HTMLTableRowElement.insertCell()

The HTMLTableRowElement.insertCell() method inserts a new cell (<td>) into a table row (<tr>) and returns a reference to the cell.

Note: insertCell() inserts the cell directly into the row. The cell does not need to be appended separately with Node.appendChild() as would be the case if Document.createElement() had been used to create the new <td> element.

You can not use insertCell() to create a new <th> element though.

Syntax

var newCell = HTMLTableRowElement.insertCell(index);

HTMLTableRowElement is a reference to an HTML <tr> element.

Parameters

index Optional
index is the cell index of the new cell. If index is -1 or equal to the number of cells, the cell is appended as the last cell in the row. If index is greater than the number of cells, an IndexSizeError exception will result. If index is omitted it defaults to -1.

Return value

newCell is an HTMLTableCellElement that references the new cell.

Example

This example uses HTMLTableElement.insertRow() to append a new row to a table.

We then use insertCell(0) to insert a new cell in the new row. (To be valid HTML, a <tr> must have at least one <td> element.) Finally, we add some text to the cell using Document.createTextNode() and Node.appendChild().

HTML

<table id="my-table">
  <tr><td>Row 1</td></tr>
  <tr><td>Row 2</td></tr>
  <tr><td>Row 3</td></tr>
</table>

JavaScript

function addRow(tableID) {
  // Get a reference to the table
  let tableRef = document.getElementById(tableID);

  // Insert a row at the end of the table
  let newRow = tableRef.insertRow(-1);

  // Insert a cell in the row at index 0
  let newCell = newRow.insertCell(0);

  // Append a text node to the cell
  let newText = document.createTextNode('New bottom row');
  newCell.appendChild(newText);
}

// Call addRow() with the table's ID
addRow('my-table');

Result

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
HTML Living Standard
The definition of 'HTMLTableRowElement.insertCell()' in that specification.
Living Standard
Document Object Model (DOM) Level 2 HTML Specification
The definition of 'HTMLTableRowElement.insertCell()' in that specification.
Obsolete Initial definition

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
insertCellChrome Full support YesEdge Full support 12Firefox Full support 1IE Full support YesOpera Full support YesSafari Full support YesWebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support YesSafari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes
Support for -1 as an index argumentChrome Full support YesEdge Full support 12Firefox Full support 20IE Full support YesOpera Full support YesSafari Full support YesWebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support 20Opera Android Full support YesSafari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes
Index parameter is optionalChrome Full support YesEdge Full support 12Firefox Full support 20IE Full support YesOpera Full support YesSafari Full support YesWebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support 20Opera Android Full support YesSafari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes

Legend

Full support
Full support

See also