Question

While using PhoneGap, it has some default JavaScript code that uses document.addEventListener, but I have my own code which uses window.addEventListener:

function onBodyLoad(){
  document.addEventListener("deviceready", onDeviceReady, false);
  document.addEventListener("touchmove", preventBehavior, false);
  
  window.addEventListener('shake', shakeEventDidOccur, false);
}

What is the difference and which is better to use?

Answer 1

The document and window are different objects and they have some different events. Using addEventListener() on them listens to events destined for a different object. You should use the one that actually has the event you are interested in.

For example, there is a "resize" event on the window object that is not on the document object.

For example, the "readystatechange" event is only on the document object.

So basically, you need to know which object receives the event you are interested in and use .addEventListener() on that particular object.

Here’s an interesting chart that shows which types of objects create which types of events: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/DOM/DOM_event_reference

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If you are listening to a propagated event (such as the click event), then you can listen for that event on either the document object or the window object. The only main difference for propagated events is in timing. The event will hit the document object before the window object since it occurs first in the hierarchy, but that difference is usually immaterial so you can pick either. I find it generally better to pick the closest object to the source of the event that meets your needs when handling propagated events. That would suggest that you pick document over window when either will work. But, I’d often move even closer to the source and use document.body or even some closer common parent in the document (if possible).