wp-tooltip 7.1 bug

[wolf45]

Display Issues After Updating to 7.1

Version: 7.1

Uncaught DOMException: Element.matches: ':popover-open' is not a valid selector
    hideTooltip https://www.domain123.de/wp-includes/js/wp-tooltip.js?ver=7.1:38

[wildworks]

@wolf45 Thanks for the report.

Could you tell me which browser and version you are using? This is because the error occurs when the browser does not support the Popover API.

[wildworks]

This shouldn't be a core issue, but I'll set the milestone to a minor release just in case.

[wolf45]

Replying to wildworks:

@wolf45 Thanks for the report.

Could you tell me which browser and version you are using? This is because the error occurs when the browser does not support the Popover API.

Firefox 115.39.0esr (32-Bit)

[wildworks]

Firefox 115.39.0esr (32-Bit)

Unfortunately, this version is not supported by WordPress. Although ​support has reportedly been extended until March 2027, it is unlikely that the Popover API will be supported. Furthermore, support may be discontinued in the near future.

I understand that there may be circumstances requiring the use of the ESR version. At the very least, we might be able to add exception handling to prevent errors.

For reference, issues related to Firefox ESR have occurred in the past, and a fallback was implemented at that time. See #64350.

cc @joedolson @afercia

Implement a check for popover, and if not available, hide popover panel.

Prevents errors from the potentially invalid selector :popover-open and prevents uncloseable panels.

Not yet tested in a browser that doesn't support popovers, so this is currently hypothetical.

Trac ticket: https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/65943

## Use of AI Tools
None

[joedolson]

It's certainly plausible to gate the behavior and prevent fatal errors on older browsers. It doesn't make any sense to try and polyfill this, but we can prevent it from causing problems.

Nice one @joedolson - feel free to proceed if you want to get this in by 7.1.1 (RC on Sept. 10th).

[joedolson]

In 63543:

Administration: Prevent errors in wp-tooltip.js on browsers without popover support.

Add a feature gate so that the tooltip JS hides popover panels on browsers without popover support, and doesn't execute calls that can trigger errors.

There are no browsers within the WordPress support matrix without popover support, but gating this feature gives users of older browsers a better experience with minimal change.

Props wolf45, wildworks, adamsilverstein, joedolson.
Fixes #65943.

[joedolson]

Re-opening for 2nd committer sign off and merge consideration for 7.1.1.

[adamsilverstein]

The code change looks good to me @joedolson - I'm going to try testing the fix using an older firefox.

I installed an older version of firefox and verified the issue as well as the fix in this PR:

Check:

Before:

After:

[adamsilverstein]

Good to backport @joedolson

[joedolson]

In 63548:

Administration: Prevent errors in wp-tooltip.js on browsers without popover support.

Add a feature gate so that the tooltip JS hides popover panels on browsers without popover support, and doesn't execute calls that can trigger errors.

There are no browsers within the WordPress support matrix without popover support, but gating this feature gives users of older browsers a better experience with minimal change.

Reviewed by adamsilverstein.
Merges [63543] to the 7.1 branch.

Props wolf45, wildworks, adamsilverstein, joedolson.
Fixes #65943.