# HTML DOM replaceChild() Method

Element Object

## Example

Replace a text node in a <li> element in a list with a new text node:

// Create a new text node called "Water"
var textnode = document.createTextNode("Water");
// Get the first child node of an <ul> element
var item = document.getElementById("myList").childNodes[0];
// Replace the first child node of <ul> with the newly created text node
item.replaceChild(textnode, item.childNodes[0]);
// Note: This example replaces only the Text node "Coffee" with a Text node "Water"

Before removing:

- Coffee
- Tea
- Milk

After removing:

- Water
- Tea
- Milk

Try it yourself »

More "Try it Yourself" examples below.

## Definition and Usage

The replaceChild() method replaces a child node with a new node.

The new node could be an existing node in the document, or you can create a new node.

Tip: Use the removeChild() method to remove a child node from an element.

## Browser Support

Method |  |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
replaceChild() | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes

## Syntax

node.replaceChild(newnode,oldnode)

## Parameter Values

Parameter | Type | Description
--- | --- | ---
newnode | Node object | Required. The node object you want to insert
oldnode | Node object | Required. The node object you want to remove

## Technical Details

Return Value: | A Node object, representing the replaced node
DOM Version | Core Level 1 Node Object

## More Examples

## Example

Replace a <li> element in a list with a new <li> element:

// Create a new <li> element
var elmnt = document.createElement("li");
// Create a new text node called "Water"
var textnode = document.createTextNode("Water");
// Append the text node to <li>
elmnt.appendChild(textnode);
// Get the <ul> element with id="myList"
var item = document.getElementById("myList");
// Replace the first child node (<li> with index 0) in <ul> with the newly created <li> element
item.replaceChild(elmnt, item.childNodes[0]);
// Note: This example replaces the entire <li> element

Before removing:

- Coffee
- Tea
- Milk

After removing:

- Water
- Tea
- Milk

Try it yourself »

Element Object

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