in javascript, difference input.value=val versus input.setAttribute('value',val)?

Question

In javascript, is what is the difference between setting an HTMLElement property with assignment as versus using setAttribute(). The following is from a chrome session, leading me to believe there is a difference:

> i = document.createElement('input');
<input>
> i.value = 'abc';
"abc"
> i
<input>
> i.setAttribute('value','abc');
undefined
> i
<input value="abc">

What exactly is the difference? Is it the type of thing that bytes you in the ass?

answer right on.

chrome displays attributes, so this led to my confusion.

Although the question is about jQuery, the answer can be applied here too: stackoverflow.com/questions/5874652/prop-vs-attr — Felix Kling
– Felix Kling, Commented Jul 23, 2011 at 11:32
The reason you see the undefined" here is merely that that is what element.setAttribute() returns as a value. The line above i.value = 'abc'; prints "abc" simply because that is the value of the assignment expression. Neither output has anything to do with what actually happened to the DOM. — user663031
– user663031, Commented Jun 29, 2012 at 9:04

Quentin · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-23 10:31:09Z

7

In javascript, is what is the difference between setting an HTMLElement property with assignment as versus using setAttribute()

It depends on the property.

The value property reflects the current value, the value attribute reflects the default value.

Some properties map directly onto attributes.

answered Jul 23, 2011 at 10:31

Quentin

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2 Comments

cc young Over a year ago

are you implying that if only setAttribute() is used, when input is rendered, there would be no value?

cc young Over a year ago

on further testing, "default" is absolutely the correct description. if setAttribute, will set value if and only if value is undefined.

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