DataTransfer.types

The DataTransfer.types read-only property is an array of the drag data formats (as strings) that were set in the dragstart event. The order of the formats is the same order as the data included in the drag operation.

The formats are Unicode strings giving the type or format of the data, generally given by a MIME type. Some values that are not MIME types are special-cased for legacy reasons (for example "text").

Syntax

JavaScript
<var>dataTransfer</var>.types;

Return value

An array of the data formats used in the drag operation. Each format is string. If the drag operation included no data, this list will be empty. If any files are included in the drag operation, then one of the types will be the string Files.

Example

This example shows the use of the types and items properties.

JavaScript
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang=en>
<title>Examples of DataTransfer.{types,items} properties</title>
<meta content="width=device-width">
<style>
  div {
    margin: 0em;
    padding: 2em;
  }
  #target {
    border: 1px solid black;
  }
</style>
<script>
function dragstart_handler(ev) {
 console.log("dragStart: target.id = " + ev.target.id);
 // Add this element's id to the drag payload so the drop handler will
 // know which element to add to its tree
 ev.dataTransfer.setData("text/plain", ev.target.id);
 ev.dataTransfer.effectAllowed = "move";
}

function drop_handler(ev) {
 console.log("drop: target.id = " + ev.target.id);
 ev.preventDefault();
 // Get the id of the target and add the moved element to the target's DOM
 var data = ev.dataTransfer.getData("text");
 ev.target.appendChild(document.getElementById(data));
 // Print each format type
 if (ev.dataTransfer.types != null) {
   for (var i=0; i < ev.dataTransfer.types.length; i++) {
     console.log("... types[" + i + "] = " + ev.dataTransfer.types[i]);
   }
 }
 // Print each item's "kind" and "type"
 if (ev.dataTransfer.items != null) {
   for (var i=0; i < ev.dataTransfer.items.length; i++) {
     console.log("... items[" + i + "].kind = " + ev.dataTransfer.items[i].kind + " ; type = " + ev.dataTransfer.items[i].type);
   }
 }
}

function dragover_handler(ev) {
 console.log("dragOver");
 ev.preventDefault();
 // Set the dropEffect to move
 ev.dataTransfer.dropEffect = "move"
}
</script>
<body>
<h1>Examples of <code>DataTransfer</code>.{<code>types</code>, <code>items</code>} properties</h1>
 <ul>
   <li id="i1" ondragstart="dragstart_handler(event);" draggable="true">Drag Item 1 to the Drop Zone</li>
   <li id="i2" ondragstart="dragstart_handler(event);" draggable="true">Drag Item 2 to the Drop Zone</li>
 </ul>
 <div id="target" ondrop="drop_handler(event);" ondragover="dragover_handler(event);">Drop Zone</div>
</body>
</html>

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
WHATWG HTML Living Standard
The definition of 'types' in that specification.
Living Standard  
HTML5.1
The definition of 'types' in that specification.
Working Draft Initial definition

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari (WebKit)
Basic support 4 3.5 10 12 3.1
Feature Android Android Webview Chrome for Android Firefox Mobile (Gecko) Firefox OS IE Mobile Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support No support No support No support No support No support 10 No support No support

See also

License

© 2016 Mozilla Contributors
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-us/docs/web/api/datatransfer/types

API drag and drop HTML DOM Property Reference