How does using variables in javascript work?

Question

I have some simple code here, and I want to test it out, by making the display none, is there something wrong with my javascript? (I'm very new to js)

 var meter = document.getElementById("meter").innerHTML;
        meter.style.display = "none";

<meter id="meter" min="0" max="10"></meter>

The console says meter is undefined, but I defined it right above.

`.innerHTML` retrieves the string content of the element. Change the *element itself* instead. — CertainPerformance, Nov 06 '21 at 01:06
"_The console says meter is undefined_" No, that is not what it says. — Ivar, Nov 06 '21 at 01:08

Spectric · Accepted Answer · 2021-11-06T01:15:40.630

-1

meter is the innerHTML of the element (which is a string), not the element itself.

Instead, use:

var meter = document.getElementById("meter");
meter.style.display = "none";

<meter id="meter" min="0" max="10"></meter>

If you want to hide it and get its value, you can do:

var meter = document.getElementById("meter");
meter.style.display = "none";
var val = meter.value;
console.log(val)

<meter id="meter" min="0" max="10" value="3"></meter>

edited Nov 06 '21 at 01:15

answered Nov 06 '21 at 01:06

Spectric

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Thanks. I don't understand variable types, but when I do it directly, like `document.getElementById("meter").style.display = "none";` I just realized it has no innerHTML. – Proking73Questioneer Nov 06 '21 at 01:09
@Proking73Questioneer Why are you trying to get the `innerHTML` of a `meter` tag? Do you want to get the value? – Spectric Nov 06 '21 at 01:11
1

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/JavaScript_basics – Andy Nov 06 '21 at 01:12
@Spectric Yes, I was going to animate it so it goes 1-10, but I used display as an test. – Proking73Questioneer Nov 06 '21 at 01:12

How does using variables in javascript work?

1 Answers1