# event.preventDefault()

Categories: Events > Event Object

## event.preventDefault() Returns: undefined

Description: If this method is called, the default action of the event will not be triggered.

- #### version added: 1.0event.preventDefault()

For example, clicked anchors will not take the browser to a new URL. We can use `event.isDefaultPrevented()` to determine if this method has been called by an event handler that was triggered by this event.

### Example:

#### Cancel the default action (navigation) of the click.

    <!DOCTYPE html>
    <html>
    <head>
      <script src="http://code.jquery.com/jquery-1.7rc2.js"></script>
    </head>
    <body>

    <a href="http://jquery.com">default click action is prevented</a>
    <div id="log"></div>

    <script>
    $("a").click(function(event) {
      event.preventDefault();
      $('<div/>')
        .append('default ' + event.type + ' prevented')
        .appendTo('#log');
    });
    </script>

    </body>
    </html>

#### Demo: