How do I check if a div contains another div?

Question

I need to show alert if my parent div has a child div using JavaScript only No jQuery.

I have tried using the contains() function to check my div and send alert but it's not working.

<script type="text/javascript">
  var parentDiv = document.getElementById("commentBox");
  var childDiv = document.getElementById("comment1");
  if (parentDiv.contains(childDiv)) {
    alert("yes");
  } else
  {
    alert("no");
  }
</script>
<div class="row leftpad collapse" id="commentBox">
  <div id="comment1">
    <div class="col-md-3 dir-rat-left"> <i class="fa fa-user-circle" aria-hidden="true"></i>
      <h6>James </h6>
    </div>
    <div class="col-md-9 dir-rat-right">
      <p class="removemarg">always available, always helpfull that goes the same for his team that work with him - definatley our first phone call.</p>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

There should be an alert box with message yes in it but it's not visible. I have also tried checking JavaScript using the alert() method only without any code.

Answer 1

Your code is running before the DOM is fully loaded. Move your script at the bottom of the page:

<div class="row leftpad collapse" id="commentBox" >
    <div id="comment1">
      <div class="col-md-3 dir-rat-left"> <i class="fa fa-user-circle" aria-hidden="true"></i>
        <h6>James </h6>
      </div>
      <div class="col-md-9 dir-rat-right">
        <p class="removemarg">always available, always helpfull that goes the same for his team that work with him - definatley our first phone call.</p>
      </div>
    </div>
</div>
    
<script type="text/javascript">
  var parentDiv = document.getElementById("commentBox");
  var childDiv = document.getElementById("comment1");
  if (parentDiv.contains(childDiv)) {
    alert("yes");
  }
  else{
    alert("no");
  }

</script>

OR: Wrap the code with DOMContentLoaded which will ensure that code placed inside will be executed only after the DOM is fully loaded:

<script type="text/javascript">
  document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {
    var parentDiv = document.getElementById("commentBox");
    var childDiv = document.getElementById("comment1");
    if (parentDiv.contains(childDiv)) {
      alert("yes");
    }
    else{
      alert("no");
    }
  });

</script>

<div class="row leftpad collapse" id="commentBox" >
    <div id="comment1">
      <div class="col-md-3 dir-rat-left"> <i class="fa fa-user-circle" aria-hidden="true"></i>
        <h6>James </h6>
      </div>
      <div class="col-md-9 dir-rat-right">
        <p class="removemarg">always available, always helpfull that goes the same for his team that work with him - definatley our first phone call.</p>
      </div>
    </div>
</div>