Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

JavaScript Breaking on Events and Basic Stepping

Juan Castaneda
seal-mask
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Juan Castaneda
Front End Web Development Techdegree Student 7,806 Points
Posted by Juan Castaneda
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Juan Castaneda
Front End Web Development Techdegree Student 7,806 Points

parentNode vs parentElement

The program runs the same when I use parentElement. How do I know when to use parentNode vs parentElement? Is there a difference?

1 Answer

Dylan Bailey
seal-mask
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
Dylan Bailey
Front End Web Development Techdegree Graduate 17,232 Points
Dylan Bailey
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
Dylan Bailey
Front End Web Development Techdegree Graduate 17,232 Points

Parent Element returns null if the parent is not an element node, that is the main difference between parentElement and parentNode. In many cases one can use anyone of them, in most cases, they are the same.

Link to article.

Hope that clears up the confusion!