ChildNode.after()

The ChildNode.after() method inserts a set of Node or DOMString objects in the children list of this ChildNode's parent, just after this ChildNode. DOMString objects are inserted as equivalent Text nodes.

Syntax

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

Parameters

nodes
A set of Node or DOMString objects to insert.

Exceptions

Examples

Inserting an element

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

child.after(span);

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

Inserting text

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

child.after("Text");

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

Inserting an element and text

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

child.after(span, "Text");

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

ChildNode.after() is unscopable

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

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

Polyfill

You can polyfill the after() method in Internet Explorer 9 and higher with the following code:

// from: https://github.com/jserz/js_piece/blob/master/DOM/ChildNode/after()/after().md
(function (arr) {
  arr.forEach(function (item) {
    if (item.hasOwnProperty('after')) {
      return;
    }
    Object.defineProperty(item, 'after', {
      configurable: true,
      enumerable: true,
      writable: true,
      value: function after() {
        var argArr = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments),
          docFrag = document.createDocumentFragment();

        argArr.forEach(function (argItem) {
          var isNode = argItem instanceof Node;
          docFrag.appendChild(isNode ? argItem : document.createTextNode(String(argItem)));
        });

        this.parentNode.insertBefore(docFrag, this.nextSibling);
      }
    });
  });
})([Element.prototype, CharacterData.prototype, DocumentType.prototype]);

Another polyfill

// from: https://github.com/FabioVergani/js-Polyfill_Element.prototype.after/blob/master/after.js

(function(x){
 var o=x.prototype,p='after';
 if(!o[p]){
    o[p]=function(){
     var e, m=arguments, l=m.length, i=0, t=this, p=t.parentNode, n=Node, s=String, d=document;
     if(p!==null){
        while(i<l){
         e=m[i];
         if(e instanceof n){
            t=t.nextSibling;
            if(t!==null){
                p.insertBefore(e,t);
            }else{
                p.appendChild(e);
            };
         }else{
            p.appendChild(d.createTextNode(s(e)));
         };
         ++i;
        };
     };
    };
 };
})(Element);



/*
minified:

(function(x){
 var o=x.prototype;
 o.after||(o.after=function(){var e,m=arguments,l=m.length,i=0,t=this,p=t.parentNode,n=Node,s=String,d=document;if(p!==null){while(i<l){((e=m[i]) instanceof n)?(((t=t.nextSibling )!==null)?p.insertBefore(e,t):p.appendChild(e)):p.appendChild(d.createTextNode(s(e)));++i;}}});
}(Element));
*/

Specification

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

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
after
Experimental
Chrome Full support 54Edge Full support 17Firefox Full support 49IE No support NoOpera Full support 39Safari Full support 10WebView Android Full support 54Chrome Android Full support 54Firefox Android Full support 49Opera Android Full support 41Safari iOS Full support 10Samsung Internet Android Full support 6.0

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.

See also