onunload Event

Fires immediately before the object is unloaded.

Syntax

Inline HTML <ELEMENT onunload = "handler" ... > All platforms
Event property object.onunload = handler JScript only
object.onunload = GetRef("handler") Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript) 5.0 or later only
Named script <SCRIPT FOR = object EVENT = onunload> Internet Explorer only

Event Information

Bubbles No
Cancels No
To invoke
Close the current browser window.
Navigate to another location by entering a new address or selecting a Favorite.
Click the Back, Forward, Refresh, or Home button.
Click on an anchor that refers the browser to another Web page.
Invoke the anchor?A HREF="../methods/click.html">click method.
Invoke the document?A HREF="../methods/write.html">write method.
Invoke the document?A HREF="../methods/open_1.html">open method.
Invoke the document?A HREF="../methods/close_1.html">close method.
Invoke the window?A HREF="../methods/close_0.html">close method.
Invoke the window?A HREF="../methods/open_0.html">open method, providing the possible value _self for the window name.
Invoke the window?A HREF="../methods/navigate.html">navigate or NavigateAndFind method.
Invoke the location?A HREF="../methods/replace.html">replace method.
Invoke the location?A HREF="../methods/reload.html">reload method.
Specify a new value for the location?A HREF="../properties/href_3.html">href property.
Submit a form to the address specified in the ACTION attribute via the INPUT type=submit control, or invoke the submit method.
Default action Removes the object or document from the browser window.

Event Object Properties

Although event handlers in the DHTML Object Model do not receive parameters directly, a handler can query an event object for data.
Available Properties
altKey Sets or retrieves a value that indicates the state of the ALT key.
altLeft Sets or retrieves a value that indicates the state of the left ALT key.
ctrlLeft Sets or retrieves the state of the left CTRL key.
shiftLeft Retrieves the state of the left SHIFT key.
type Sets or retrieves the event name from the event object.

Example

This example shows how to use the onunload event to run script when the window object has been unloaded.
<HEAD>
<SCRIPT FOR=window EVENT=onunload>
alert("The onunload event fired for the window object.");
</SCRIPT>
<SCRIPT>
function fnRelocate()
{
location.href="/workshop/samples/author/dhtml/refs/onunloadEX_target.htm";
}
</SCRIPT>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<INPUT TYPE=button VALUE="Go To Page 2" onclick="fnRelocate()">
<IMG ID=imgTest SRC="../common/prop_rw.gif">
</BODY>
This feature requires Microsoft® Internet Explorer 4.0 or later. Click the following icon to install the latest version. Then reload this page to view the sample.

Standards Information

This event is defined in HTML 4.0 .

Applies To

BODY, FRAMESET, window