JavaScript Status Bar Messages

JavaScript can be used to display messages in the status bar using window.status. For example, you can display a javascript status bar message whenever your users hover over your hyperlinks.

Status Bar Example

Hover over me!

To do this, use the following code:

<a href="javascript_status_bar_messages.cfm"
  onMouseover="JavaScript:window.status='Status Bar Message goes here'; return true"
  onMouseout="JavaScript:window.status=''; return true">Hover over me!</a>

You may have noticed that I specified the onMouseout to restore the status bar to nothing when the user hovers away from the link.

Example Doesn't Work for You?

Most (newer) major browsers disable status bar messages by default. If your status bar doesn't change when you hover over the link, it's probably because of this.

If you really want to see this example, you can enable status bar messages by changing your browser settings.

For example, in Firefox:

1. Go to Tools > Options
2. Click the Content tab
3. Ensure that the JavaScript option is checked
4. Click Advanced (next to the Enable JavaScript option)
5. Check the Change status bar text option
6. Click OK to save this screen
7. Click OK again

In Internet Explorer:

1. Go to Tools > Internet Options
2. Click the Security tab
3. Ensure that the Internet option is selected/highlighted
4. Click Custom Level... (this launches the security settings for the Internet zone)
5. Scroll down until you see Allow status bar updates via script (under the Scripting option). Click Enable
6. Click OK to save this screen
7. Click OK again

Note that, because this is the default setting in most browsers, there's a good chance that most of your users won't see your status bar message.