HTMLInputElement.setRangeText()

The HTMLInputElement.setRangeText() method replaces a range of text in an <input> or <textarea> element with a new string.

Syntax

element.setRangeText(replacement);
element.setRangeText(replacement, start, end [, selectMode]);

Parameters

replacement
The string to insert.
start Optional
The 0-based index of the first character to replace. Defaults to the current selectionStart value (the start of the user's current selection).
end Optional
The 0-based index of the character after the last character to replace. Defaults to the current selectionEnd value (the end of the user's current selection).
selectMode Optional
A string defining how the selection should be set after the text has been replaced. Possible values:
  • "select" selects the newly inserted text.
  • "start"moves the selection to just before the inserted text.
  • "end" moves the selection to just after the inserted text.
  • "preserve" attempts to preserve the selection. This is the default.

Example

Click the button in this example to replace part of the text in the text box. The newly inserted text will be highlighted (selected) afterwards.

HTML

<input type="text" id="text-box" size="30" value="This text has NOT been updated.">
<button onclick="selectText()">Update text</button>

JavaScript

function selectText() {
  const input = document.getElementById('text-box');
  input.focus();
  input.setRangeText('ALREADY', 14, 17, 'select');
}

Result

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
HTML Living Standard
The definition of 'HTMLInputElement.setSelectionRange()' in that specification.
Living Standard No change
HTML5
The definition of 'HTMLInputElement.setSelectionRange()' in that specification.
Recommendation Initial definition

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
setRangeTextChrome Full support 24Edge No support NoFirefox Full support 27IE No support NoOpera Full support YesSafari Full support 6.1WebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support 25Firefox Android Full support YesOpera Android Full support YesSafari iOS Full support 7Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support

See also