JavaScript 2.0-The Complete Reference, Second ... - freecodingtutorial

outeEvent(event) Passes the Event instance event along normally down the object hierarchy
for processing. This method is used by a Layer, Window, or Document to elect not to handle
the specific event. For example, if the event was captured and after examination determined
not to be of interest, this method is invoked to pass the event on down the hierarchy for
(possibly) other handlers to process. Supported in N4+ (JavaScript 1.2+).
DOM2 Event Methods
The following methods are common to many (if not all) nodes under the DOM. The full
specification can be found at http://www.w3.org/DOM/.
addEventListener(whichEvent, handler, direction) Instructs the object to execute function
handler when an event of the type given in the string whichEvent (for example, "click") occurs.
The direction parameter is a Boolean indicating whether the handler should be fired in the
capture phase (true) or bubbling phase (false). Multiple handlers for the same event can be
attached by using this method multiple times. Listeners (event handlers) can be bound to text
nodes as well as element nodes. Supported in N6+ (JavaScript 1.5+), DOM2.
dispatchEvent(event) Causes the Event instance event to be processed by the appropriate
handler of the object that this function was invoked as a method of. This method returns false if
any handler that eventually processes the event returns false or invokes preventDefault(). The
node at which this method was invoked becomes the new target of event. This method is used
to redirect an event to another node in the tree. Supported in N6+ (JavaScript 1.5+), DOM2.
preventDefault() When invoked in a handler this method has the effect of canceling the default
action associated with the event. Calling this method is the same as returning false from a
handler. Note that in DOM2 once a handler has returned false or invoked this method, the
default action associated with the event will not occur, no matter what value other handlers that
process the event return. Supported in N6+ (JavaScript 1.5+), DOM2.
removeEventListener(whichEvent, handler, direction) Removes the function handler as a
handler for the event given in the string whichEvent (for example, "click") for the phase given by
the Boolean direction. Note that direction must correspond to the value passed as the third
parameter to addEventListener() when the handler was originally attached to the object.
Supported in N6+ (JavaScript 1.5+), DOM2.
stopPropagation() When invoked in an event handler, halts the normal propagation of the
event after the current handler completes execution. This method works only for those events
that are cancelable. Supported in N6+ (JavaScript 1.5+), DOM2.
Notes
You can set most properties of Event instances in Netscape if you have the
UniversalBrowserWrite privilege (see Chapter 22). Also, most IE properties listed above are
read-only in IE4, but mutable in IE5+.
Event Handlers
Event handlers are JavaScript code that are associated with an object and that ―fire‖ in
response to a user or system event on that object. Document objects typically support
numerous event handlers encompassing a wide range of user actions in addition to intrinsic or
system events that occur in response to a browser or DOM event such as the page completing
loading. Some browser objects, most notably Window, also support a variety of handlers that
allow it to process events for any document it contains, for example, if the window is made up
of multiple frames.
HTML 4 Events
The standard HTML 4 events are listed here. According to the event model of Internet Explorer
4+, some events may be canceled and some events bubble up the hierarchy. The behavior of
each of the HTML 4 events under Internet Explorer 4+ is indicated along with its associated
handler (for example, the behavior of the blur event is given with the onblur handler).