'HTML Can Do That': JS-free dynamic UI features in modern HTML
Original: HTML Can Do That
Why This Matters
Native HTML capabilities reducing JavaScript dependency signal a maturing web platform with lower complexity and performance overhead.
Developer Chris Burnell published a reference page on HTML Day 2026 documenting native HTML features—including popover, dialog, grouped details, and invoker commands—that now handle dynamic UI without JavaScript, while noting browser accessibility gaps.
Chris Burnell launched 'HTML Can Do That' on HTML Day 2026, a curated reference page highlighting native HTML features that have absorbed functionality once requiring JavaScript. Key features covered include: the popover attribute, which enables light-dismissible overlays with automatic z-index management via popovertarget and popovertargetaction; the dialog element, which supports modal dialogs and can be toggled using the popover attribute without scripting; grouped details elements, where a shared name attribute creates exclusive accordions that auto-close siblings; and the command/commandfor (invoker commands) API, which lets buttons control popovers and dialogs declaratively. Burnell updated the page after its initial one-hour build to explicitly flag where browser implementations fall short on accessibility, advising developers to 'make it as accessible as you can.' He also included a brief JavaScript-based dialog example for completeness. Stable browser support currently covers show-modal, close, request-close, toggle-popover, show-popover, and hide-popover invoker commands.