isXMLDoc()?jQuery.isXMLDoc(node) (alias $.isXMLDoc) returns true when node is an XML document or a DOM node inside an XML document (added in jQuery 1.1.4).
$.isXMLDoc(node) → true | false
$.isXMLDoc(document) // false (HTML page)
$.isXMLDoc(document.body) // false (HTML page)
xmlDoc = $.parseXML("<root/>")
$.isXMLDoc(xmlDoc) // true
$.isXMLDoc(xmlDoc.documentElement) // true| Need | Use |
|---|---|
| XML node? | $.isXMLDoc(node) |
| Parse XML text | $.parseXML(str) |
| Parse HTML fragments | $.parseHTML(str) |
isXMLDoc()Pass a DOM node; branch when it belongs to an XML tree.
$.isXMLDoc(node) — true means XML context.$.parseXML.| Piece | Required? | Role |
|---|---|---|
node | Yes | DOM node (or document) to test |
| Return | — | Boolean — XML document / XML node? |
| Common partner | — | $.parseXML() to create XML nodes |
function isXMLDoc(node):
// true if node is an XMLDocument
// or lives inside an XMLDocument
return node belongs to XML (not HTML)
// Typical flow:
xmlDoc = $.parseXML(rssString)
if $.isXMLDoc(xmlDoc):
title = $(xmlDoc).find("title").text()
else:
// treat as HTML / rejectKeep these facts handy while detecting XML nodes with jQuery.
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Syntax | jQuery.isXMLDoc(node) / $.isXMLDoc(node) |
| Since | jQuery 1.1.4 |
| True | XMLDocument, nodes from $.parseXML() |
| False | document, document.body on HTML pages |
| Create XML | $.parseXML(str) |
| Query XML | $(xmlDoc).find("tag") |
Pick a sample node and see what $.isXMLDoc() returns.
Short, copy-ready snippets. Open DevTools Console, or use Try It Yourself for a live editor.
The jQuery API samples: page document and body are not XML.
console.log($.isXMLDoc(document)); // false
console.log($.isXMLDoc(document.body)); // false<html>, not an XML root.document.body lives in that same HTML document.false.true for everyday page nodes.$.parseXML()Parsed XML produces a real XMLDocument.
var xmlDoc = $.parseXML("<root><item/></root>");
console.log($.isXMLDoc(xmlDoc)); // true
console.log($.isXMLDoc(xmlDoc.documentElement)); // true$.parseXML builds a native XML document.true.documentElement is the <root> node inside that XML tree.true result in demos.Any node from the XML tree also returns true.
var xmlDoc = $.parseXML(
'<rss><channel><title>Feed</title></channel></rss>'
);
var title = $(xmlDoc).find("title")[0];
console.log($.isXMLDoc(title)); // true
console.log($.isXMLDoc(document.body)); // false.find("title")[0] unwraps the native node.true.body remains HTML → false.Use the boolean to choose how you handle a node.
function describe(node) {
return $.isXMLDoc(node) ? "XML context" : "HTML context";
}
var xmlDoc = $.parseXML("<note/>");
console.log(describe(document.body)); // "HTML context"
console.log(describe(xmlDoc)); // "XML context"describe turns the boolean into a short label."HTML context"."XML context".Check these before relying on $.isXMLDoc() with real feeds.
If you pass document or elements from the current page, expect false. That matches the official API examples.
Do not pass raw XML text. Parse with $.parseXML first, then test the document or a found element.
Pass a native node: $el[0] or $el.get(0). A jQuery object itself is not a DOM node.
Browsers often return a document with a parsererror node. Check parse errors after parseXML before trusting results.
jQuery.isXMLDoc() is available since jQuery 1.1.4+ in all modern browsers with jQuery loaded. It needs a browser DOM (not Node.js without a DOM polyfill).
Works in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge whenever jQuery is loaded. Pair with $.parseXML() for XML trees. Browser DOM required.
Bottom line: Use $.isXMLDoc(node) in the browser with jQuery. Create XML nodes with $.parseXML; expect false for normal HTML page nodes.
| Approach | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
$.isXMLDoc(node) | O(1) | HTML vs XML branching |
$.parseXML(str) | O(n) in string size | Create XML once, then test/query |
| Re-parse the same string | Wasteful | Avoid — parse once, reuse the document |
The boolean check is cheap. Parsing dominates cost — parse once, then call isXMLDoc / .find() on the same document.
$.isXMLDoc(node) → XML document or XML node?document / body → false (official).$.parseXML.[0].One line: use $.isXMLDoc to tell HTML page nodes from XML trees — usually after $.parseXML.
Learn how jQuery checks whether one DOM element contains another.
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