How to replace DOM element in place using Javascript?
JavascriptDomJavascript Problem Overview
I am looking to replace an element in the DOM.
For example, there is an <a> element that I want to replace with a <span> instead.
How would I go and do that?
Javascript Solutions
Solution 1 - Javascript
by using replaceChild():
<html>
<head>
</head>
<body>
<div>
<a id="myAnchor" href="http://www.stackoverflow.com">StackOverflow</a>
</div>
<script type="text/JavaScript">
var myAnchor = document.getElementById("myAnchor");
var mySpan = document.createElement("span");
mySpan.innerHTML = "replaced anchor!";
myAnchor.parentNode.replaceChild(mySpan, myAnchor);
</script>
</body>
</html>
Solution 2 - Javascript
A.replaceWith(span) - No parent needed
Generic form:
target.replaceWith(element)
Way better/cleaner than the previous method.
For your use case:
A.replaceWith(span)
Advanced usage
- You can pass multiple values (or use spread operator
...). - Any string value will be added as a text element.
Examples:
// Initially [child1, target, child3]
target.replaceWith(span, "foo") // [child1, span, "foo", child3]
const list = ["bar", span]
target.replaceWith(...list, "fizz") // [child1, "bar", span, "fizz", child3]
Safely handling null target
If your target has a chance to be null, you can consider using the newish ?. optional chaining operator. Nothing will happen if target doesn't exist. Read more here.
target?.replaceWith?.(element)
Related DOM methods
Supported Browsers - 96% Feb '22
Solution 3 - Javascript
var a = A.parentNode.replaceChild(document.createElement("span"), A);
a is the replaced A element.
Solution 4 - Javascript
This question is very old, but I found myself studying for a Microsoft Certification, and in the study book it was suggested to use:
oldElement.replaceNode(newElement)
I looked it up and it seems to only be supported in IE. Doh..
I thought I'd just add it here as a funny side note ;)
Solution 5 - Javascript
I had a similar issue and found this thread. Replace didn't work for me, and going by the parent was difficult for my situation. Inner Html replaced the children, which wasn't what I wanted either. Using outerHTML got the job done. Hope this helps someone else!
currEl = <div>hello</div>
newElem = <span>Goodbye</span>
currEl.outerHTML = newElem
# currEl = <span>Goodbye</span>
Solution 6 - Javascript
You can replace an HTML Element or Node using Node.replaceWith(newNode).
This example should keep all attributes and childs from origin node:
const links = document.querySelectorAll('a')
links.forEach(link => {
const replacement = document.createElement('span')
// copy attributes
for (let i = 0; i < link.attributes.length; i++) {
const attr = link.attributes[i]
replacement.setAttribute(attr.name, attr.value)
}
// copy content
replacement.innerHTML = link.innerHTML
// or you can use appendChild instead
// link.childNodes.forEach(node => replacement.appendChild(node))
link.replaceWith(replacement)
})
If you have these elements:
<a href="#link-1">Link 1</a>
<a href="#link-2">Link 2</a>
<a href="#link-3">Link 3</a>
<a href="#link-4">Link 4</a>
After running above codes, you will end up with these elements:
<span href="#link-1">Link 1</span>
<span href="#link-2">Link 2</span>
<span href="#link-3">Link 3</span>
<span href="#link-4">Link 4</span>
Solution 7 - Javascript
You can use replaceChild on the parent of the target element after creating your new element (createElement):
const newElement = document.createElement(/*...*/);
const target = document.getElementById("my-table");
target.parentNode.replaceChild(newElement, target);
If your starting point for the new element is HTML, you can use insertAdjacentHTML and then removeChild on the parent (or remove on the element itself, in modern environments):
const target = document.getElementById("my-table");
target.insertAdjacentHTML("afterend", theHTMLForTheNewElement);
target.parentNode.removeChild(target); // Or: `target.remove()`
Solution 8 - Javascript
Best way to do it. No parents need. Just use Element.outerHTML = template;
// Get the current element
var currentNode = document.querySelector('#greeting');
// Replace the element
currentNode.outerHTML =
'<div id="salutations">' +
'<h1>Hi, universe!</h1>' +
'<p>The sun is always shining!</p>' +
'</div>';
Solution 9 - Javascript
Example for replacing LI elements
function (element) {
let li = element.parentElement;
let ul = li.parentNode;
if (li.nextSibling.nodeName === 'LI') {
let li_replaced = ul.replaceChild(li, li.nextSibling);
ul.insertBefore(li_replaced, li);
}
}
Solution 10 - Javascript
Given the already proposed options the easiest solution without finding a parent:
var parent = document.createElement("div");
var child = parent.appendChild(document.createElement("a"));
var span = document.createElement("span");
// for IE
if("replaceNode" in child)
child.replaceNode(span);
// for other browsers
if("replaceWith" in child)
child.replaceWith(span);
console.log(parent.outerHTML);