changes to the array do not affect the value of the property.

Description

The property is a flexible alternative to using the aria-controls attribute to set the controlled elements. Unlike aria-controls, the elements assigned to this property do not have to have an id attribute.

The property reflects the aria-controls attribute when it is defined, but only for listed reference id values that match valid in-scope elements. If the property is set, then the corresponding attribute is cleared. For more information about reflected element references and scope see Reflected element references in the Reflected attributes guide.

Specifications

Specification
Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA)
# dom-ariamixin-ariacontrolselements

Browser compatibility

desktop mobile
Chrome
Edge
Firefox
Opera
Safari
Chrome Android
Firefox for Android
Opera Android
Safari on iOS
Samsung Internet
WebView Android
WebView on iOS
ariaControlsElements
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 135 (Release date: 2025-04-01)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 135 (Release date: 2025-04-04)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 136 (Release date: 2025-03-04)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 120 (Release date: 2025-07-02)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 16.4 (Release date: 2023-03-27)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 135 (Release date: 2025-04-01)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 136 (Release date: 2025-03-04)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 89 (Release date: 2025-04-29)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 16.4 (Release date: 2023-03-27)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 29 (Release date: 2025-10-25)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 135 (Release date: 2025-04-01)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 16.4 (Release date: 2023-03-27)
footnote Full support

Legend

Tip: you can click/tap on a cell for more information.

Full support
Full support

See also