How to Update innerHTML of a Tag with Input Value in JavaScript

Discover how to permanently update the innerHTML of your HTML elements with user input in JavaScript without losing functionality or needing a database!
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Updating InnerHTML with Input Values in JavaScript

In web development, there are times when we want to dynamically change the content of our web pages based on user input. One common scenario is when a user types something into an input box and, upon clicking a button, that input gets displayed on the page. However, you may encounter a challenge where the text appears for just a moment and then disappears. This occurs because the form submits by default, which refreshes the page and loses the input value. In this post, we will explore effective solutions to this problem and keep your input visible while ensuring that the input field remains clear for future entries.

The Problem: Temporary InnerHTML Update

You may have the following HTML structure to accept user input and display it on the page:

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

With a simple JavaScript function, you might attempt to set the innerHTML of a paragraph based on user input:

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

While this approach allows the text to briefly appear in the paragraph, the form’s default behavior causes the page to refresh, making the text disappear almost instantly.

The Solution: Preventing Form Submission

To resolve this issue, you can prevent the form from submitting and refreshing the page. This is done by setting the action attribute of the form to javascript:void(0);. This way, the form does not trigger a page reload when the button is clicked. Let’s break down the solution in detail:

Step-by-Step Implementation

Modify the HTML Form:

Change the <form> tag to prevent submission as follows:

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

Update the JavaScript Function:

Modify the existing JavaScript function to clear the input field after updating the paragraph:

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

Complete Code Example

Combining the above changes, here’s how your complete code will look:

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

Conclusion

By following these simple steps, you can easily allow users to update the innerHTML of an element with their input without losing the functionality of the input field. This approach keeps the user experience seamless and hassle-free, allowing users to continuously enter new values without any interruptions.

Feel free to try it out and make your web applications more interactive and user-friendly! If you have further questions or need clarification, don’t hesitate to ask!