Deprecated
This feature has been removed from the Web standards. Though some browsers may still support it, it is in the process of being dropped. Avoid using it and update existing code if possible; see the compatibility table at the bottom of this page to guide your decision. Be aware that this feature may cease to work at any time.
This is an experimental technology
Because this technology's specification has not stabilized, check the compatibility table for usage in various browsers. Also note that the syntax and behavior of an experimental technology is subject to change in future versions of browsers as the specification changes.
The Node.rootNode read-only property returns a Node object representing the topmost node in the tree, or the current node if it's the topmost node in the tree. This is found by walking backward along Node.parentNode until the top is reached.
Important: For compatibility reasons, this property has been replaced by the Node.getRootNode() method.
Syntax
rootNode = node.rootNode;
Value
A Node object representing the topmost node in the tree.
Example
Running the following line in supporting browsers should return a reference to the HTML/document node:
console.log(document.body.rootNode);
Notes
Gecko-based browsers insert text nodes into a document to represent whitespace in the source markup.
Therefore a node obtained, for example, using Node.firstChild or Node.previousSibling may refer to a
whitespace text node rather than the actual element the author intended to get.
See Whitespace in the DOM and W3C DOM 3 FAQ: Why are some Text nodes empty? for more information.
Browser compatibility
| Feature | Chrome | Firefox (Gecko) | Internet Explorer | Opera | Safari |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic support | No support[1] | No support[1] | ? | No support | ? |
| Feature | Android | Firefox Mobile (Gecko) | IE Mobile | Opera Mobile | Safari Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic support | ? | No support[1] | ? | No support[1] | ? |
[1] This property has been removed, and replaced with the Node.getRootNode() method.
Specifications
| Specification | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| DOM The definition of 'Node.rootNode' in that specification. |
Living Standard | Initial definition |