Document.createCDATASection()

createCDATASection() creates a new CDATA section node, and returns it.

Syntax

var CDATASectionNode = document.createCDATASection(data);
  • CDATASectionNode is a CDATA Section node.
  • data is a string containing the data to be added to the CDATA Section.

Example

var docu = new DOMParser().parseFromString('<xml></xml>', 'application/xml')

var cdata = docu.createCDATASection('Some <CDATA> data & then some');

docu.getElementsByTagName('xml')[0].appendChild(cdata);

alert(new XMLSerializer().serializeToString(docu));
// Displays: <xml><![CDATA[Some <CDATA> data & then some]]></xml>

Notes

  • This will only work with XML, not HTML documents (as HTML documents do not support CDATA sections); attempting it on an HTML document will throw NOT_SUPPORTED_ERR.
  • Will throw a NS_ERROR_DOM_INVALID_CHARACTER_ERR exception if one tries to submit the closing CDATA sequence ("]]>") as part of the data, so unescaped user-provided data cannot be safely used without with this method getting this exception (createTextNode() can often be used in its place).

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
DOM
The definition of 'document.createCDATASection' in that specification.
Living Standard

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
createCDATASectionChrome Full support 1Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support YesIE ? Opera Full support YesSafari Full support YesWebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support YesOpera Android Full support YesSafari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes

Legend

Full support
Full support
Compatibility unknown
Compatibility unknown