Vanilla JavaScript DOM manipulation efficient performance selectors event delegation layout thrashing requestAnimationFrame code organization modular

7 Tips for Efficient DOM Manipulation with Vanilla JavaScript

2023-05-01 11:32:21

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3 min read

7 Tips for Efficient DOM Manipulation with Vanilla JavaScript

7 Tips for Efficient DOM Manipulation with Vanilla JavaScript

  • Use document.querySelector() only when necessary
  • The method document.querySelector() is useful when you need to select one specific element in the DOM. However, if you need to select multiple elements, it will be more efficient to use document.getElementsByClassName() or document.getElementsByTagName().

  • Avoid using innerHTML when possible
  • Using innerHTML can be a convenient way to update the content of an element, but it can also be slow and potentially dangerous (if you're not careful with user input). Instead, consider using DOM manipulation methods like document.createElement() and element.appendChild()

  • Cache your selectors
  • Instead of repeatedly querying the DOM for the same element, cache it in a variable for quicker access.

  • Use event delegation
  • Instead of adding event listeners to multiple elements, consider using event delegation by adding a single event listener to a parent element and then using "event.target" to determine which child element triggered the event.

  • Avoid layout thrashing
  • Layout thrashing occurs when you repeatedly read a DOM property that triggers a layout calculation. To avoid this, batch your DOM manipulations together so that they can be performed all at once and avoid multiple layout recalculations.

  • Use requestAnimationFrame for animations
  • Instead of using setInterval or setTimeout for animations, use requestAnimationFrame for smoother animation rendering.

  • Keep your code organized and modular
  • Organize your code in logical modules and functions for better maintainability and readability. This will also help minimize the impact of future changes or additions to your codebase.

By following these tips, you can greatly improve the efficiency of your DOM manipulations with Vanilla JavaScript.