How to Dynamically Set a Variable as a Filename in HTML Using JavaScript

Discover how to use JavaScript to set a variable as a filename in your HTML objects seamlessly.
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How to Dynamically Set a Variable as a Filename in HTML Using JavaScript

In the world of web development, you may find yourself wanting to reference a file dynamically in your HTML. For instance, you might want to use a variable to set the filename of a PDF document in an <object> tag. However, you may encounter issues where directly assigning a JavaScript variable to an attribute of an HTML element doesn't work as expected. In this post, we'll explore how to properly set a variable as a filename for an HTML object and ensure everything functions seamlessly.

The Problem: Direct Variable Assignment

You could write something like this in your HTML:

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

Unfortunately, this won't work because HTML does not evaluate JavaScript variables directly in attributes like data. While assigning a direct string to the data attribute works flawlessly, you need an alternative approach to make it dynamic.

The Solution: Creating the <object> Element via JavaScript

Method 1: Create the Object Element with JavaScript

To achieve dynamic reference capability, we can create the <object> element directly using JavaScript. Here’s how to do it step-by-step:

Define the Variable: First, define your filename variable. In this example, we will be using a sample PDF link.

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

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

Inject the Object into the Document: Finally, append the created object to the body (or any other container) of your document.

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

Combined, the full JavaScript code looks like this:

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

Method 2: Querying the Existing Element

If you already have the <object> element in your HTML, you can set its attributes after the document has loaded. Here’s how to do this:

Define Filename Variable: Use the same method to define your filename variable.

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

Select the Element and Set the Data: Query the object element and set its data property to the variable we defined.

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

Your HTML markup would look something like this:

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

This method can be helpful if you want to keep your HTML static while dynamically altering the content with JavaScript.

Conclusion

Setting a variable as a filename for an HTML object may initially seem daunting due to a few limitations on how HTML interprets JavaScript. However, by following the methods detailed above, you can dynamically instantiate an object or modify an existing one to reference any file you need without a hitch. This can streamline your development process and enhance user experience.

Remember, the flexibility offered by JavaScript allows for more dynamic web applications, so take advantage of these techniques in your next project!