event.preventDefault()

event.preventDefault() Returns: undefined

Description: If this method is called, the default action of the event will not be triggered.

  • version added: 1.0event.preventDefault()

For example, clicked anchors will not take the browser to a new URL. We can use event.isDefaultPrevented() to determine if this method has been called by an event handler that was triggered by this event.

Example:

Cancel the default action (navigation) of the click.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-latest.js"></script>
</head>
<body>

<a href="https://jquery.com">default click action is prevented</a>
<div id="log"></div>

<script>
$("a").click(function(event) {
  event.preventDefault();
  $('<div/>')
    .append('default ' + event.type + ' prevented')
    .appendTo('#log');
});
</script>
</body>
</html>

Demo: