4.11.5 Commands

A command is the abstraction behind menu items, buttons, and links. Once a command is defined, other parts of the interface can refer to the same command, allowing many access points to a single feature to share facets such as the Disabled State.

Commands are defined to have the following facets:

Type
The kind of command: "command", meaning it is a normal command; "radio", meaning that triggering the command will, amongst other things, set the Checked State to true (and probably uncheck some other commands); or "checkbox", meaning that triggering the command will, amongst other things, toggle the value of the Checked State.
ID
The name of the command, for referring to the command from the markup or from script. If a command has no ID, it is an anonymous command.
Label
The name of the command as seen by the user.
Hint
A helpful or descriptive string that can be shown to the user.
Icon
An absolute URL identifying a graphical image that represents the action. A command might not have an Icon.
Access Key
A key combination selected by the user agent that triggers the command. A command might not have an Access Key.
Hidden State
Whether the command is hidden or not (basically, whether it should be shown in menus).
Disabled State
Whether the command is relevant and can be triggered or not.
Checked State
Whether the command is checked or not.
Action
The actual effect that triggering the command will have. This could be a scripted event handler, a URL to which to navigate, or a form submission.

These facets are exposed on elements using the command API:

element . commandType

Exposes the Type facet of the command.

element . id

Exposes the ID facet of the command.

element . commandLabel

Exposes the Label facet of the command.

element . title

Exposes the Hint facet of the command.

element . commandIcon

Exposes the Icon facet of the command.

element . accessKeyLabel

Exposes the Access Key facet of the command.

element . commandHidden

Exposes the Hidden State facet of the command.

element . commandDisabled

Exposes the Disabled State facet of the command.

element . commandChecked

Exposes the Checked State facet of the command.

element . click()

Triggers the Action of the command.

The commandType attribute must return a string whose value is either "command", "radio", or "checkbox", depending on whether the Type of the command defined by the element is "command", "radio", or "checkbox" respectively. If the element does not define a command, it must return null.

The commandLabel attribute must return the command's Label, or null if the element does not define a command or does not specify a Label.

The commandIcon attribute must return the absolute URL of the command's Icon. If the element does not specify an icon, or if the element does not define a command, then the attribute must return null.

The commandHidden attribute must return true if the command's Hidden State is that the command is hidden, and false if the command is not hidden. If the element does not define a command, the attribute must return null.

The commandDisabled attribute must return true if the command's Disabled State is that the command is disabled, and false if the command is not disabled. This attribute is not affected by the command's Hidden State. If the element does not define a command, the attribute must return null.

The commandChecked attribute must return true if the command's Checked State is that the command is checked, and false if it is that the command is not checked. If the element does not define a command, the attribute must return null.

The ID facet is exposed by the id IDL attribute, the Hint facet is exposed by the title IDL attribute, and the AccessKey facet is exposed by the accessKeyLabel IDL attribute.


document . commands

Returns an HTMLCollection of the elements in the Document that define commands and have IDs.

The commands attribute of the document's Document interface must return an HTMLCollection rooted at the Document node, whose filter matches only elements that define commands and have IDs.


User agents may expose the commands whose Hidden State facet is false (visible) and whose elements are in a Document. For example, such commands could be listed in the user agent's menu bar. User agents are encouraged to do this especially for commands that have Access Keys, as a way to advertise those keys to the user.

4.11.5.1 Using the a element to define a command

An a element with an href attribute defines a command.

The Type of the command is "command".

The ID of the command is the value of the id attribute of the element, if the attribute is present and not empty. Otherwise the command is an anonymous command.

The Label of the command is the string given by the element's textContent IDL attribute.

The Hint of the command is the value of the title attribute of the element. If the attribute is not present, the Hint is the empty string.

The Icon of the command is the absolute URL obtained from resolving the value of the src attribute of the first img element descendant of the element in tree order, relative to that element, if there is such an element and resolving its attribute is successful. Otherwise, there is no Icon for the command.

The AccessKey of the command is the element's assigned access key, if any.

The Hidden State of the command is true (hidden) if the element has a hidden attribute, and false otherwise.

The Disabled State facet of the command is true if the element or one of its ancestors is inert, and false otherwise.

The Checked State of the command is always false. (The command is never checked.)

The Action of the command, if the element has a defined activation behavior, is to run synthetic click activation steps on the element. Otherwise, it is just to fire a click event at the element.

4.11.5.2 Using the button element to define a command

A button element always defines a command.

The Type, ID, Label, Hint, Icon, Access Key, Hidden State, Checked State, and Action facets of the command are determined as for a elements (see the previous section).

The Disabled State of the command is true if the element or one of its ancestors is inert, or if the element's disabled state is set, and false otherwise.

4.11.5.3 Using the input element to define a command

An input element whose type attribute is in one of the Submit Button, Reset Button, Image Button, Button, Radio Button, or Checkbox states defines a command.

The Type of the command is "radio" if the type attribute is in the Radio Button state, "checkbox" if the type attribute is in the Checkbox state, and "command" otherwise.

The ID of the command is the value of the id attribute of the element, if the attribute is present and not empty. Otherwise the command is an anonymous command.

The Label of the command depends on the Type of the command:

If the Type is "command", then it is the string given by the value attribute, if any, and a UA-dependent, locale-dependent value that the UA uses to label the button itself if the attribute is absent.

Otherwise, the Type is "radio" or "checkbox". If the element is a labeled control, the textContent of the first label element in tree order whose labeled control is the element in question is the Label (in DOM terms, this is the string given by element.labels[0].textContent). Otherwise, the value of the value attribute, if present, is the Label. Otherwise, the Label is the empty string.

The Hint of the command is the value of the title attribute of the input element. If the attribute is not present, the Hint is the empty string.

If the element's type attribute is in the Image Button state, and the element has a src attribute, and that attribute's value can be successfully resolved relative to the element, then the Icon of the command is the absolute URL obtained from resolving that attribute that way. Otherwise, there is no Icon for the command.

The AccessKey of the command is the element's assigned access key, if any.

The Hidden State of the command is true (hidden) if the element has a hidden attribute, and false otherwise.

The Disabled State of the command is true if the element or one of its ancestors is inert, or if the element's disabled state is set, and false otherwise.

The Checked State of the command is true if the command is of Type "radio" or "checkbox" and the element is checked attribute, and false otherwise.

The Action of the command, if the element has a defined activation behavior, is to run synthetic click activation steps on the element. Otherwise, it is just to fire a click event at the element.

4.11.5.4 Using the option element to define a command

An option element with an ancestor select element and either no value attribute or a value attribute that is not the empty string defines a command.

The Type of the command is "radio" if the option's nearest ancestor select element has no multiple attribute, and "checkbox" if it does.

The ID of the command is the value of the id attribute of the element, if the attribute is present and not empty. Otherwise the command is an anonymous command.

The Label of the command is the value of the option element's label attribute, if there is one, or else the value of option element's textContent IDL attribute, with leading and trailing whitespace stripped, and with any sequences of two or more space characters replaced by a single U+0020 SPACE character.

The Hint of the command is the string given by the element's title attribute, if any, and the empty string if the attribute is absent.

There is no Icon for the command.

The AccessKey of the command is the element's assigned access key, if any.

The Hidden State of the command is true (hidden) if the element has a hidden attribute, and false otherwise.

The Disabled State of the command is true if the element is disabled, or if its nearest ancestor select element is disabled, or if it or one of its ancestors is inert, and false otherwise.

The Checked State of the command is true (checked) if the element's selectedness is true, and false otherwise.

The Action of the command depends on its Type. If the command is of Type "radio" then it must pick the option element. Otherwise, it must toggle the option element.

4.11.5.5 Using the command element to define a command

A command element that does not have a command attribute defines a command.

The Type of the command is "radio" if the command's type attribute is "radio", "checkbox" if the attribute's value is "checkbox", and "command" otherwise.

The ID of the command is the value of the id attribute of the element, if the attribute is present and not empty. Otherwise the command is an anonymous command.

The Label of the command is the value of the element's label attribute, if there is one, or the empty string if it doesn't.

The Hint of the command is the string given by the element's title attribute, if any, and the empty string if the attribute is absent.

The Icon for the command is the absolute URL obtained from resolving the value of the element's icon attribute, relative to the element, if it has such an attribute and resolving it is successful. Otherwise, there is no Icon for the command.

The AccessKey of the command is the element's assigned access key, if any.

The Hidden State of the command is true (hidden) if the element has a hidden attribute, and false otherwise.

The Disabled State of the command is true if the element or one of its ancestors is inert, or if the element has a disabled attribute, and false otherwise.

The Checked State of the command is true (checked) if the element has a checked attribute, and false otherwise.

The Action of the command, if the element has a defined activation behavior, is to run synthetic click activation steps on the element. Otherwise, it is just to fire a click event at the element.

4.11.5.6 Using the command attribute on command elements to define a command indirectly

A command element with a master command defines a command.

The Type of the command is the Type of the master command.

The ID of the command is the value of the id attribute of the element, if the attribute is present and not empty. Otherwise the command is an anonymous command.

The Label of the command is the Label of the master command.

If the element has a title attribute, then the Hint of the command is the value of that title attribute. Otherwise, the Hint of the command is the Hint of the master command.

The Icon of the command is the Icon of the master command.

The AccessKey of the command is the element's assigned access key, if any.

The Hidden State of the command is the Hidden State of the master command.

The Disabled State of the command is the Disabled State of the master command.

The Checked State of the command is the Checked State of the master command.

The Action of the command is to invoke the Action of the master command.

4.11.5.7 Using the accesskey attribute on a label element to define a command

A label element that has an assigned access key and a labeled control and whose labeled control defines a command, itself defines a command.

The Type of the command is "command".

The ID of the command is the value of the id attribute of the element, if the attribute is present and not empty. Otherwise the command is an anonymous command.

The Label of the command is the string given by the element's textContent IDL attribute.

The Hint of the command is the value of the title attribute of the element.

There is no Icon for the command.

The AccessKey of the command is the element's assigned access key.

The Hidden State, Disabled State, and Action facets of the command are the same as the respective facets of the element's labeled control.

The Checked State of the command is always false. (The command is never checked.)

4.11.5.8 Using the accesskey attribute on a legend element to define a command

A legend element that has an assigned access key and is a child of a fieldset element that has a descendant that is not a descendant of the legend element and is neither a label element nor a legend element but that defines a command, itself defines a command.

The Type of the command is "command".

The ID of the command is the value of the id attribute of the element, if the attribute is present and not empty. Otherwise the command is an anonymous command.

The Label of the command is the string given by the element's textContent IDL attribute.

The Hint of the command is the value of the title attribute of the element.

There is no Icon for the command.

The AccessKey of the command is the element's assigned access key.

The Hidden State, Disabled State, and Action facets of the command are the same as the respective facets of the first element in tree order that is a descendant of the parent of the legend element that defines a command but is not a descendant of the legend element and is neither a label nor a legend element.

The Checked State of the command is always false. (The command is never checked.)

4.11.5.9 Using the accesskey attribute to define a command on other elements

An element that has an assigned access key defines a command.

If one of the earlier sections that define elements that define commands define that this element defines a command, then that section applies to this element, and this section does not. Otherwise, this section applies to that element.

The Type of the command is "command".

The ID of the command is the value of the id attribute of the element, if the attribute is present and not empty. Otherwise the command is an anonymous command.

The Label of the command depends on the element. If the element is a labeled control, the textContent of the first label element in tree order whose labeled control is the element in question is the Label (in DOM terms, this is the string given by element.labels[0].textContent). Otherwise, the Label is the textContent of the element itself.

The Hint of the command is the value of the title attribute of the element. If the attribute is not present, the Hint is the empty string.

There is no Icon for the command.

The AccessKey of the command is the element's assigned access key.

The Hidden State of the command is true (hidden) if the element has a hidden attribute, and false otherwise.

The Disabled State of the command is true if the element or one of its ancestors is inert, and false otherwise.

The Checked State of the command is always false. (The command is never checked.)

The Action of the command is to run the following steps:

  1. If the element is focusable, run the focusing steps for the element.
  2. If the element has a defined activation behavior, run synthetic click activation steps on the element.
  3. Otherwise, if the element does not have a defined activation behavior, fire a click event at the element.

4.11.6 The dialog element

Categories:
Flow content.
Sectioning root.
Contexts in which this element can be used:
Where flow content is expected.
As a child of a dt element.
As a child of a th element.
Content model:
Flow content.
Content attributes:
Global attributes
open
DOM interface:
interface HTMLDialogElement : HTMLElement {
           attribute boolean open;
           attribute DOMString returnValue;
  void show(optional (MouseEvent or Element) anchor);
  void showModal(optional (MouseEvent or Element) anchor);
  void close(optional DOMString returnValue);
};

The dialog element represents a part of an application that a user interacts with to perform a task, for example a dialog box, inspector, or window.

The open attribute is a boolean attribute. When specified, it indicates that the dialog element is active and that the user can interact with it.

A dialog element without an open attribute specified should not be shown to the user. This requirement may be implemented indirectly through the style layer. For example, user agents that support the suggested default rendering implement this requirement using the CSS rules described in the rendering section.

dialog . show( [ anchor ] )

Displays the dialog element.

The argument, if provided, provides an anchor point to which the element will be fixed.

dialog . showModal( [ anchor ] )

Displays the dialog element and makes it the top-most modal dialog.

The argument, if provided, provides an anchor point to which the element will be fixed.

This method honors the autofocus attribute.

dialog . close( [ result ] )

Closes the dialog element.

The argument, if provided, provides a return value.

dialog . returnValue [ = result ]

Returns the dialog's return value.

Can be set, to update the return value.

When the show() method is invoked, the user agent must run the following steps:

  1. If the element already has an open attribute, then abort these steps.

  2. Add an open attribute to the dialog element, whose value is the empty string.

  3. If the show() method was invoked with an argument, set up the position of the dialog element, using that argument as the anchor. Otherwise, set up the default static position of the dialog element.


Each Document has a stack of dialog elements known as the pending dialog stack. When a Document is created, this stack must be initialized to be empty.

When an element is added to the pending dialog stack, it must also be added to the top layer layer. When an element is removed from the pending dialog stack, it must be removed from the top layer. [FULLSCREEN]

When the showModal() method is invoked, the user agent must run the following steps:

  1. Let dialog be the dialog element on which the method was invoked.

  2. If dialog already has an open attribute, then throw an InvalidStateError exception and abort these steps.

  3. If dialog is not in a Document, then throw an InvalidStateError exception and abort these steps.

  4. Add an open attribute to dialog, whose value is the empty string.

  5. If the showModal() method was invoked with an argument, set up the position of dialog, using that argument as the anchor. Otherwise, set up the default static position of the dialog element.

  6. Let dialog's Document be blocked by the modal dialog dialog.

  7. Push dialog onto dialog's Document's pending dialog stack.

  8. Let control be the first element in tree order whose nearest ancestor dialog element is dialog and that has an autofocus attribute specified, if any.

  9. If there is no control, then abort these steps.

  10. Run the focusing steps for control.

If at any time a dialog element is removed from a Document, then if that dialog is in that Document's pending dialog stack, the following steps must be run:

  1. Let dialog be that dialog element and document be the Document from which it is being removed.

  2. Remove dialog from document's pending dialog stack.

  3. If document's pending dialog stack is not empty, then let document be blocked by the modal dialog that is at the top of document's pending dialog stack. Otherwise, let document be no longer blocked by a modal dialog at all.

When the close() method is invoked, the user agent must close the dialog that the method was invoked on. If the method was invoked with an argument, that argument must be used as the return value; otherwise, there is no return value.

When a dialog element dialog is to be closed, optionally with a return value result, the user agent must run the following steps:

  1. If dialog does not have an open attribute, then throw an InvalidStateError exception and abort these steps.

  2. Remove dialog's open attribute.

  3. If the argument was passed a result, then set the returnValue attribute to the value of result.

  4. If dialog is in its Document's pending dialog stack, then run these substeps:

    1. Remove dialog from that pending dialog stack.

    2. If that pending dialog stack is not empty, then let dialog's Document be blocked by the modal dialog that is at the top of the pending dialog stack. Otherwise, let document be no longer blocked by a modal dialog at all.

  5. Queue a task to fire a simple event named close at dialog.

The returnValue IDL attribute, on getting, must return the last value to which it was set. On setting, it must be set to the new value. When the element is created, it must be set to the empty string.


Canceling dialogs: When a Document's pending dialog stack is not empty, user agents may provide a user interface that, upon activation, queues a task to fire a simple event named cancel that is cancelable at the top dialog element on the Document's pending dialog stack. The default action of this event must be to close the dialog with no return value.

An example of such a UI mechanism would be the user pressing the "Escape" key.


When a user agent is to set up the default static position of an element dialog without an anchor, it must set up the element such that its top static position, for the purposes of calculating the used value of the 'top' property, is the value that would place the element's top margin edge as far from the top of the viewport as the element's bottom margin edge from the bottom of the viewport, if the element's height is less than the height of the viewport, and otherwise is the value that would place the element's top margin edge at the top of the viewport.

This top static position must remain the element's top static position until it is next changed by the above algorithm or the next one. (The element's static position is only used in calculating the used value of the 'top' property in certain situations; it's not used, for instance, to position the element if its 'position' property is set to 'static'.)

When a user agent is to set up the position of an element dialog using an anchor anchor, it must run the following steps:

  1. If anchor is a MouseEvent object, then run these substeps:

    1. If anchor's target element does not have a rendered box, or is in a different document than dialog, then abort the set up the position steps.

    2. Let anchor element be an anonymous element rendered as a box with zero height and width (so its margin and border boxes both just form a point), positioned so that its top and left are at the coordinate identified by the event, and whose properties all compute to their initial values.

    Otherwise, let anchor element be anchor.

  2. Let dialog be magically aligned to anchor element.

While an element A is magically aligned to an element B, A and B both have rendered boxes, and B is not a descendant of A, the following requirements apply:

The trivial example of an element that does not have a rendered box is one whose 'display' property computes to 'none'. However, there are many other cases; e.g. table columns do not have boxes (their properties merely affect other boxes).

When an element's 'position' property must compute to 'absolute-anchored', the 'float', property does not apply and must compute to 'none', the 'display' property must compute to a value as described by the table in the section of CSS 2.1 describing the relationships between 'display', 'position', and 'float', and the element's box must be positioned using the rules for absolute positioning but with its static position set such that if the box is positioned in its static position, its anchor point is exactly aligned over the anchor point of the element to which it is magically aligned.

The 'absolute-anchored' keyword is not a keyword that can be specified in CSS; the 'position' property can only compute to this value if the dialog element is positioned via the APIs described above.

The open IDL attribute must reflect the open content attribute.

4.11.6.1 Anchor points

This section will eventually be moved to a CSS specification; it is specified here only on an interim basis until an editor can be found to own this.

'anchor-point'
Value: none | <position>
Initial: none
Applies to: all elements
Inherited: no
Percentages: refer to width or height of box; see prose
Media: visual
Computed value: The specified value, but with any lengths replaced by their corresponding absolute length
Animatable: no
Canonical order: per grammar

The 'anchor-point' property specifies a point to which dialog boxes are to be aligned.

If the value is a <position>, the alignment point is the point given by the value, which must be interpreted relative to the element's first rendered box's margin box. Percentages must be calculated relative to the element's first rendered box's margin box (specifically, its width for the horizontal position and its height for the vertical position). [CSSVALUES] [CSS]

If the value is the keyword 'none', then no explicit alignment point is defined. The user agent will pick an alignment point automatically if necessary (as described in the definition of the open() method above).