Converting a string into html elements to run javascript

Question

I am trying to read the response from an xhr request. I do not want to try to use regex to parse the information. Is there anyway to convert the response string into html elements so I can use document.getElementsById() to read the information I want? The solution cannot use jquery.

Edit: The format is regular html from an xhr response. I am trying to get the information out of divs ie.

<div class="name">John Doe</div>

It isn't very clear what your response is, but it sounds like you want to fill some element's innerHTML with it — entonio
– entonio, Commented May 6, 2011 at 3:26
the response is in regular html. I am trying to get information out of divs like this <div class="name">John Doe</div> — Franz Payer
– Franz Payer, Commented May 6, 2011 at 3:27

jpsimons · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-06 03:29:58Z

2

Sure no problem, if your response is HTML, just create a DIV and shovel your response into it. Not sure about your mention of getElementsByName though, that's not a standard DOM function as far as I know.

var xhrResponse = "<span id='status'>SUCCESS</span>";

var clipboard = document.createElement("DIV");
clipboard.innerHTML = xhrResponse;
var searchingForSomething = clipboard.getElementById('status');
console.log(searchingForSomething.innerHTML); // => SUCCESS

Your temporary DIV never even has to be in the document for this to work.

answered May 6, 2011 at 3:29

jpsimons

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1 Comment

jpsimons Over a year ago

Getting elements by class, however, without jQuery, is verbose. You can do it by searching the whole tree, the simplest code being recursive, or if you only support high-end browsers you can use querySelector.

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