How to run a function when the page is loaded?
JavascriptHtmlOnloadJavascript Problem Overview
I want to run a function when the page is loaded, but I don’t want to use it in the <body> tag.
I have a script that runs if I initialise it in the <body>, like this:
function codeAddress() {
// code
}
<body onLoad="codeAddress()">
But I want to run it without the <body onload="codeAddress()"> and I have tried a lot of things, e.g. this:
window.onload = codeAddress;
But it is not working.
So how do I run it when the page is loaded?
Javascript Solutions
Solution 1 - Javascript
window.onload = codeAddress; should work - here's a demo, and the full code:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Test</title>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" />
<script type="text/javascript">
function codeAddress() {
alert('ok');
}
window.onload = codeAddress;
</script>
</head>
<body>
</body>
</html>
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Test</title>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" />
<script type="text/javascript">
function codeAddress() {
alert('ok');
}
</script>
</head>
<body onload="codeAddress();">
</body>
</html>
Solution 2 - Javascript
Rather than using jQuery or window.onload, native JavaScript has adopted some great functions since the release of jQuery. All modern browsers now have their own DOM ready function without the use of a jQuery library.
I'd recommend this if you use native Javascript.
document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {
alert("Ready!");
}, false);
Solution 3 - Javascript
Taking Darin's answer but jQuery style. (I know the user asked for javascript).
$(document).ready ( function(){
alert('ok');
});
Solution 4 - Javascript
Alternate solution. I prefer this for the brevity and code simplicity.
(function () {
alert("I am here");
})();
This is an anonymous function, where the name is not specified. What happens here is that, the function is defined and executed together. Add this to the beginning or end of the body, depending on if it is to be executed before loading the page or soon after all the HTML elements are loaded.
Solution 5 - Javascript
window.onload = function() { ... etc. is not a great answer.
This will likely work, but it will also break any other functions already hooking to that event. Or, if another function hooks into that event after yours, it will break yours. So, you can spend lots of hours later trying to figure out why something that was working isn't anymore.
A more robust answer here:
if(window.attachEvent) {
window.attachEvent('onload', yourFunctionName);
} else {
if(window.onload) {
var curronload = window.onload;
var newonload = function(evt) {
curronload(evt);
yourFunctionName(evt);
};
window.onload = newonload;
} else {
window.onload = yourFunctionName;
}
}
Some code I have been using, I forget where I found it to give the author credit.
function my_function() {
// whatever code I want to run after page load
}
if (window.attachEvent) {window.attachEvent('onload', my_function);}
else if (window.addEventListener) {window.addEventListener('load', my_function, false);}
else {document.addEventListener('load', my_function, false);}
Hope this helps :)
Solution 6 - Javascript
Try readystatechange
document.addEventListener('readystatechange', () => {
if (document.readyState == 'complete') codeAddress();
});
where states are:
- loading - the document is loading (no fired in snippet)
- interactive - the document is parsed, fired before
DOMContentLoaded - complete - the document and resources are loaded, fired before
window.onload
<script>
document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => {
mydiv.innerHTML += `DOMContentLoaded (timestamp: ${Date.now()})</br>`;
});
window.onload = () => {
mydiv.innerHTML += `window.onload (timestamp: ${Date.now()}) </br>` ;
} ;
document.addEventListener('readystatechange', () => {
mydiv.innerHTML += `ReadyState: ${document.readyState} (timestamp: ${Date.now()})</br>`;
if (document.readyState == 'complete') codeAddress();
});
function codeAddress() {
mydiv.style.color = 'red';
}
</script>
<div id='mydiv'></div>
Solution 7 - Javascript
Take a look at the domReady script that allows setting up of multiple functions to execute when the DOM has loaded. It's basically what the Dom ready does in many popular JavaScript libraries, but is lightweight and can be taken and added at the start of your external script file.
Example usage
// add reference to domReady script or place
// contents of script before here
function codeAddress() {
}
domReady(codeAddress);
Solution 8 - Javascript
window.onload will work like this:
function codeAddress() {
document.getElementById("test").innerHTML=Date();
}
window.onload = codeAddress;
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>learning java script</title>
<script src="custom.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
<p id="test"></p>
<li>abcd</li>
</body>
</html>
Solution 9 - Javascript
As soon as the page load the function will be ran:
(*your function goes here*)();
Alternatively:
document.onload = functionName();
window.onload = functionName();
Solution 10 - Javascript
I believe this is the best way to maintain support across different versions of browsers
if (window.addEventListener) {
window.addEventListener("load", myFunction, false);
}
else if (window.attachEvent) {
window.attachEvent("onload", myFunction);
}
else {
window.onload = myFunction; //will override previously attached event listeners.
}