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JavaScript JavaScript and the DOM (Retiring) Making Changes to the DOM Removing Nodes

Why can't I choose last 'li' element from 'ul' using ul.lastChild?

Why can't I choose last 'li' element from 'ul' using 'ul.lastChild' property? I tried this, but it doesn't work:

//Remove item from the end of the list
removeItemButton.addEventListener('click', () => {
  let ul = document.getElementsByTagName('ul')[0];
  let li = document.querySelector('li:last-child');
  //ul.removeChild(li);
  ul.removeChild(ul.lastChild); //WHY this doesn't work?
});

If 'ul' elemnet has other than 'li' child nodes, and that is the reason, how could I Identify them?

Thank you!

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,060 Points

Remember that lastChild returns the last child node.

A node doesn't have to be an element, it could also (and likely will) be text.

You probably intended to use lastElementChild.