MouseEvent: initMouseEvent() method

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 section on Creating and dispatching 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

js
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 pressed during the Event. Sets the value of MouseEvent.ctrlKey.

altKey

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

shiftKey

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

metaKey

whether or not meta key was pressed 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.

Return value

None (undefined).

Examples

js
const event = document.createEvent("MouseEvents");
event.initMouseEvent(
  "click",
  true,
  true,
  window,
  0,
  0,
  0,
  80,
  20,
  false,
  false,
  false,
  false,
  0,
  null,
);
document.body.dispatchEvent(event);

Specifications

Specification
Pointer Events
# dom-mouseevent-initmouseevent

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
initMouseEvent
Deprecated
Chrome – Full support
Chrome 1 (Release date: 2008-12-11)
footnote Full support
Edge – Full support
Edge 12 (Release date: 2015-07-29)
footnote Full support
Firefox – Full support
Firefox 1.5 (Release date: 2005-11-29)
footnote Full support
Opera – Full support
Opera 12.1 (Release date: 2012-11-20)
footnote Full support
Safari – Full support
Safari 1 (Release date: 2003-06-23)
footnote Full support
Chrome Android – Full support
Chrome Android 18 (Release date: 2012-06-27)
footnote Full support
Firefox for Android – Full support
Firefox for Android 4 (Release date: 2011-03-29)
footnote Full support
Opera Android – Full support
Opera Android 12.1 (Release date: 2012-10-09)
footnote Full support
Safari on iOS – Full support
Safari on iOS 1 (Release date: 2007-06-29)
footnote Full support
Samsung Internet – Full support
Samsung Internet 1 (Release date: 2013-04-27)
footnote Full support
WebView Android – Full support
WebView Android 4.4 (Release date: 2013-12-09)
footnote Full support
WebView on iOS – Full support
WebView on iOS 1 (Release date: 2007-06-29)
footnote Full support

Legend

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

Full support
Full support
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.

See also