IE8 label update via javascript issue

Question

I am trying to use javascript to update the text in a html label.

It works in all browsers except IE8. In IE8 the label appears to be updated but is not displayed on the screen.

I've created demo code below that shows the issue.

Thanks

<html>
 <head>
 <script>
  function sendRequest() {               
    document.getElementById('errormessage').textContent="test";
    alert("textContent : "+document.getElementById('errormessage').textContent);
  }   
</script>

</head>

<body>

  <a href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="sendRequest();"> Click me</a>
   <br/>
  <label id="errormessage" style="color:#F00">&nbsp;</label>
</body> 
</html>

Paul · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-20 23:56:58Z

2

IE 8 and under doesn't have textContent.

Try this:

function setText(el, text){
    if(typeof el.innerText !== 'undefined')
        el.innerText = text;
    else
        el.textContent = text;
}

function getText(el){
    return el.innerText || el.textContent;
}

function sendRequest() {
    var el = document.getElementById('errormessage');
    setText(el, "test");
    alert("textContent : "+getText(el));
}

answered Feb 20, 2012 at 23:56

Paul

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1 Comment

RobG Over a year ago

The innerText and textContent properties are strings, therefore the typeof test should test for that, e.g. if (typeof el.textContent == 'string').

animuson · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-24 05:39:49Z

2

document.getElementById('errormessage').innerHTML="test";

edited Feb 24, 2012 at 5:39

animuson♦

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answered Feb 20, 2012 at 23:52

MiniGod

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3 Comments

Schaffer Over a year ago

Thanks. It seems to vary from browser to browser.

elclanrs Over a year ago

You could use jQuery, it should take care of browser inconsistencies.

RobG Over a year ago

Use jQuery to resolve browser inconsistencies in innerHTML? How?

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