How to Change href and innerText of an Anchor Tag Simultaneously in JavaScript

Learn how to modify both the `href` and inner text of an anchor tag in JavaScript using a practical example for form submissions.
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How to Change href and innerText of an Anchor Tag Simultaneously

When building web applications, there may be scenarios where you want to update both the URL and the visible text of an anchor (<a>) tag concurrently. Commonly, developers face challenges in ensuring that these changes reflect correctly when working with dynamic content. If you find yourself wondering how to change the href attribute and the inner text of an anchor tag at the same time, you are in the right place.

The Problem

Imagine you have a simple form on your webpage where users can input their name, email, and homepage URL. When a user submits the form, you want them to see their inputs displayed, including a hyperlink to their homepage, which should not just show the URL as plain text but allow the user to click it and be redirected to that website.

The dilemma: When the homepage URL is rendered, it displays as text only or does not redirect when clicked. This makes it frustrating for users, as they expect a functional link for the homepage they provided.

Let's look at the HTML and JavaScript sample code to illustrate this issue:

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

When you implement the JavaScript functionality and change either the href or the inner text first, it might not work as expected.

The Solution

The key to resolving this issue lies in the order in which you manipulate the DOM. Here's how to do it properly:

Change the Inner HTML First: Update the text content of the anchor first before setting the href attribute. This will ensure that both the text and link are updated appropriately.

Set the href Attribute Next: After updating the text, you can set the href to ensure it retains the correct destination.

Here’s an improved JavaScript code snippet that accomplishes this:

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

Explanation of the Code:

Cloning the Template: We clone the template for each submission to maintain a clean state.

Updating the Content:

The name and email are set using their respective input values.

The inner text of the anchor tag is updated first using innerHTML.

The hyperlink reference (href) is set afterward so the link is functional.

Conclusion

By following this structured approach, you can successfully change the href and innerText of an anchor tag simultaneously. This ensures that users can see their input displayed as both clickable links and confirm their entries visually.

With this solution in your toolkit, you can enhance the interactivity and usability of your web applications significantly!