HTMLElement.offsetParent

The HTMLElement.offsetParent read-only property returns a reference to the object which is the closest (nearest in the containment hierarchy) positioned containing element. If the element is non-positioned, the nearest table cell or root element (html in standards compliant mode; body in quirks rendering mode) is the offsetParent. offsetParent returns null when the element has style.display set to "none". The offsetParent is useful because offsetTop and offsetLeft are relative to its padding edge.

Syntax

parentObj = element.offsetParent;

• parentObj is an object reference to the element in which the current element is offset.

Specification

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Object Model (CSSOM) View Module The definition of 'offsetParent' in that specification.	Working Draft

Browser compatibility

In compliance with the specification, this property will return null on Webkit if the element is hidden (the style.display of this element or any ancestor is "none") or if the style.position of the element itself is set to "fixed".

This property will return null on Internet Explorer (9) if the style.position of the element itself is set to "fixed". (Having display:none does not affect this browser.)

See also

• MSDN: offsetParent Property