used to specify that the handler should be called in the capture phase instead of the bubbling phase. This model is supported by Mozilla, Opera, Safari, Chrome and Konqueror. A rewrite of the example used in the traditional model <!doctype html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <title>DOM Level 2</title> </head> <body> <h1>DOM Level 2</h1> <p>Hey Joe!</p> <script> var heyJoe = function () { window.alert("Hey Joe!"); } // Add an event handler document.addEventListener( "click", heyJoe, true ); // capture phase // Add another event handler window.addEventListener( "load", heyJoe, false ); // bubbling phase // Remove the event handler just added window.removeEventListener( "load", heyJoe, false ); </script> </body> </html> Internet Explorer-specific model Microsoft Internet Explorer prior to version 8 does not follow the W3C model, as its own model was created prior to the ratification of the W3C standard. Internet Explorer 9 follows DOM level 3 events, and Internet Explorer 11 deletes its support for Microsoft-specific model. Some useful things to know : To prevent an event bubbling, developers must set the event's cancelBubble property. To prevent the default action of the event to be called, developers must set the event's returnValue property. The this keyword refers to the global window object. Again, this model differs from the traditional model in that multiple event handlers can be registered for the same event. However the useCapture option can not be used to specify that the handler should be called in the capture phase. This model is supported by Microsoft Internet Explorer and Trident based browsers (e.g. Maxthon, Avant Browser). A rewrite of the example used in the old Internet Explorer-specific model <!doctype html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <title>Internet Explorer-specific model</title> </head> <body> <h1>Internet Explorer-specific model</h1> <p>Hey Joe!</p> <script> var heyJoe = function () { window.alert("Hey Joe!"); } // Add an event handler document.attachEvent("onclick", heyJoe); // Add another event handler window.attachEvent("onload", heyJoe); // Remove the event handler just added window.detachEvent("onload", heyJoe); </script> </body> </html> References Deitel, Harvey. (2002). Internet and World Wide Web: how to program (Second Edition). The Mozilla Organization. (2009). DOM Event Reference. Retrieved August 25, 2009. Quirksmode (2008). Event compatibility tables. Retrieved November 27, 2008. http://www.sitepen.com/blog/2008/07/10/touching-and-gesturing-on-the-iphone/ External links Document Object Model (DOM) Level 2 Events Specification Document Object Model (DOM) Level 3 Events Working Draft DOM4: Events (Editor's Draft) UI Events Working Draft Pointer Events W3C Candidate Recommendation MSDN PointerEvent domevents.dev - A visualizer to learn about DOM Events through