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normalize

Summary

Merges adjacent DOM objects to produce a normalized document object model.

Method of dom/Nodedom/Node

Syntax

 node.normalize();

Return Value

No return value

Examples

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/>
<title>Node.normalize() example</title>
</head>

<body>


<script type="text/javascript">
var wrapper = document.createElement("div");

wrapper.appendChild( document.createTextNode("Part 1 ") );
wrapper.appendChild( document.createTextNode("Part 2 ") );

// At this point, wrapper.childNodes.length === 2
// wrapper.childNodes[0].textContent === "Part 1 "
// wrapper.childNodes[1].textContent === "Part 2 "
alert('wrapper.childNodes.length==='+wrapper.childNodes.length);
wrapper.normalize();
document.body.appendChild(wrapper);
// Now, wrapper.childNodes.length === 1
// wrapper.childNodes[0].textContent === "Part 1 Part 2 "
alert('wrapper.normalize();wrapper.childNodes.length==='+wrapper.childNodes.length);

</script>

</body>
</html>

Usage

 By calling object.normalize before the subelements of an object are manipulated, you ensure that the document object model has a consistent structure.  The normal form is useful for operations that require a consistent document tree structure, and it ensures that the document object model view is identical when it is saved and reloaded.

Notes

The normalize method does not merge adjacent CDATA sections, allowing for an inconsistent object model when CDATA sections are present.

Related specifications

DOM Level 3 Core
Recommendation

Attributions