Cannot insert a node both before and after another node

Question

I'm trying to insert a node both before and after a existing node. The problem is, it will only insert one of them. Odd. Can anyone explain why?

here's the code

// create your new node <p>Hi</p>
 var newNode = document.createElement("p");
 newNode.appendChild(document.createTextNode("Hi"));

// a existing node for reference
var refNode = document.getElementById("xyz");

// insert newNode before refNode
refNode.parentNode.insertBefore(newNode, refNode);

// insert newNode after refNode
refNode.parentNode.insertBefore(newNode, refNode.nextSibling);

PS thanks to karim79 who answered my previous question on insert after.

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 26 '11 at 21:06

When you add a node to a document, it is necessarily removed from any previous location. The same node cannot be in two locations.

What you want is a copy of the node in the second location:

// create your new node <p>Hi</p>
var newNode = document.createElement("p");
newNode.innerHTML = "Hi";

// a existing node for reference
var refNode = document.getElementById("xyz");

// insert newNode before refNode
refNode.parentNode.insertBefore(newNode, refNode);

// insert newNode after refNode
refNode.parentNode.insertBefore(newNode.cloneNode(true), refNode.nextSibling);

Here's a reference I have on my site for [`Node.cloneNode()`](http://objjob.phrogz.net/dom/method/573), and here is [the official documentation](http://www.w3.org/TR/DOM-Level-2-Core/core.html#ID-3A0ED0A4). — Phrogz, Jan 26 '11 at 21:09

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 26 '11 at 21:05

2

There is only one newNode. Inserting doesn't clone it - it moves it around.

answered Jan 26 '11 at 21:05

Vilx-

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score -1 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 31 '12 at 11:16

insert after (single llinked list list node *previous,single linked list node*new node)
     {
  if(new node==null)
    return;
else{
    if(previous==null)
    add first(new node);
else{
   single linked list node*nex=previous->;
   previous->next=new node;
   new node-> next=next;
      }
    }
  }

Cannot insert a node both before and after another node

3 Answers3