Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

JavaScript JavaScript Loops, Arrays and Objects Tracking Data Using Objects Accessing Object Properties

Posted by Javid Abbasov
Javid Abbasov
9,243 Points

I do not undeerstand the meaning of this code(

I do not undeerstand the meaning of this code(( What is the difference between it and document.write() ?

function print(message) { var div = document.getElementById('output'); div.innerHTML = message; }

2 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,275 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,275 Points

There are several differences between these mechanisms, but two really stand out for me.

  1. Changing innerHTML on an element affects only that element. document.write appends text to the current state of the document, without reference to any particular element.
  2. Even more important, using document.write after a page is completely loaded will wipe out the original page completely and begin rebuilding it from scratch. But you can safely change innerHTML on an element anytime during the life of the page.