Javascript - Getting elements by name from an element?

Question

When I try the following:

<html>
    <body>
        <script type="text/javascript">
            window.onload = function() {
                var test1 = document.getElementsByName("div1");
                alert(test1[0]);
                var test2 = test1[0].getElementsByName("div2");
                alert(test2[0]);
            }
        </script>
        <div name="div1">
            <div name="div2">
            </div>
        </div>
    </body>
</html>

It doesn't work the way I intend it to. I made a form and I need to be able to get the form data in a similar manner to what I was testing with this.

Damn! my mind reading machine has a bug, ok, I give up, what was your intended way to use it? — Itay Moav -Malimovka
– Itay Moav -Malimovka, Commented Jul 7, 2011 at 3:16
@Asaph: developer.mozilla.org/En/DOM/Document.getElementsByName — MD Sayem Ahmed
– MD Sayem Ahmed, Commented Jul 7, 2011 at 3:19

Jacob · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-07 03:22:09Z

3

getElementsByName should only be called from a document element:

var test2 = document.getElementsByName('div2');

What's more, you really should only use the name attribute for form elements, not divs.

If you want an API that more-easily lets you do searches within a DOM element, consider using jQuery:

<html>
  <head>
    <script src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.6.2/jquery.min.js"></script>
    <script>
      $(function() {
          var div1 = $('#div1');
          var div2 = div1.find('#div2');
      });
    </script>
  </head>
  <body>
    <div id="div1">
      <div id="div2"></div>
    </div>
  </body>
</html>

Of course, since ids must be unique document-wide, there's usually no reason to search within another element for a specific ID. Therefore, you don't really need anything fancy like jQuery for something that simple.

answered Jul 7, 2011 at 3:22

Jacob

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3 Comments

Cristian Sanchez Over a year ago

If you are using simple ids jQuery is overkill. div1 = document.getElementById("div1"); div2 = document.getElementById("div2"); You don't even need to use div1 as the context because ids are presumed to be unique.

Jacob Over a year ago

I totally agree. Added that as note to the answer.

mowwwalker Over a year ago

Thanks. I'm not looking to get specific elements by ID though. I have a form with a variable amount of options and sub-options. I need to get them in the exact order they appear. How else can I do that?

Cristian Sanchez · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-07 03:20:30Z

1

If I recall correctly, only the document (HTMLDocument) has the getElementsByName method. DOM Elements do not have that method and you cannot apply it by using them as the context.

answered Jul 7, 2011 at 3:20

Cristian Sanchez

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3 Comments

RobG Over a year ago

+1, but the name attribute is valid for many more elements than form (there are 14 in total), such as all the form controls, img, a, object and so on.

Cristian Sanchez Over a year ago

@RobG: Is your comment supposed to be directed towards one of the other answers?

RobG Over a year ago

Ooops! Should have been a comment on the Jacob's answer. :-(

kazinix · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-07 03:23:24Z

0

There is no name in div's attributes. Why not use id instead?

answered Jul 7, 2011 at 3:23

kazinix

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