How to Display HTML Strings as Real Components in JavaScript

Learn how to correctly parse and display HTML strings in your JavaScript projects, whether as text or as active components.
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Introduction

Displaying HTML content dynamically in a web application can often lead to unexpected results, especially for developers who are just getting started with JavaScript and the Document Object Model (DOM). One common issue arises when you attempt to render a string containing HTML tags such as buttons or links; instead of appearing as functional elements, they are shown as plain text. In this guide, we’ll explore how to effectively parse HTML strings and display them as actual HTML components using JavaScript.

The Problem

Consider the situation where you have an HTML string, such as:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

When you try to display this HTML using JavaScript, you might inadvertently use methods that convert the HTML into plain text. For example, this string may display as:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Instead of the intended clickable button. This confusion often stems from misuse of properties or methods designed to manipulate the DOM.

The Solution

To display an HTML string correctly, you need to be careful about which JavaScript properties you use. Here are two common approaches to solving the problem, depending on what you want to achieve:

1. Displaying as Inner Text

If your intention is to show the HTML string itself as plain text (where HTML tags appear as text instead of rendering as HTML), use the textContent property. Here’s how:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

HTML Structure:

You will need an HTML element to display the output:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This code snippet sets the text content of the element with the ID tt to the escaped string, displaying the HTML tags as plain text.

2. Displaying as Active HTML Components

If your goal is to render the HTML string as functional HTML (i.e., you want to display the button as a clickable element), you should use the innerHTML property. Here’s the correct approach:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

HTML Structure:

As before, use the same HTML element:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

In this scenario, innerHTML allows the button to function as expected, enabling users to click it, which will navigate them to Google.

Conclusion

By understanding how to utilize textContent and innerHTML, you can easily control how HTML strings are presented in your web applications. Whether you want to display an HTML string as-is or render interactive components, JavaScript provides the tools to achieve your desired outcome.

Now that you know how to manage these two approaches, you can confidently manipulate HTML in your projects without running into issues with unwanted text output.

Remember to choose the right method based on whether you want the HTML to be displayed as text or as interactive elements!