NodeList.item() returns one node by zero-based index (MDN). Out of range returns null — it does not throw when you pass an argument.
Pass the required arguments shown below. Check return values and browser support before you rely on the result.
Call nodeList.item. Start with this line.
nodeList.item(index)| Call | What it does |
|---|---|
nodeList.item(index) | Primary signature. |
nodeList.item(...) | Call with the arguments your case needs. |
Built into the browser. Call item(...) on a NodeList — no import required.
nodeList.item(index)| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| index | Required. Zero-based position |
| Return Value | Description |
|---|---|
| * | The node at that index |
| * | null |
item(0)Read the first child node by index.
const node = document.createElement("div");
node.appendChild(document.createElement("p"));
node.appendChild(document.createElement("span"));
const first = node.childNodes.item(0);
console.log(first.nodeName); // Pitem(0). Index 0 is the first node.nodeName. Confirms you got the <p>.list[0] in JavaScript.MDN idea: item(1) returns the second entry (zero-based).
// Imagine: <ul id="fruit"><li>Apple</li><li>Banana</li><li>Cherry</li></ul>
const list = document.querySelectorAll("#fruit li");
const second = list.item(1);
console.log(second.textContent); // BananaquerySelectorAll returns a NodeList.item(1). Second item — not the first.Banana is at index 1.childNodes, this snapshot does not grow later.An index past the end returns null, not an exception.
const node = document.createElement("div");
node.appendChild(document.createElement("p"));
const list = node.childNodes;
const missing = list.item(5);
console.log(missing); // null
console.log(missing === null); // true0 alone.item(5). Past the end.null. Safe to check before use.In JavaScript, list[i] reads the same node — missing values differ.
const node = document.createElement("div");
node.appendChild(document.createElement("p"));
const list = node.childNodes;
console.log(list.item(0).nodeName); // P
console.log(list[0].nodeName); // P
console.log(list.item(9)); // null
console.log(list[9]); // undefineditem(0) and list[0] match.item → null; brackets → undefined.=== null with item, or truthy checks carefully.item? Useful in non-JS DOM APIs; clear method name in tutorials.lengthClassic index loop: item(i) from 0 to length - 1.
const node = document.createElement("div");
node.appendChild(document.createElement("p"));
node.appendChild(document.createTextNode("hey"));
node.appendChild(document.createElement("span"));
const list = node.childNodes;
const names = [];
for (let i = 0; i < list.length; i++) {
names.push(list.item(i).nodeName);
}
console.log(names.join(", ")); // P, #text, SPANlength. Upper bound for the loop.item(i). Safe while i < length.forEach() or for...of for everyday walks.NodeList.item() is marked Baseline Widely available on MDN (since July 2015). DOM API — not a Node.js built-in.
Read a NodeList entry by zero-based index across modern browsers.
Bottom line: Safe for production. Prefer item(i) or list[i] for one node; use forEach / for...of for full walks.
Iterate only the indexes of a NodeList.
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