Web/API/CharacterData

The CharacterData abstract interface represents a Node object that contains characters. This is an abstract interface, meaning there aren't any object of type CharacterData: it is implemented by other interfaces, like Text, Comment, or ProcessingInstruction which aren't abstract.

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  a:hover text { fill: #0095DD; pointer-events: all;}

Properties

Inherits properties from its parent, Node, and implements the ChildNode and NonDocumentTypeChildNode interface.

CharacterData.data

Is a DOMString representing the textual data contained in this object.

CharacterData.length Read only

Returns an unsigned long representing the size of the string contained in CharacterData.data.

NonDocumentTypeChildNode.nextElementSibling Read only

Returns the Element immediately following the specified one in its parent's children list, or null if the specified element is the last one in the list.

NonDocumentTypeChildNode.previousElementSibling Read only

Returns the Element immediately prior to the specified one in its parent's children list, or null if the specified element is the first one in the list.

Methods

Inherits methods from its parent, Node, and implements the ChildNode and NonDocumentTypeChildNode interface.

CharacterData.appendData()

Appends the given DOMString to the CharacterData.data string; when this method returns, data contains the concatenated DOMString.

CharacterData.deleteData()

Removes the specified amount of characters, starting at the specified offset, from the CharacterData.data string; when this method returns, data contains the shortened DOMString.

CharacterData.insertData()

Inserts the specified characters, at the specified offset, in the CharacterData.data string; when this method returns, data contains the modified DOMString.

ChildNode.remove() '

Removes the object from its parent children list.

CharacterData.replaceData()

Replaces the specified amount of characters, starting at the specified offset, with the specified DOMString; when this method returns, data contains the modified DOMString.

CharacterData.substringData()

Returns a DOMString containing the part of CharacterData.data of the specified length and starting at the specified offset.

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
DOMThe definition of 'CharacterData' in that specification.	Living Standard	Added implemention of the ChildNode and NonDocumentTypeChildNode interface.
Document Object Model (DOM) Level 3 Core SpecificationThe definition of 'CharacterData' in that specification.	Obsolete	No change from Document Object Model (DOM) Level 2 Core Specification.
Document Object Model (DOM) Level 2 Core SpecificationThe definition of 'CharacterData' in that specification.	Obsolete	No change from Document Object Model (DOM) Level 1 Specification.
Document Object Model (DOM) Level 1 SpecificationThe definition of 'CharacterData' in that specification.	Obsolete	Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

The compatibility table on this page is generated from structured data. If you'd like to contribute to the data, please check out https://github.com/mdn/browser-compat-data and send us a pull request.

 

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
CharacterData	Chrome Full support 1	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 1	IE Full support 6	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
Implements the ChildNode interface Non-standard'	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support ≤18	Firefox Full support 25 Notes' Full support 25 Notes' Notes' Two properties, nextElementSibling and previousElementSibling, have been moved to the NonDocumentTypeChildNode interface, also implemented by CharacterData.	IE No support No	Opera Full support Yes	Safari No support No	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support 25 Notes' Full support 25 Notes' Notes' Two properties, nextElementSibling and previousElementSibling, have been moved to the NonDocumentTypeChildNode interface, also implemented by CharacterData.	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS ?	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
appendData	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support Yes	IE ?	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
data	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support Yes	IE ?	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
deleteData	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support Yes	IE ?	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
insertData	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support Yes	IE ?	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
length	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support Yes	IE ?	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
replaceData	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support Yes	IE ?	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
substringData	Chrome Full support Yes	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support Yes	IE ?	Opera Full support Yes	Safari Full support Yes	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes

Legend

Full support  

Full support

No support  

No support

Compatibility unknown  

Compatibility unknown

Non-standard. Expect poor cross-browser support.'

Non-standard. Expect poor cross-browser support.

See implementation notes.'

See implementation notes.

See also

 

• The DOM interfaces index.

CharacterData by Mozilla Contributors is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.5.