If a page define an onload function: window.onload = function () { alert('onload called'); } Is onload called when the page loads? Firefox 2: Yes Internet Explorer 7: Yes Opera 9.24: Yes Safari 3: Yes If a page defines the same function using a different syntax: function onload() { alert('onload called'); } Is onload called when the page loads? Firefox 2: Yes Internet Explorer 7: No Opera 9.24: No Safari 3: No Seems like onload should be called in both cases.