![Una Kravets](https://web.dev/images/authors/unakravets.jpg) Una Kravets [X](https://twitter.com/una) [Mastodon](https://front-end.social/@una) [Homepage](https://una.im)

<br />

Popovers are everywhere on the web. You can see them in menus, toggletips, and dialogs, which could manifest as account settings, disclosure widgets, and product card previews. Despite how prevalent these components are, building them in browsers is still surprisingly cumbersome. You need to add scripting to manage focus, open and close states, accessible hooks into the components, keyboard bindings to enter and exit the experience, and that's all even before you start building the useful, unique, core functionality of your popover.

To resolve this, a new set of declarative HTML APIs for building popovers is coming to browsers, starting with the `popover` API in Chromium 114.

## The popover attribute


Browser Support

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- ![Edge: 114.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' xmlns:xlink='http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink' width='24' height='24' viewBox='0 0 27600 27600'%3E%3ClinearGradient id='A' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse'/%3E%3ClinearGradient id='B' x1='6870' x2='24704' y1='18705' y2='18705' xlink:href='%23A'%3E%3Cstop offset='0' stop-color='%230c59a4'/%3E%3Cstop offset='1' stop-color='%23114a8b'/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3ClinearGradient id='C' x1='16272' x2='5133' y1='10968' y2='23102' xlink:href='%23A'%3E%3Cstop offset='0' stop-color='%231b9de2'/%3E%3Cstop offset='.16' stop-color='%231595df'/%3E%3Cstop offset='.67' stop-color='%230680d7'/%3E%3Cstop offset='1' stop-color='%230078d4'/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3CradialGradient id='D' cx='16720' cy='18747' r='9538' xlink:href='%23A'%3E%3Cstop offset='.72' stop-opacity='0'/%3E%3Cstop offset='.95' stop-opacity='.53'/%3E%3Cstop offset='1'/%3E%3C/radialGradient%3E%3CradialGradient id='E' cx='7130' cy='19866' r='14324' gradientTransform='matrix(.14843 -.98892 .79688 .1196 -8759 25542)' xlink:href='%23A'%3E%3Cstop offset='.76' stop-opacity='0'/%3E%3Cstop offset='.95' stop-opacity='.5'/%3E%3Cstop offset='1'/%3E%3C/radialGradient%3E%3CradialGradient id='F' cx='2523' cy='4680' r='20243' gradientTransform='matrix(-.03715 .99931 -2.12836 -.07913 13579 3530)' xlink:href='%23A'%3E%3Cstop offset='0' stop-color='%2335c1f1'/%3E%3Cstop offset='.11' stop-color='%2334c1ed'/%3E%3Cstop offset='.23' stop-color='%232fc2df'/%3E%3Cstop offset='.31' stop-color='%232bc3d2'/%3E%3Cstop offset='.67' stop-color='%2336c752'/%3E%3C/radialGradient%3E%3CradialGradient id='G' cx='24247' cy='7758' r='9734' gradientTransform='matrix(.28109 .95968 -.78353 .22949 24510 -16292)' xlink:href='%23A'%3E%3Cstop offset='0' stop-color='%2366eb6e'/%3E%3Cstop offset='1' stop-color='%2366eb6e' stop-opacity='0'/%3E%3C/radialGradient%3E%3Cpath id='H' d='M24105 20053a9345 9345 0 01-1053 472 10202 10202 0 01-3590 646c-4732 0-8855-3255-8855-7432 0-1175 680-2193 1643-2729-4280 180-5380 4640-5380 7253 0 7387 6810 8137 8276 8137 791 0 1984-230 2704-456l130-44a12834 12834 0 006660-5282c220-350-168-757-535-565z'/%3E%3Cpath id='I' d='M11571 25141a7913 7913 0 01-2273-2137 8145 8145 0 01-1514-4740 8093 8093 0 013093-6395 8082 8082 0 011373-859c312-148 846-414 1554-404a3236 3236 0 012569 1297 3184 3184 0 01636 1866c0-21 2446-7960-8005-7960-4390 0-8004 4166-8004 7820 0 2319 538 4170 1212 5604a12833 12833 0 007684 6757 12795 12795 0 003908 610c1414 0 2774-233 4045-656a7575 7575 0 01-6278-803z'/%3E%3Cpath id='J' d='M16231 15886c-80 105-330 250-330 566 0 260 170 512 472 723 1438 1003 4149 868 4156 868a5954 5954 0 003027-839 6147 6147 0 001133-850 6180 6180 0 001910-4437c26-2242-796-3732-1133-4392-2120-4141-6694-6525-11668-6525-7011 0-12703 5635-12798 12620 47-3654 3679-6605 7996-6605 350 0 2346 34 4200 1007 1634 858 2490 1894 3086 2921 618 1067 728 2415 728 2952s-271 1333-780 1990z'/%3E%3Cuse fill='url(%23B)' xlink:href='%23H'/%3E%3Cuse fill='url(%23D)' opacity='.35' xlink:href='%23H'/%3E%3Cuse fill='url(%23C)' xlink:href='%23I'/%3E%3Cuse fill='url(%23E)' opacity='.4' xlink:href='%23I'/%3E%3Cuse fill='url(%23F)' xlink:href='%23J'/%3E%3Cuse fill='url(%23G)' xlink:href='%23J'/%3E%3C/svg%3E)
- ![Firefox: 125.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' width='24' height='24' viewBox='0 0 512 512'%3E%3Cdefs%3E%3CradialGradient id='ff-b' cx='428.5' cy='55.1' r='501' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse'%3E%3Cstop offset='.1' stop-color='%23ffbd4f'/%3E%3Cstop offset='.2' stop-color='%23ffac31'/%3E%3Cstop offset='.3' stop-color='%23ff9d17'/%3E%3Cstop offset='.3' stop-color='%23ff980e'/%3E%3Cstop offset='.4' stop-color='%23ff563b'/%3E%3Cstop offset='.5' stop-color='%23ff3750'/%3E%3Cstop offset='.7' stop-color='%23f5156c'/%3E%3Cstop offset='.8' stop-color='%23eb0878'/%3E%3Cstop offset='.9' stop-color='%23e50080'/%3E%3C/radialGradient%3E%3CradialGradient id='ff-c' cx='245.4' cy='259.9' r='501' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse'%3E%3Cstop offset='.3' stop-color='%23960e18'/%3E%3Cstop offset='.3' stop-color='%23b11927' stop-opacity='.7'/%3E%3Cstop offset='.4' stop-color='%23db293d' stop-opacity='.3'/%3E%3Cstop offset='.5' stop-color='%23f5334b' stop-opacity='.1'/%3E%3Cstop 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- ![Safari: 17.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' xmlns:xlink='http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink' width='24' height='24' viewBox='195 190 135 135'%3E%3Cdefs%3E%3ClinearGradient id='s-a' x1='132.6' x2='134.4' y1='111.7' y2='-105.3' xlink:href='%23s-b'%3E%3Cstop offset='0' stop-color='%23d2d2d2' /%3E%3Cstop offset='.5' stop-color='%23f2f2f2' /%3E%3Cstop offset='1' stop-color='%23fff' /%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3ClinearGradient id='s-b' gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse' /%3E%3ClinearGradient id='s-c' x1='65.4' x2='67.4' y1='115.7' y2='17.1' xlink:href='%23s-b'%3E%3Cstop offset='0' stop-color='%23005ad5' /%3E%3Cstop offset='.2' stop-color='%230875f0' /%3E%3Cstop offset='.3' stop-color='%23218cee' /%3E%3Cstop offset='.6' stop-color='%2327a5f3' /%3E%3Cstop offset='.8' stop-color='%2325aaf2' /%3E%3Cstop offset='1' stop-color='%2321aaef' /%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3ClinearGradient id='s-d' x1='158.7' x2='176.3' y1='96.7' y2='79.5' xlink:href='%23s-b'%3E%3Cstop offset='0' stop-color='%23c72e24' /%3E%3Cstop offset='1' stop-color='%23fd3b2f' /%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3CradialGradient id='s-i' cx='-69.9' cy='69.3' r='54' gradientTransform='matrix(.9 -.01 .04 2.72 -9 -120)' xlink:href='%23s-b'%3E%3Cstop offset='0' stop-color='%2324a5f3' stop-opacity='0' /%3E%3Cstop offset='1' stop-color='%231e8ceb' /%3E%3C/radialGradient%3E%3CradialGradient id='s-j' cx='109.3' cy='13.8' r='93.1' gradientTransform='matrix(-.02 1.1 -1.04 -.02 137 -115)' xlink:href='%23s-b'%3E%3Cstop offset='0' stop-opacity='0' /%3E%3Cstop offset='1' stop-color='%235488d6' stop-opacity='0' /%3E%3Cstop offset='1' stop-color='%235d96eb' /%3E%3C/radialGradient%3E%3C/defs%3E%3Crect width='220' height='220' x='22' y='-107' fill='url(%23s-a)' ry='49' transform='matrix(.57 0 0 .57 187 256)' /%3E%3Cg transform='translate(194 190)'%3E%3Ccircle cx='67.8' cy='67.7' fill='url(%23s-c)' paint-order='stroke fill markers' r='54' /%3E%3Ccircle cx='-69.9' cy='69.3' fill='url(%23s-i)' transform='translate(138 -2)' r='54' /%3E%3C/g%3E%3Cellipse cx='120' cy='14.2' fill='url(%23s-j)' rx='93.1' ry='93.7' transform='matrix(.58 0 0 .58 192 250)' /%3E%3Cg transform='matrix(.58 0 0 .57 197 182)'%3E%3Cpath fill='%23cac7c8' d='M46 192h1l72-48-7-9-66 57Z' /%3E%3Cpath fill='%23fbfffc' d='M46 191v1l66-57-7-9-59 65Z' /%3E%3Cpath fill='url(%23s-d)' d='m119 144-7-9 66-57-59 66Z' /%3E%3Cpath fill='%23fb645c' d='m105 126 7 9 66-57-1-1-72 49Z' /%3E%3C/g%3E%3Cpath stroke='%23fff' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-miterlimit='1' stroke-width='1.3' d='m287 278 3-2m-12-17 8-2m-8-3h4m-4-13 8 2m-8 3h4m-1-13 7 3m-4-11 7 4m-2-11 6 6m0-12 6 7m1-11 4 6m4-10 3 7m5-9 2 7m15-7-1 7m10-5-3 7m11-4-4 7m11-2-5 6m16 7-7 4m10 4-7 3m10 6-8 1m8 16-8-2m5 10-7-3m4 11-7-4m2 11-6-5m0 11-5-6m-2 11-4-7m-4 11-3-8m-6 10-1-8m-16 8 2-8m-10 5 3-7m-11 4 4-7m-11 2 5-6m-8 3 3-3m4 8 2-3m5 8 2-4m6 7 1-4m8 5v-4m8 4v-4m9 3-1-4m9 1-2-4m9 0-2-4m9-2-3-3m8-4-3-2m8-5-4-2m7-6-4-1m5-8h-4m4-8h-4m3-9-4 1m1-9-4 2m-1-9-3 2m-2-9-3 3m-4-8-2 3m-5-8-2 4m-6-6-1 3m-8-5v4m-8-4v4m-9-2 1 3m-9 0 2 3m-9 1 2 3m-9 2 3 3m-8 4 3 2m-8 5 4 2m-7 6 4 1m-4 25 4-1m-2 5 7-3m-6 7 4-2m-2 6 7-4m-13-21h8m41-41v-8m0 99v-8m49-42h-8' transform='translate(-65 8)' /%3E%3C/svg%3E)

[Source](https://developer.mozilla.org/docs/Web/HTML/Reference/Global_attributes/popover)

<br />

Rather than managing all of the complexity yourself, you can let the browser handle it with the [`popover` attribute](https://developer.mozilla.org/docs/Web/HTML/Global_attributes/popover) and subsequent set of features. HTML popovers support:

- **Promotion to the top layer.** Popovers will appear on a [separate layer](https://developer.chrome.com/blog/what-is-the-top-layer) above the rest of the page, so you don't have to futz around with z-index.
- **Light-dismiss functionality.** Clicking outside of the popover area will close the popover and return focus.
- **Default focus management.** Opening the popover makes the next tab stop inside the popover.
- **Accessible keyboard bindings.** Hitting the `esc` key will close the popover and return focus.
- **Accessible component bindings.** Connecting a popover element to a popover trigger semantically.

You can now build popovers with all of these features without using JavaScript. A basic popover requires three things:

- A `popover` attribute on the element containing the popover.
- An `id` on the element containing the popover.
- A `popovertarget` attribute on a `<button>` (or button type like `<input type="button" />`). The attribute has a value that matches the `id` on the element containing the popover to be opened by this button.

    <button popovertarget="my-popover"> Open Popover </button>

    <div id="my-popover" popover>
      <p>I am a popover with more information.</p>
    </div>

Now you have a fully-functional basic popover.
<iframe allow="camera; clipboard-read; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; geolocation; microphone; midi;" loading="lazy" src="https://codepen.io/web-dot-dev/embed/poxQPWP?height=300&amp;theme-id=light&amp;default-tab=result&amp;editable=true" style="height: 100%; width: 100%; border: 0;" title="Pen poxQPWP by web-dot-dev on Codepen">See the Pen &amp;amp;lt;a href="https://codepen.io/web-dot-dev/embed/poxQPWP"&amp;amp;gt;Pen poxQPWP by web-dot-dev on Codepen&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;</iframe>

This popover could be used to convey additional information or as a disclosure widget.

## Defaults and overrides

By default, such as in the previous code snippet, setting up a popover with a `popovertarget` means the button that opens the popover will toggle it open and closed. However, you can also create explicit popovers using `popovertargetaction`. This overrides the default *toggle* action. `popovertargetaction` options include:

`popovertargetaction="show"`: Shows the popover.
`popovertargetaction="hide"`: Hides the popover.

Using `popovertargetaction="hide"`, you can create a "close" button within a popover, as in the following snippet:

    <button popovertarget="my-popover" popovertargetaction="hide">
        <span aria-hidden="true">❌</span>
        <span class="sr-only">Close</span>
    </button>

<iframe allow="camera; clipboard-read; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; geolocation; microphone; midi;" loading="lazy" src="https://codepen.io/web-dot-dev/embed/OJBamvM?height=300&amp;theme-id=light&amp;default-tab=result&amp;editable=true" style="height: 100%; width: 100%; border: 0;" title="Pen OJBamvM by web-dot-dev on Codepen">See the Pen &amp;amp;lt;a href="https://codepen.io/web-dot-dev/embed/OJBamvM"&amp;amp;gt;Pen OJBamvM by web-dot-dev on Codepen&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;</iframe>

## Auto versus manual popovers

Using the `popover` attribute on its own is actually a shortcut for `popover="auto"`. When opened, the default `popover` will force close other auto popovers, except for ancestor popovers. It can be dismissed via light-dismiss or a close button.

On the other hand, setting `popover=manual` creates another type of popover: a manual popover. These do not force close any other element type and do not close via light-dismiss. You must close them via a timer or explicit close action. Types of popovers appropriate for `popover=manual` are elements which appear and disappear, but shouldn't affect the rest of the page, such as a toast notification.
<iframe allow="camera; clipboard-read; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; geolocation; microphone; midi;" loading="lazy" src="https://codepen.io/web-dot-dev/embed/mdzpGwq?height=300&amp;theme-id=light&amp;default-tab=result&amp;editable=true" style="height: 100%; width: 100%; border: 0;" title="Pen mdzpGwq by web-dot-dev on Codepen">See the Pen &amp;amp;lt;a href="https://codepen.io/web-dot-dev/embed/mdzpGwq"&amp;amp;gt;Pen mdzpGwq by web-dot-dev on Codepen&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;</iframe>

If you explore the demo above, you can see that clicking outside of the popover area doesn't light-dismiss the popover. Additionally, if there were other popovers open, they wouldn't close.

To review the differences:

Popovers with `popover=auto`:

- When opened, force-close other popovers.
- Can light-dismiss.

Popovers with `popover=manual`:

- Do not force close any other element type.
- Do not light-dismiss. Close them using a toggle or close action.

### Styling popovers

So far you've learned about basic popovers in HTML. But there are also some nice styling features that come with `popover`. One of those is the ability to style `::backdrop`.

In `auto` popovers, this is a layer directly beneath the top layer (where the popover lives), which sits above the rest of the page. In the following example, the `::backdrop` is given a semi-transparent color:

    #size-guide::backdrop {
      background: rgb(190 190 190 / 50%);
    }

<iframe allow="camera; clipboard-read; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; geolocation; microphone; midi;" loading="lazy" src="https://codepen.io/web-dot-dev/embed/jOeKzpb?height=700&amp;theme-id=light&amp;default-tab=result&amp;editable=true" style="height: 100%; width: 100%; border: 0;" title="Pen jOeKzpb by web-dot-dev on Codepen">See the Pen &amp;amp;lt;a href="https://codepen.io/web-dot-dev/embed/jOeKzpb"&amp;amp;gt;Pen jOeKzpb by web-dot-dev on Codepen&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;</iframe>

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** By default, popovers get a 2px border and are positioned in the center of the UI, but they are fully customizable! You can style a popover just like any other HTML element: you can change its size, background, position on the page, and so on.

## The difference between a `popover` and a `dialog`

It's important to note that the `popover` attribute does not provide semantics on its own. And while you can now build modal dialog-like experiences using `popover="auto"`, there are a few key differences between the two:

A `dialog` element opened with `dialog.showModal` (a modal dialog), is an experience which requires explicit user interaction to close the modal.
A `popover` supports light-dismiss. A modal `dialog` does not.
A modal dialog [makes the rest of the page inert](https://developer.chrome.com/articles/inert). A `popover` does not.
<iframe allow="camera; clipboard-read; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; geolocation; microphone; midi;" loading="lazy" src="https://codepen.io/web-dot-dev/embed/BaqVrxg?height=600&amp;theme-id=light&amp;default-tab=result&amp;editable=true" style="height: 100%; width: 100%; border: 0;" title="Pen BaqVrxg by web-dot-dev on Codepen">See the Pen &amp;amp;lt;a href="https://codepen.io/web-dot-dev/embed/BaqVrxg"&amp;amp;gt;Pen BaqVrxg by web-dot-dev on Codepen&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;</iframe>

The above demo is a semantic dialog with popover behavior. This means that the rest of the page is not inert and that the dialog popover does get light-dismiss behavior. You can build this dialog with popover behavior using the following code:

    <button popovertarget="candle-01">
      Quick Shop
    </button>
    <dialog popover id="candle-01">
      <button class="close-btn" popovertarget="candle-01" popovertargetaction="hide">...</button>
      <div class="product-preview-container">
        ...
      </div>
    </dialog>

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** The [WhatWG](https://github.com/whatwg/html/issues/3567) and [OpenUI](https://github.com/openui/open-ui/issues/741) community group are currently discussing the ability to open a dialog element with HTML ergonomics. This would be similar to popover, but retain the dialog features listed previously, such as making the rest of the page inert. Watch these groups for the future of `popover`, `dialog`, and new elements like `selectmenu`.

## Coming soon

### Interactive entry and exit

The ability to animate discrete properties, including animating to and from `display: none` and animating to and from the top layer are not yet available in browsers. However, they are planned for an upcoming version of Chromium, closely following this release.

With the ability to animate discrete properties, and using `:popover-open` and `@starting-style`, you'll be able to set up before-change and after-change styles to enable smooth transitions when opening and closing popovers. Take the previous example. Animating it in and out looks much smoother and supports a more fluid user experience:
<iframe allow="camera; clipboard-read; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; geolocation; microphone; midi;" loading="lazy" src="https://codepen.io/web-dot-dev/embed/OJBoLNb?height=600&amp;theme-id=light&amp;default-tab=result&amp;editable=true" style="height: 100%; width: 100%; border: 0;" title="Pen OJBoLNb by web-dot-dev on Codepen">See the Pen &amp;amp;lt;a href="https://codepen.io/web-dot-dev/embed/OJBoLNb"&amp;amp;gt;Pen OJBoLNb by web-dot-dev on Codepen&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;</iframe>

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** The implementation for this is currently in flux, but click through to the codepen demo for the latest syntax and try it out with the *#experimental-web-platform-features* flag turned on in Chrome Canary.

### Anchor positioning

Popovers are great when you want to position an alert, modal, or notification based on the viewport. But popovers are also useful for menus, tooltips, and other elements that need to be positioned relative to other elements. This is where CSS anchoring comes in.

The following radial menu demo uses the popover API along with [CSS anchor positioning](https://developer.chrome.com/blog/tether-elements-to-each-other-with-css-anchor-positioning) to ensure that the popover `#menu-items` is always anchored to its toggle trigger, the `#menu-toggle` button.

Setting up anchors is similar to setting up popovers:

    <button id="menu-toggle" popovertarget="menu-items">
      Open Menu
    </button>
    <ul id="menu-items" popover anchor="menu-toggle">
      <li class="item">...</li>
      <li class="item">...</li>
    </ul>

You set up an anchor by giving it an `id` (in this example, `#menu-toggle`), and then use `anchor="menu-toggle"` to connect the two elements. Now, you can use `anchor()` to style the popover. A centered popover menu that is anchored to the baseline of the anchor toggle might be styled as follows:

    #menu-items {
      bottom: anchor(bottom);
      left: anchor(center);
      translate: -50% 0;
    }

<iframe allow="camera; clipboard-read; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; geolocation; microphone; midi;" loading="lazy" src="https://codepen.io/web-dot-dev/embed/XWxPBdr?height=500&amp;theme-id=light&amp;default-tab=result&amp;editable=true" style="height: 100%; width: 100%; border: 0;" title="Pen XWxPBdr by web-dot-dev on Codepen">See the Pen &amp;amp;lt;a href="https://codepen.io/web-dot-dev/embed/XWxPBdr"&amp;amp;gt;Pen XWxPBdr by web-dot-dev on Codepen&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;</iframe>

Now you have a fully-functional popover menu that is anchored to the toggle button and has all of the built-in features of popover, no JavaScript required!

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** There are even more exciting new features of CSS anchoring, such as `@try` statements to swap the position of the menu based on its available viewport space. This implementation is subject to chance. Explore the Codepen demo above with the *#experimental-web-platform-features* flag turned on in Chrome Canary for more.

## Conclusion

The popover API is the first step in a series of new capabilities to make building web applications easier to manage and more accessible by default. I'm excited to see how you use popovers!

### Additional Reading

- [Dialogs and popovers seem similar. How are they different?](https://hidde.blog/dialog-modal-popover-differences/)
- [Semantics and the popover attribute](https://hidde.blog/popover-semantics/)
- [MDN documentation on popover](https://developer.mozilla.org/docs/Web/API/Popover_API)
- [OpenUI popover explainer](https://open-ui.org/components/popover.research.explainer/)