In JavaScript, the obsolete mousewheel event fired while a mouse wheel or similar device was operated (MDN). It was never part of any standard and was never implemented by Firefox. Prefer wheel.
Register a listener with addEventListener. Check readiness and browser support before you rely on this event.
Syntax
Listen for mousewheel. Start with this line.
JavaScript
addEventListener("mousewheel", fn)
Call
What it does
addEventListener("mousewheel", fn)
Primary signature.
Built into the browser. Listen with el.addEventListener("mousewheel", …) — no import required.
Library declarations
JavaScript
addEventListener("mousewheel", fn)
Parameters
Parameter
Description
Handler prop
Optional. onmousewheel
Return Value
Return Value
Description
*
Fires as an Element event (listener receives the Event object).
JavaScript Examples
Example 1 — Legacy mousewheel Log
Study-only: see if the obsolete event fires in your browser.
JavaScript
const stage = document.getElementById("stage");
stage.addEventListener("mousewheel", () => {
console.log("mousewheel fired (legacy)");
});
// May stay silent in Firefox (MDN)
Feature-detect."onwheel" in window picks the modern path.
Normalize roughly. Legacy wheelDelta often has the opposite sign of deltaY.
Do not over-trust. Exact amounts still vary — keep logic tolerant.
Default today. Almost all student browsers take the wheel branch.
Compatibility
Browser Support
Elementmousewheel is Deprecated and Non-standard on MDN. It was never standardized and was never implemented by Firefox. Do not add it to new code — migrate to wheel.
✓ Deprecated · Non-standard
Element mousewheel
Obsolete legacy wheel event. Prefer the standard wheel event with deltaX / deltaY.
LegacyDeprecated
Google ChromeSupported · Desktop & Mobile
Full support
Mozilla FirefoxSupported · Desktop & Mobile
Full support
Apple SafariSupported · macOS & iOS
Full support
Microsoft EdgeSupported · Chromium
Full support
Internet ExplorerNo native support · Use a polyfill
Polyfill
OperaSupported · Modern versions
Full support
Samsung InternetSupported · Android
Full support
Android WebViewSupported · Modern WebView
Full support
mousewheelAvoid
Bottom line: Historical Chromium/Safari/IE only. Firefox never shipped it. Use wheel for portable apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is an obsolete, non-standard event that fired while a mouse wheel or similar device was operated. MDN marks it Deprecated and Non-standard. Prefer the standard wheel event instead.
No. Use addEventListener("wheel", …) with WheelEvent.deltaX / deltaY / deltaMode. mousewheel was never standardized and was never implemented by Firefox.
No. wheel is the standard DOM event. mousewheel is a legacy, non-standard name with inconsistent wheelDelta values across browsers and operating systems.
Historically Chromium-based browsers, Safari, Opera, and Internet Explorer shipped it. Firefox never implemented mousewheel. Do not rely on it for new code.
A WheelEvent (inherits from MouseEvent, UIEvent, and Event). Legacy code often reads wheelDelta / wheelDeltaX / wheelDeltaY.
Replace "mousewheel" listeners with "wheel". Prefer deltaY (and deltaX) over wheelDelta. Test trackpads and mice, and avoid assuming a fixed ±120 notch size.