currentTarget event property

DOM Events Event Object

Definition and Usage

The currentTarget event property returns the element that triggered the event with the event listener.

This is particularly useful during the capture and bubble phases.

The currentTarget property always refers to the element that triggered the event, unlike the target property, which returns the element that triggered the event.

Instance

Obtain the element that triggers a specific event with the event listener:

alert(event.currentTarget);

Try It Yourself

Syntax

event.currentTarget

Technical Details

Return Value: Reference to the object that triggers the event to its event listener.
DOM Version: DOM Level 2 Events

Browser Support

The numbers in the table indicate the first browser version that fully supports the property.

Properties Chrome IE Firefox Safari Opera
currentTarget Support 9.0 Support Support Support
DOM Events Event Object