DocumentType: before() method

The DocumentType.before() method inserts a set of Node objects or strings in the children list of the DocumentType's parent, just before the DocumentType. Strings are inserted as equivalent Text nodes.

Syntax

js

before(param1)
before(param1, param2)
before(param1, param2, /* … ,*/ paramN)

Parameters

param1, …, paramN

A set of Node objects or strings to insert.

Return value

None (undefined).

Exceptions

HierarchyRequestError DOMException

Thrown when the node cannot be inserted at the specified point in the hierarchy.

Examples

Adding a conditional comment

Comment nodes are valid before doctype declarations but not advisable given they trigger quirks mode in IE. A conditional comment works for IE as well, though:

js

let docType = document.implementation.createDocumentType("html", "", "");
let myDoc = document.implementation.createDocument("", "", docType);

docType.before(
  document.createComment("<!--[if !IE]> conditional comment <![endif]-->")
);

myDoc.childNodes;
// NodeList [<!--[if !IE]> conditional comment <![endif]-->, <!DOCTYPE html>]

Specifications

Specification
DOM Standard
# ref-for-dom-childnode-before①

Browser compatibility

BCD tables only load in the browser

See also