<shadow>

Obsolete
This feature is obsolete. Although it may still work in some browsers, its use is discouraged since it could be removed at any time. Try to avoid using it.

The HTML <shadow> element—an obsolete part of the Web Components technology suite—was intended to be used as a shadow DOM insertion point. You might have used it if you have created multiple shadow roots under a shadow host. It is not useful in ordinary HTML.

Content categories Transparent content.
Permitted content Flow content.
Tag omission None, both the starting and ending tag are mandatory.
Permitted parents Any element that accepts flow content.
Permitted ARIA roles None
DOM interface HTMLShadowElement

Attributes

This element includes the global attributes.

Example

Here is a simple example of using the <shadow> element. It is an HTML file with everything needed in it.

Note: This is an experimental technology. For this code to work, the browser you display it in must support Web Components. See Enabling Web Components in Firefox.

<html>
  <head></head>
  <body>
  <!-- This <div> will hold the shadow roots. -->
  <div>
    <!-- This heading will not be displayed -->
    <h4>My Original Heading</h4>
  </div>
  <script>
    // Get the <div> above with its content
    var origContent = document.querySelector('div');
    // Create the first shadow root
    var shadowroot1 = origContent.createShadowRoot();
    // Create the second shadow root
    var shadowroot2 = origContent.createShadowRoot();
    // Insert something into the older shadow root
    shadowroot1.innerHTML =
      '<p>Older shadow root inserted by
          &lt;shadow&gt;</p>';
    // Insert into younger shadow root, including <shadow>.
    // The previous markup will not be displayed unless
    // <shadow> is used below.
    shadowroot2.innerHTML =
      '<shadow></shadow> <p>Younger shadow
       root, displayed because it is the youngest.</p>';
  </script>
  </body>
</html>

If you display this in a web browser it should look like the following.

shadow example

Specifications

This element is no longer defined by any specifications.

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari (WebKit)
Basic support 35 28 (28)[1] No support 26 No support
Feature Android Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Phone Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support 37 28.0 (28)[1] No support ? ?

[1] If Shadow DOM is not enabled in Firefox, <shadow> elements will behave like HTMLUnknownElement. Shadow DOM was first implemented in Firefox 33 and is behind a preference, dom.webcomponents.enabled, which is disabled by default.

See also

Document Tags and Contributors

 Contributors to this page: DomenicDenicola, Sheppy, sideshowbarker, Sebastianz, m32po, markg, webours
 Last updated by: DomenicDenicola,