Unable to Set Element Attribute Using jQuery data()

Question

I'm having trouble updating elements from JavaScript. My project is fairly complex but here's a tiny piece of it:

myWebService(/*...*/)
.done(function (result) {
    var newRows = $(rows).clone();
    $('#drop-placeholder').after(newRows);
    $(newRows).data('test', 'ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ');
}

Using Chrome, I can watch these statements execute. However, with newRows in the watch window, I can see that the attribute never gets added/updated. And, sure enough, after the call is done, I don't see the specified attribute on my page.

Can anyone see what I might be missing. rows (and therefore newRows) represents any number of table row elements.

FYI, newRows is already a jQuery object. You don't have to pass it to jQuery again. What do yo mean by "I don't see the specified attribute on my page"? How are you trying to "see" it? — Felix Kling
– Felix Kling, Commented Mar 27, 2013 at 22:50
Are you saying I can just do newRows.data()? I thought $() gave me additional options. (I was trying to see it by examining the elements in Chrome.) — Jonathan Wood
– Jonathan Wood, Commented Mar 27, 2013 at 22:52
Yep. .clone returns a jQuery object, as does $(). If you already have a jQuery object, you don't have to pass it to $() again (the same might be for rows, but I don't know what it is). You usually do $('div') instead of $($('div')) right? :) — Felix Kling
– Felix Kling, Commented Mar 27, 2013 at 23:03

Ken Herbert · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-27 22:49:26Z

9

.data() sets background data that is handled purely by jQuery - it does not set HTML attributes.

If you are trying to set an attribute such as data-test in <div data-test="stuff"></div> you need to use .attr("data-test", variable).

answered Mar 27, 2013 at 22:49

Ken Herbert

5,2465 gold badges31 silver badges38 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Jonathan Wood Over a year ago

You're absolutely right. I never realized this. Working now, thanks.

jmoerdyk · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-27 22:50:45Z

2

The setting the data via jQuery .data() does not set the attribute, only the underlying data store. If you want to change the attribute, you have to use .attr().

answered Mar 27, 2013 at 22:50

jmoerdyk

5,5458 gold badges42 silver badges58 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Unable to Set Element Attribute Using jQuery data()

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

Comments

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

Comments

Related