Event Handlers and this
<html> <head> <title></title> <script type="text/javascript"> window.onload=setObjects; function setObjects() { document.personData.firstName.onblur=testValue; } function testValue() { document.write(this.value); } </script> </head> <body> <form name="personData"> First Name: <input type="text" name="firstName" /> </form> </body> </html>