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setData

Summary

Adds data in a specified format to the DataTransfer object or the ClipboardData object.

Method of dom/DataTransferdom/DataTransfer

Syntax

 event.dataTransfer.setData(format, data);

Parameters

format

Data-type
String

The format of the data to be transferred, using one of the following values (case insensitve):

  • URL
  • Text

data

Data-type
String

Specifies the data supplied by the source object. This information can be descriptive text, a source path to an image, or a URL for an anchor. When you pass “URL” as the format parameter, you must use the data parameter to provide the location of the object that is transferred.

Return Value

No return value

Examples

This example uses the setData method and the getData method with the DataTransfer object to create a shortcut to an image.

<!doctype html>
<html>
 <head>
  <script>
var sImageURL, oTarget, oImage;
function initiateDrag(e) {
/*  The setData parameters tell the source object
   to transfer data as a URL and provide the path.  */
  e.dataTransfer.setData("URL", oImage.src);
}
function finishDrag(e) {
/*  The parameter passed to getData tells the target
    object what data format to expect.  */
  sImageURL = e.dataTransfer.getData("URL");
  oTarget.textContent = sImageURL;
}
function initialize() {
 oImage = document.getElementById("oImage");
 oTarget = document.getElementbyId("oTarget");
 oImage.addEventListener("dragstart", initiateDrag, false);
 oTarget.addEventListener("dragenter", finishDrag, false);
}
window.addEventListener("load", initialize, false);
  </script>
 </head>
 <body>
  <p>This example demonstrates how to use the setData and getData methods of the dataTransfer object to enable the source path of the image to be dragged.</p>
  <img id="oImage" src="/workshop/graphics/black.png" width="20" height="20" alt="Black">
  <span id="oTarget">
    Drop the image here
  </span>
 </body>
</html>

View live example

Related specifications

HTML5
Candidate Recommendation

Attributions