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JavaScript JavaScript Basics Working with Strings Display the Value of a String on a Page

Paige Hand
Paige Hand
6,269 Points
Posted by Paige Hand
Paige Hand
6,269 Points

my .innerHTML is throwing an error (im on vs code): Cannot set properties of null (setting 'innerHTML')

My code is exactly the same as the tutorial, it might be something in my VScode application rather than a problem with the code itself.

my code: const stringToShout = prompt('what do you want to shout?');

const shout = stringToShout.toUpperCase();

const shoutMessage = <h2>the message to shout is: ${shout}!!!</h2>; (there are back-ticks present they're not showing here though.)

document.querySelector('main').innerHTML = shoutMessage;

the error: Uncaught TypeError: Cannot set properties of null (setting 'innerHTML')

help.

jb30
jb30
44,805 Points

What does your html file look like? Does it have a main element?

2 Answers

jb30
jb30
44,805 Points

Try moving <script src="js/javascript-basics.js"></script> after </main> so that the main element is loaded before the javascript is run.

Paige Hand
Paige Hand
6,269 Points
Paige Hand
Paige Hand
6,269 Points

oh thank god!!! i used:

    <script src="js/javascript-basics.js" defer></script>

which i does the same thing. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Paige Hand
Paige Hand
6,269 Points
Paige Hand
Paige Hand
6,269 Points

@jb30 yes it does, my html looks like this:

<!DOCTYPE html>

<html>

<head>

    <meta charset="utf-8">
    <title>JavaScript Basics</title>
    <link href="css/javascript-basics.css" rel="stylesheet">
    <script src="js/javascript-basics.js"></script>

</head>

<body>

    <main>

        <h1>Hello, JavaScript!</h1>

    </main>

</body>

</html>