Which HTML Text Properties to Use: innerText vs innerHTML vs label vs text vs textContent vs outerText?

innerText vs innerHTML vs label vs text vs textContent vs outerText

This article aims to clarify the distinctions between several properties used to retrieve or set text in HTML elements.

innerText

• Returns the text content as is, ignoring any HTML formatting or hidden elements.
• May trigger a reflow if CSS styling affects the visibility of text.

innerHTML

• Returns the HTML code within the element, including hidden elements.
• Use with caution due to security risks, as malicious content can be inserted.

label

• Equivalent to innerText in most cases. However, it may have browser-specific behavior related to form elements.

text

• jQuery shorthand for innerText.

textContent

• Similar to innerText but retains formatting such as newlines.
• Includes text in hidden elements.

outerText

• Less commonly used and varies between browsers.

Conclusion

While some of these properties may seem interchangeable, it's crucial to understand their subtle differences. For cross-browser compatibility and performance, it's generally recommended to use textContent or innerText depending on the desired behavior. jQuery's .text() method provides a convenient cross-platform solution. OuterHTML and outerText should generally be avoided due to their obscure nature and potential compatibility issues.

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