EyeDropper

Secure context: This feature is available only in secure contexts (HTTPS), in some or all supporting browsers.

Experimental: This is an experimental technology
Check the Browser compatibility table carefully before using this in production.

The EyeDropper interface represents an instance of an eyedropper tool that can be opened and used by the user to select colors from the screen.

Constructor

EyeDropper(): Returns a new EyeDropper instance.

Methods

The EyeDropper interface doesn't inherit any methods.

EyeDropper.prototype.open(): Returns a promise that resolves to an object that gives access to the selected color.

Examples

Opening the eyedropper tool and sampling a color

This example shows how to open an eyedropper tool and wait for the user to either select a pixel from the screen, or press Escape to cancel the eyedropper mode.

HTML

<button id="start-button">Open the eyedropper</button>
<span id="result"></span>

JavaScript

document.getElementById('start-button').addEventListener('click', () => {
  const resultElement = document.getElementById('result');

  if (!window.EyeDropper) {
    resultElement.textContent = 'Your browser does not support the EyeDropper API';
    return;
  }

  const eyeDropper = new EyeDropper();

  eyeDropper.open().then(result => {
    resultElement.textContent = result.sRGBHex;
    resultElement.style.backgroundColor = result.sRGBHex;
  }).catch(e => {
    resultElement.textContent = e;
  });
});

Result

Aborting the eyedropper mode

This example shows that the eyedropper mode can also be aborted before the user has selected a color or pressed Escape.

HTML

<button id="start-button">Open the eyedropper</button>
<span id="result"></span>

JavaScript

document.getElementById('start-button').addEventListener('click', () => {
  const resultElement = document.getElementById('result');

  if (!window.EyeDropper) {
    resultElement.textContent = 'Your browser does not support the EyeDropper API';
    return;
  }

  const eyeDropper = new EyeDropper();
  const abortController = new AbortController();

  eyeDropper.open({ signal: abortController.signal }).then(result => {
    resultElement.textContent = result.sRGBHex;
    resultElement.style.backgroundColor = result.sRGBHex;
  }).catch(e => {
    resultElement.textContent = e;
  });

  setTimeout(() => {
    abortController.abort();
  }, 2000);
});

Result

Specifications

Specification
EyeDropper API # eyedropper-interface

Browser compatibility

BCD tables only load in the browser