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ParentNode.append

This is an experimental technology
Because this technology's specification has not stabilized, check the compatibility table for usage in various browsers. Also note that the syntax and behavior of an experimental technology is subject to change in future versions of browsers as the specification changes.

The ParentNode.append method inserts a set of Node objects or DOMString objects after the last child of the ParentNode. DOMString objects are inserted as equivalent Text nodes.

Differences to Node.appendChild():

  • ParentNode.append() allows you to also append DOMString object, whereas Node.appendChild() only accepts Node objects.
  • ParentNode.append() has no return value, whereas Node.appendChild() returns the appended Node object.
  • ParentNode.append() can append several nodes and strings, whereas Node.appendChild() can only append one node.

Syntax

[Throws, Unscopable] 
void ParentNode.append((Node or DOMString)... nodes);

Parameters

nodes
A set of Node or DOMString objects to insert.

Exceptions

Examples

Appending an element

var parent = document.createElement("div");
var p = document.createElement("p");
parent.append(p);

console.log(parent.childNodes); // NodeList [ <p> ]

Appending text

var parent = document.createElement("div");
parent.append("Some text");

console.log(parent.textContent); // "Some text"

Appending an element and text

var parent = document.createElement("div");
var p = document.createElement("p");
parent.append("Some text", p);

console.log(parent.childNodes); // NodeList [ #text "Some text", <p> ]

ParentNode.append() is unscopable

The append() method is not scoped into the with statement. See Symbol.unscopables for more information.

var parent = document.createElement("div");

with(parent) { 
  append("foo");
}
// ReferenceError: append is not defined 

Polyfill

You can polyfill the append() method in Internet Explorer 9 and higher with the following code:

// Source: https://github.com/jserz/js_piece/blob/master/DOM/ParentNode/append()/append().md
(function (arr) {
  arr.forEach(function (item) {
    if (item.hasOwnProperty('append')) {
      return;
    }
    Object.defineProperty(item, 'append', {
      configurable: true,
      enumerable: true,
      writable: true,
      value: function append() {
        var argArr = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments),
          docFrag = document.createDocumentFragment();
        
        argArr.forEach(function (argItem) {
          var isNode = argItem instanceof Node;
          docFrag.appendChild(isNode ? argItem : document.createTextNode(String(argItem)));
        });
        
        this.appendChild(docFrag);
      }
    });
  });
})([Element.prototype, Document.prototype, DocumentFragment.prototype]);

Specification

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

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari
Basic support 54.0 49 (49) ? 39 ?
Feature Android Android Webview Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Mobile Opera Mobile Safari Mobile Chrome for Android
Basic support No support 54.0 49.0 (49) ? 39 ? 54.0

See also

© 2005–2017 Mozilla Developer Network and individual contributors.
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/ParentNode/append