CharacterData

{{APIRef("DOM")}}

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

{{InheritanceDiagram}}

Instance properties

This interface also inherits properties from its parents, {{domxref("Node")}} and {{domxref("EventTarget")}}.

• {{domxref("CharacterData.data")}}
  • : A string representing the textual data contained in this object.
• {{domxref("CharacterData.length")}} {{ReadOnlyInline}}
  • : Returns a number representing the size of the string contained in the object.
• {{domxref("CharacterData.nextElementSibling")}} {{ReadOnlyInline}}
  • : Returns the first {{domxref("Element")}} that follows this node, and is a sibling.
• {{domxref("CharacterData.previousElementSibling")}} {{ReadOnlyInline}}
  • : Returns the first {{domxref("Element")}} that precedes this node, and is a sibling.

Instance methods

This interface also inherits methods from its parents, {{domxref("Node")}} and {{domxref("EventTarget")}}.

• {{domxref("CharacterData.after()")}}
  • : Inserts a set of {{domxref("Node")}} objects or strings in the children list of the CharacterData's parent, just after the CharacterData object.
• {{domxref("CharacterData.appendData()")}}
  • : Appends the given string to the CharacterData.data string; when this method returns, data contains the concatenated string.
• {{domxref("CharacterData.before()")}}
  • : Inserts a set of {{domxref("Node")}} objects or strings in the children list of the CharacterData's parent, just before the CharacterData object.
• {{domxref("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 string.
• {{domxref("CharacterData.insertData()")}}
  • : Inserts the specified characters, at the specified offset, in the CharacterData.data string; when this method returns, data contains the modified string.
• {{domxref("CharacterData.remove()")}}
  • : Removes the object from its parent children list.
• {{domxref("CharacterData.replaceData()")}}
  • : Replaces the specified amount of characters, starting at the specified offset, with the specified string; when this method returns, data contains the modified string.
• {{DOMxRef("CharacterData.replaceWith()")}}
  • : Replaces the characters in the children list of its parent with a set of {{domxref("Node")}} objects or strings.
• {{domxref("CharacterData.substringData()")}}
  • : Returns a string containing the part of CharacterData.data of the specified length and starting at the specified offset.

Specifications

{{Specifications}}

Browser compatibility

{{Compat}}

See also

• The DOM overview page.
• The concrete interfaces implemented it: {{domxref("Text")}}, {{domxref("CDATASection")}}, {{domxref("ProcessingInstruction")}}, and {{domxref("Comment")}}.