References

Beginner-friendly references for web development, with live, editable examples.

The HTML popovertargetaction attribute

Attribute All modern browsers Updated
Quick answer

The HTML popovertargetaction attribute specifies which action the button performs on its target popover. It is used on the <button> and <input type="button"> elements.

Overview

The popovertargetaction attribute sets whether a popover button shows, hides or toggles. It is used on <button> and submit-type <input> controls.

It applies to buttons. Several of these let a single submit button override the parent <form>'s settings (its action, method, encoding or validation), while others wire a button to a popover or a built-in command.

Syntax

<button popovertarget="m" popovertargetaction="hide">Close</button>

Values

Value
toggle (default) | show | hide

Best practices

  • Always set an explicit type on a <button> — the default inside a form is submit.
  • Use the form* override attributes only when one button genuinely needs different submission behavior.
  • Give every button clear, descriptive text for screen readers.
  • Prefer real <button> elements over clickable <div>s for keyboard and accessibility support.

Frequently asked questions

What does the popovertargetaction attribute do?
Sets whether a popover button shows, hides or toggles.
Why does my button submit the form unexpectedly?
A <button> inside a form defaults to type="submit". Add type="button" if it should not submit.
Can one button submit to a different URL than the form?
Yes. Put formaction (and optionally formmethod) on that submit button to override the form.
Which elements use the popovertargetaction attribute?
It is an element-specific attribute, used on <button> and submit-type <input> controls.
popovertarget poster