function changeColor(doc_id){ document.getElementById(doc_id).bgcolor="new_color"; } function setColorBack(doc_id){ document.getElementById(doc_id).bgcolor="default"; } </script> <!-- body start--> <table> <tr> <td onmouseover="javascript:changeColor('td_1')" onmouseout="javascript:setColorBack('td_1')" bgcolor="default" id='td_1'>content here</td> <td onmouseover="javascript:changeColor('td_2')" onmouseout="javascript:setColorBack('td_2')" bgcolor="default" id='td_2'>content here</td> </tr> </table>