DOM GetElementsByTagName Problem

Chudz · 09-26-2011, 12:01 AM

Hello,

I am just starting out learning JavaScript and I have just reach the DOM section of my course.

I have a page with 10 <a> tags on it and I have created the following JavaScript to tell me how many I have.

Code:

<script type="text/javascript">
	var myLinks = document.getElementsByTagName("a");
	console.log("We have ", myLinks.length ," many links on the page");
</script>

However in the console it reports this:

We have 0 many links on the page

This is not true as there are 10 links, 9 in the navgation section of the website and 1 in the footer.

If someone can tell me what I am doing wrong that would be great.

Thanks

Logic Ali · 09-26-2011, 12:47 AM

In your view, when does that script run?

Old Pedant · 09-26-2011, 01:23 AM

What Logic Ali is pointing out:

If you have that code in the <head> of your page, then that's the right answer.

Only if you put that code *after* the last <a> on the page will it give you the answer you are looking for.

Or only if you delay its execution until the page is loaded.

ironboy · 09-26-2011, 07:39 AM

In other words, this would work:

Code:

onload = function(){
  var myLinks = document.getElementsByTagName("a");
  console.log("We have ", myLinks.length ," many links on the page")
};