# Detect Internet Explorer browser

Look for document.documentMode, which only Internet Explorer defines.

Canonical: https://1loc.dev/dom/detect-internet-explorer-browser/
Version: 1.0.0
Runtime: JavaScript · modern browsers (DOM)
Verification: Usage lines executed in headless Chromium against the fixture markup; no external services
Updated: 2026-10-28

## Implementation

```javascript
function isInternetExplorer() { return 'documentMode' in document; }
```

## Usage

```javascript
isInternetExplorer(); // → false
```

Lines marked → were executed in headless Chromium against the markup above, and each result was compared with the value shown. Lines marked e.g. are illustrative.

## Limits

- Microsoft retired the Internet Explorer 11 desktop application in June 2022. Keep this only to show an upgrade notice in legacy intranets.
- Detect the feature you need instead of the browser, such as "IntersectionObserver" in window.

The function does not validate its arguments. Add checks where it receives untrusted input.

## Source and license

Original: https://github.com/phuocng/1loc/blob/14b481cf60dff1620ab1bb99a43b1f68068cdd9b/contents/detect-internet-explorer-browser.mdx
Author: Nguyen Huu Phuoc and original contributors
Contributors: See original repository history
Source commit: 14b481cf60dff1620ab1bb99a43b1f68068cdd9b
Copyright (c) 2020 phuoc-ng
License: MIT — https://1loc.dev/licenses/
Maintainer: Oveyon
Modifications: Documented as a reference with executed usage lines. Original MDX retained as inert source evidence.