Javascript Syntax Error

Question

When I run the code below, Safari's debug console tells me:

TypeError: Result of expression 'document.getElementById("txtHint")' [null] is not an object.

It seems to be throwing the error at this line:

document.getElementById("txtHint").innerHTML=xmlhttp.responseText;

Code

 function showItem(str)
{
if (str.length==0)
  {
  document.getElementById("txtHint").innerHTML="";
  return;
  }
if (window.XMLHttpRequest)
  {// code for IE7+, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Safari
  xmlhttp=new XMLHttpRequest();
  }
else
  {// code for IE6, IE5
  xmlhttp=new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
  }
xmlhttp.onreadystatechange=function()
  {
  if (xmlhttp.readyState==4 && xmlhttp.status==200 && xmlhttp.responseText!='')
    {
    document.getElementById("txtHint").innerHTML=xmlhttp.responseText;
    }
  }
xmlhttp.open("GET","getitem.php?q="+str,true);
xmlhttp.send();
}

I am unsure of why this eror is thrown. There is absolutely a DIV with an ID of "txtHint" and yet safari cannot seem to run this code correctly. I guess my question is, what is wrong with this block of code.

What's the question here? Sounds like there's no element with that ID. — Ian Henry
– Ian Henry, Commented Nov 13, 2010 at 5:58
What does console.log(document.getElementById('txtHint').length); say? — alex
– alex, Commented Nov 13, 2010 at 6:08

meder omuraliev · Accepted Answer · 2010-11-13 06:09:49Z

1

Is this not a duplicate question? Anyway, try throwing the script before the end body tag or invoking the function after dom ready / window load.

answered Nov 13, 2010 at 6:09

meder omuraliev

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3 Comments

meder omuraliev Over a year ago

Right, window.onload or a DOM ready function. I would personally convert your code to jQuery.

Parker Over a year ago

I saw that in the last answer you gave me however I am so new to this I was a little overwhelmed. What are the advantages of going to jquery with this code?

deizel. Over a year ago

jQuery abstracts away browsers differences, so you don't need to do things like: if (window.XMLHttpRequest) { // code for new browsers

deceze · Accepted Answer · 2010-11-13 06:08:03Z

1

It's not a syntax issue, it tells you that document.getElementById("txtHint") returned null (i.e. there was no element with that id), which means the result (null) is not an object, which means you can't call .innerHTML on it.

answered Nov 13, 2010 at 6:08

deceze♦

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Comments

nobitavn94 · Accepted Answer · 2010-11-13 06:07:25Z

0

Yes, agree with Ian Henry. From the error message, I guess that there is no element whose id is "txtHint" in the document .

answered Nov 13, 2010 at 6:07

nobitavn94

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