What is the purpose of the HTML “no-js” class?

534
votes

I notice that in a lot of template engines, in the HTML5 Boilerplate, in various frameworks and in plain php sites there is the no-js class added onto the <HTML> tag.

Why is this done? Is there some sort of default browser behavior that reacts to this class? Why include it always? Does that not render the class itself obsolete, if there is no no-"no-js" case and html can be addressed directly?

Here is an example from the HTML5 Boilerplate index.html:

<!--[if lt IE 7 ]> <html lang="en" class="no-js ie6"> <![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 7 ]>    <html lang="en" class="no-js ie7"> <![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 8 ]>    <html lang="en" class="no-js ie8"> <![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 9 ]>    <html lang="en" class="no-js ie9"> <![endif]-->
<!--[if (gt IE 9)|!(IE)]><!--> <html lang="en" class="no-js"> <!--<![endif]-->

As you can see, the <html> element will always have this class. Can someone explain why this is done so often?

7
javascripthtmlmodernizrhtml5boilerplate

7 Answers

514
votes

When Modernizr runs, it removes the "no-js" class and replaces it with "js". This is a way to apply different CSS rules depending on whether or not Javascript support is enabled.

See Modernizer's source code.

116
votes

The no-js class is used by the Modernizr feature detection library. When Modernizr loads, it replaces no-js with js. If JavaScript is disabled, the class remains. This allows you to write CSS which easily targets either condition.

From Modernizrs' Anotated Source (no longer maintained):

Remove "no-js" class from element, if it exists: docElement.className=docElement.className.replace(/\bno-js\b/,'') + ' js';

Here is a blog post by Paul Irish describing this approach: http://www.paulirish.com/2009/avoiding-the-fouc-v3/

I like to do this same thing, but without Modernizr. I put the following <script> in the <head> to change the class to js if JavaScript is enabled. I prefer to use .replace("no-js","js") over the regex version because its a bit less cryptic and suits my needs.

<script>
    document.documentElement.className = 
       document.documentElement.className.replace("no-js","js");
</script>

Prior to this technique, I would generally just apply js-dependant styles directly with JavaScript. For example:

$('#someSelector').hide();
$('.otherStuff').css({'color' : 'blue'});

With the no-js trick, this can Now be done with css:

.js #someSelector {display: none;}
.otherStuff { color: blue; }
.no-js .otherStuff { color: green }

This is preferable because:

  • It loads faster with no FOUC (flash of unstyled content)
  • Separation of concerns, etc...
41
votes

Modernizr.js will remove the no-js class.

This allows you to make CSS rules for .no-js something to apply them only if Javascript is disabled.

17
votes

The no-js class gets removed by a javascript script, so you can modify/display/hide things using css if js is disabled.

13
votes

This is not only applicable in Modernizer. I see some site implement like below to check whether it has javascript support or not.

<body class="no-js">
    <script>document.body.classList.remove('no-js');</script>
    ...
</body>

If javascript support is there, then it will remove no-js class. Otherwise no-js will remain in the body tag. Then they control the styles in the css when no javascript support.

.no-js .some-class-name {

}
5
votes

Look at the source code in Modernizer, this section:

// Change `no-js` to `js` (independently of the `enableClasses` option)
// Handle classPrefix on this too
if (Modernizr._config.enableJSClass) {
  var reJS = new RegExp('(^|\\s)' + classPrefix + 'no-js(\\s|$)');
  className = className.replace(reJS, '$1' + classPrefix + 'js$2');
}

So basically it search for classPrefix + no-js class and replace it with classPrefix + js.

And the use of that, is styling differently if JavaScript not running in the browser.

1
votes

The no-js class is used to style a webpage, dependent on whether the user has JS disabled or enabled in the browser.

As per the Modernizr docs:

no-js

By default, Modernizr will rewrite <html class="no-js"> to <html class="js">. This lets hide certain elements that should only be exposed in environments that execute JavaScript. If you want to disable this change, you can set enableJSClass to false in your config.