HTML DOM Element firstElementChild attribute

Definition and Usage

firstElementChild The attribute returns the first child element of the specified element.

firstElementChild The attribute is read-only.

firstElementChild The attribute returns the value of children[0] the same value.

See also:

children attribute

childElementCount attribute

lastElementChild attribute

tagName property

childNodes property

Example

Example 1

Get the HTML content of the first child element:

let text = element.firstElementChild.innerHTML;

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Example 2

Get the tag name of the first child element of "myDIV":

let text = document.getElementById("myDIV").firstElementChild.tagName;

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Example 3

Get the text of the first child element of the <select> element:

let text = document.getElementById("mySelect").firstElementChild.text;

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HTML nodes and elements

In HTML DOMIn the (Document Object Model), an HTML document is a collection of nodes that have (or do not have) child nodes.

NodeRefers to element nodes, text nodes, and comment nodes.

ElementThe whitespace between them is also a text node.

And elements are just element nodes.

Child nodes vs. child elements

childNodes ReturnsChild nodesElement nodes, text nodes, and comment nodes.

children ReturnsChild elementsReturns the first one

firstChild vs. firstElementChild

firstChild Returns the first oneChild nodesElement nodes, text nodes, or comment nodes. The whitespace between elements is also a text node.

firstElementChild Returns the first oneChild elementsDoes not return text nodes and comment nodes.

lastChild vs. lastElementChild

lastChild Returns the last oneChild nodesElement nodes, text nodes, or comment nodes. The whitespace between elements is also a text node.

lastElementChild Returns the last oneChild elementsDoes not return text nodes and comment nodes.

Syntax

element.firstElementChild

Return value

Type Description
Node The first child element of the element. Returns null if there are no children.

Browser support

element.firstElementChild It is a DOM Level 3 (2004) feature.

All browsers fully support it:

Chrome IE Edge Firefox Safari Opera
Chrome IE Edge Firefox Safari Opera
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