HTML DOM Element closest() Method

Find the closest element that matches the CSS selector ".container":

const element = document.getElementById("myElement");
const closest = element.closest(".container");

Find the closest element that matches ".container" or ".wrapper":

const element = document.getElementById(".container, .wrapper");
const closest = element.closest(".container");

Description

The closest() method searches up the DOM tree for elements which matches a specified CSS selector.

The closest() method starts at the element itself, then the anchestors (parent, grandparent, ...) until a match is found.

The closest() method returns null() if no match is found.

element.closest(selectors)

Parameter	Description
selectors	Required. One or more (comma separeted) CSS selectors to match. See our Complete CSS Selectors Reference.

Type	Description
Object	The closest ancestor element, or the element itself, that matches the specified CSS selector(s). If no matches are found, `null` is returned. Throws a SYNTAX_ERR exception if the selector(s) is invalid.

The first browser versions that fully support the closest() method:


Chrome 41	Edge 15	Firefox 35	Safari 9	Opera 28
Mar 2015	Apr 2017	Jan 2015	Oct 2015	Mar 2015