Why is `element.innerHTML = ...` Inefficient for Appending HTML Elements?

Why Using "element.innerHTML =..." Is Inefficient

In web development, it's not advisable to append elements using "element.innerHTML = ...". This can have performance implications due to inefficient handling.

Parse Lag

When "innerHTML" is set, the browser must parse the provided HTML, build a Document Object Model (DOM), and insert it into the document. This process is time-consuming.

If your "elm.innerHTML" contains numerous HTML elements, calling " = ..." repeatedly will force the browser to re-parse everything each time. This can lead to significant performance delays, especially if the existing content is extensive.

DOM Relinkage

Furthermore, using " = ..." can break references to existing DOM elements within your "elm". This can result in unexpected behavior and potential loss of functionality. Hence, it's a more reliable practice to append new elements using the DOM-specific method.

Alternative Approach

A preferred alternative is to create a new element, populate its "innerHTML" with the desired content, and then append it to your "elm" using the "appendChild" method:

var newElement = document.createElement('div');
newElement.innerHTML = '<div>Hello World!</div>';
elm.appendChild(newElement);

This approach ensures that only the newly created element is inserted into your "elm" without compromising the existing DOM structure.

Browser Optimizations

Some browsers may optimize the " = ..." operator, reducing the performance hit. However, this behavior is not guaranteed and can vary across browsers.

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