Provided are near-infrared light-absorbing glass in which good color compensating characteristics are maintained even without containing harmful arsenic, permitting the thinning of the glass, and having good weatherability and forming properties; a near-infrared light-absorbing element comprised of such glass; a near-infrared light-absorbing filter employing such glass. Also provided, at low cost, are near-infrared light-absorbing glass permitting good color compensating, a near-infrared light-absorbing element comprised of such glass, and a near-infrared light-absorbing filter comprising such elements. The glass comprises cationic components with a certain composition as well as F.sup.- and O.sup.2- as anionic components. Alternatively, the glass is near-infrared light-absorbing glass, wherein the glass exhibits properties, based on a thickness of 0.5 mm, in the spectral transmittance of wavelengths of 400 to 700 nm, that wavelength, at which a 50 percent transmittance is exhibited, is less than 630 nm, transmittance at a wavelength longer than said wavelength is less than 50 percent, transmittance at a wavelength shorter than said wavelength is higher than 50 percent and the viscosity at a liquid phase temperature is 0.5 Pas or more. The near-infrared light-absorbing element is comprised of such glass. The near-infrared light-absorbing filter comprises a glass plate comprised of such glass. Alternatively, the glass is comprised of fluorophosphate glass or phosphate glass, and comprises 0.1 weight percent or more of copper based on CuO, 0.005 to 0.5 weight percent of iron based on Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, 0.01 to 1 weight percent of antimony based on Sb.sub.2O.sub.3, and no arsenic.