Interface Core A1 · Official standard

Popover

A popover is a small panel attached to the control that opened it. It can hold structured content and actions without blocking the page.

Try an example
You might call it pop-overanchored panel

Try an example

Popoverpopover attribute / Popover

A real example

Select an avatar to open a small profile. It shows the person's role, contact details, and a Follow action.

Main parts

  1. 01Trigger
  2. 02Anchored or modal surface
  3. 03Focus boundary
  4. 04Dismiss path

Use it when

Use it when the content belongs beside its trigger and people can keep using the page.

Do not use it when

Never use it for a short label-only hint. Use a tooltip instead.

Name used in code

popover attribute / Popover

Before you ship

Move focus on purpose. Keep it inside only when the overlay blocks the page. Support Escape and a visible close button, then return focus to the opener. Keep entered data and check small-screen, loading, and failure states.

Request you can copy

Outcome: Use Popover to solve this user need without losing the current context. User context: Select an avatar to open a small profile. It shows the person's role, contact details, and a Follow action. Recommended pattern: Popover. Why it fits: Use it when the content belongs beside its trigger and people can keep using the page. Do not use it when: Never use it for a short label-only hint. Use a tooltip instead. Product requirements: Define the default, loading, empty, error, success, and recovery states. Keep user input. Give clear feedback after every action. Accessibility and resilience: Use semantic HTML, full keyboard access, and visible focus. Make the layout work when zoomed and support reduced motion. Follow the project’s current rules. Do not add a new UI library unless the project already uses it. Acceptance criteria: The main task works with keyboard only and at 320px width. Focus and status changes are announced. Check loading, failure, retry, cancel, and reduced-motion paths. Evidence and limits (evidence boundary): The standard covers only the listed scope. It does not choose the visual style, product decision, or Vibulary example. Unknowns to confirm: Product wording, data source, analytics events, supported devices and languages, and platform limits.

Check this request

Review the current use of Popover. Definition: A popover is a small panel attached to the control that opened it. It can hold structured content and actions without blocking the page. Release checks: Move focus on purpose. Keep it inside only when the overlay blocks the page. Support Escape and a visible close button, then return focus to the opener. Keep entered data and check small-screen, loading, and failure states. Before changing code, report the evidence you found, gaps, severity, and the smallest safe fix.

A1
How official is this term?

Official standard

A named standard sets the rules described on this page.

The standard covers only the listed scope. It does not choose the visual style, product decision, or Vibulary example.

Scope
HTML popover behavior
Document status
living standard
Checked on
2026-07-30

Evidence sources & scope

Authority source + Term reference · WHATWG · living standard HTML Living Standard — The popover attribute The popover attribute Scope: Web platform; direct scope: The popover attribute Role here: Direct term reference Source covers: canonical name, definition, semantics, implementation Authority source · WHATWG · living standard HTML Living Standard Scope: Web platform Role here: Authority within stated scope Source covers: canonical name, definition, semantics, implementation

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