Can I assign document.getElementById to variable in javascript [duplicate]

Question

I think document.getElementById is a function.

So this function can be assigned to variable. Like this

var hello = document.getElementById;
console.log(hello('hello')));

<div id="hello">hello</div>

But It occurred error like this:

Uncaught TypeError: Illegal invocation

var hello = document.getElementById('hello'); console.log(hello) — zer00ne
– zer00ne, Commented Jan 20, 2017 at 7:15
The method must know on which Document instance you want it to be called. Probably, it's document — Oriol
– Oriol, Commented Jan 20, 2017 at 7:20

KevBot · Accepted Answer · 2017-01-20 07:17:11Z

8

The issue is context. When you take the reference to the function, you lose the function's context to document. So, in order to do what you are trying to, you need to bind the context:

var hello = document.getElementById.bind(document);

Working example:

var hello = document.getElementById.bind(document);
console.log(hello('hello'));

<div id="hello">hello</div>

answered Jan 20, 2017 at 7:17

KevBot

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1 Comment

Oriol Over a year ago

::document.getElementById will be nice

Adam Azad · Accepted Answer · 2017-01-20 07:15:54Z

3

Wrap it as a function with a parameter which represents the ID.

var hello = function(id){
     return document.getElementById(id);
}
console.log( hello('hello')  );

<div id="hello">hello</div>

answered Jan 20, 2017 at 7:15

Adam Azad

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