<html> <body> <button id="myButton">Button</button> <button onclick="function3();">Apply an event handler "Button"</button> <button onclick="function2();">Detach</button> <script language="JavaScript"> function function3() { document.all.myButton.attachEvent("onclick", function1) } function function1() { document.bgColor = 'red'; } function function2() { document.bgColor = 'white'; document.all.myButton.detachEvent('onclick', function1); } </script> </body> </html>