ChildNode.replaceWith()

The ChildNode.replaceWith() method replaces this ChildNode in the children list of its parent with a set of Node or DOMString objects. DOMString objects are inserted as equivalent Text nodes.

Syntax

[Throws, Unscopable]
void ChildNode.replaceWith((Node or DOMString)... nodes);

Parameters

nodes
A set of Node or DOMString objects to replace.

Exceptions

Examples

Using replaceWith()

var parent = document.createElement("div");
var child = document.createElement("p");
parent.appendChild(child);
var span = document.createElement("span");

child.replaceWith(span);

console.log(parent.outerHTML);
// "<div><span></span></div>"

ChildNode.replaceWith() is unscopable

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

with(node) {
  replaceWith("foo");
}
// ReferenceError: replaceWith is not defined 

Polyfill

You can polyfill the replaceWith() method in Internet Explorer 10+ and higher with the following code:

function ReplaceWithPolyfill() {
  'use-strict'; // For safari, and IE > 10
  var parent = this.parentNode, i = arguments.length, currentNode;
  if (!parent) return;
  if (!i) // if there are no arguments
    parent.removeChild(this);
  while (i--) { // i-- decrements i and returns the value of i before the decrement
    currentNode = arguments[i];
    if (typeof currentNode !== 'object'){
      currentNode = this.ownerDocument.createTextNode(currentNode);
    } else if (currentNode.parentNode){
      currentNode.parentNode.removeChild(currentNode);
    }
    // the value of "i" below is after the decrement
    if (!i) // if currentNode is the first argument (currentNode === arguments[0])
      parent.replaceChild(currentNode, this);
    else // if currentNode isn't the first
      parent.insertBefore(currentNode, this.nextSibling);
  }
}
if (!Element.prototype.replaceWith)
    Element.prototype.replaceWith = ReplaceWithPolyfill;
if (!CharacterData.prototype.replaceWith)
    CharacterData.prototype.replaceWith = ReplaceWithPolyfill;
if (!DocumentType.prototype.replaceWith)
    DocumentType.prototype.replaceWith = ReplaceWithPolyfill;

Specification

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

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
replaceWithChrome Full support 54Edge Full support 17Firefox Full support 49IE No support NoOpera Full support 39Safari Full support YesWebView Android Full support 54Chrome Android Full support 54Firefox Android Full support 49Opera Android Full support 41Safari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support 6.0

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support

See also