Why is it Better to use textContent instead of innerHTML ?
Using textContent
instead of innerHTML
is generally considered better practice when dealing with text content in the context of the Document Object Model (DOM).
Here are a few reasons why textContent
is often preferred:
- Security: Using
textContent
helps in reducing the risk of security vulnerabilities such as Cross-Site Scripting (XSS). When you useinnerHTML
, you’re allowing HTML content to be inserted directly, and if that content comes from an untrusted source, it could include malicious scripts.textContent
only deals with plain text, making it safer in situations where the input might not be entirely trusted. - Performance: Manipulating
textContent
tends to be faster than manipulatinginnerHTML
. - Clarity of Intent: When you use
the textContent
, it indicates that you are working with plain text content. This can improve code readability and make it explicit that you are not dealing with HTML markup.
In summary, if you’re dealing strictly with text content and want to prioritize security and performance, go with textContent
. If you need to work with HTML structure and understand and mitigate the associated security risks, then innerHTML
that might be the way to go.