.prop() vs .attr()

.prop() vs .attr(): Understanding the Difference and Making the Right Choice! 🤔

If you've been working with jQuery, you might have come across the dilemma of choosing between .prop() and .attr(). Don't worry, you're not alone! Many developers have faced this question and wondered which one to use in different scenarios. Let's dive into the world of these two methods to understand their differences and make informed decisions in our code. 💻

What's the Scenario? 📝

To begin our journey, let's consider a scenario where we have an HTML element with inline styles and we want to access its style attribute using jQuery.

$(selector).click(function(){
    //instead of:
    this.getAttribute('style');
    //do i use:
    $(this).prop('style');
    //or:
    $(this).attr('style');
})

The question here is whether both .prop('style') and .attr('style') do the same thing 🤷‍♂️? Let's find out!

Understanding the Difference ⚖️

The key difference between .prop() and .attr() lies in their purpose and the value they return.

.attr(): Getting the attribute value 💪

.attr() is primarily used to retrieve the initial value of an HTML attribute. It returns the value exactly as it is defined in the HTML markup.

In our scenario, calling $(this).attr('style') will return the inline style value as a string.

.prop(): Getting the property value 💫

On the other hand, .prop() is used to retrieve the current value of an element's property, which can change dynamically.

In our example, $(this).prop('style') returns a CSSStyleDeclaration object. This object holds individual properties of the style attribute, allowing you to access and manipulate them individually.

Understanding the Console Output 📊

You might have noticed that the console.log() statements in the code snippet show different outputs for the three methods.

var getAtt = this.getAttribute('style');
var thisProp = $(this).prop('style');
var thisAttr = $(this).attr('style');

console.log(getAtt, thisProp, thisAttr);

getAtt and thisAttr will both log the inline style value as a string. However, thisProp will log a CSSStyleDeclaration object, representing the current state of the style property. This can be used to access and modify individual style properties directly.

Handling Updates to jQuery Versions 💡

Now that we understand the difference between .prop() and .attr(), a common concern arises: what happens if we switch jQuery versions?

If you're using code relying on .attr() and switch to a newer version of jQuery, you might encounter some issues as the behavior of these methods can differ. It's essential to test and adapt your code according to the specific version you're using.

Conclusion and Your Next Steps! 🎉

Congratulations! You now have a better understanding of the difference between .prop() and .attr(). Here's a quick recap:

• Use .attr() to get the initial value of an attribute.

• Use .prop() to get the current value of a property.

So, what's your decision now? Which method suits your specific use case? Let us know in the comments below! Join the conversation and share your experiences.

Feel free to explore this JSFiddle for hands-on experience with the code and see the difference in action!

Remember, learning from experience is the best way to level-up your coding skills. Happy coding! 🚀