Element.insertAdjacentText()

The insertAdjacentText() method inserts a given text node at a given position relative to the element it is invoked upon.

Syntax

JavaScript
element.insertAdjacentText(position, element);

Parameters

position
A DOMString representing the position relative to the element; must be one of the following strings:
  • 'beforebegin': Before the element itself.
  • 'afterbegin': Just inside the element, before its first child.
  • 'beforeend': Just inside the element, after its last child.
  • 'afterend': After the element itself.
element
A DOMString representing the text to be inserted into the tree.

Return value

Void.

Exceptions

Exception Explanation
SyntaxError The position specified is not a recognised value.

Visualization of position names

JavaScript
<!-- <code>beforebegin</code> -->
<code><p></code>
<!-- <code>afterbegin</code> -->
foo
<!-- <code>beforeend</code> -->
<code></p></code>
<!-- <code>afterend</code> -->
Note: The beforebegin and afterend positions work only if the node is in a tree and has an element parent.

Example

JavaScript
beforeBtn.addEventListener('click', function() {
  para.insertAdjacentText('afterbegin',textInput.value);
});

afterBtn.addEventListener('click', function() {
  para.insertAdjacentText('beforeend',textInput.value);
});

Have a look at our insertAdjacentText.html demo on Github (see the source code too.) Here we have a simple paragraph. You can enter some text into the form element, then press the Insert before and Insert after buttons to insert it before or after the existing paragraph text using insertAdjacentText(). Note that the existing text node is not added to — further text nodes are created containing the new additions.

Specification

Specification Status Comment
DOM
The definition of 'insertAdjacentText()' in that specification.
Living Standard  

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari (WebKit)
Basic support (Yes) 48.0 (48.0) ? (Yes) (Yes)
Feature Android Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Phone Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support ? 48.0 (48.0) ? ? ?

See also

License

© 2016 Mozilla Contributors
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-us/docs/web/api/element/insertadjacenttext

API DOM Element Gecko insertAdjacentText Method Reference