How to asynchronously load CSS using jQuery?

Question

I want to use jQuery to asynchronously load CSS for a document.

I found this sample, but this doesn't seem to work in IE:

<script type="text/javascript" src="/inc/body/jquery/js/jquery-1.4.4.min.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
    $(function(){
        $('<link>', {
            rel: 'stylesheet',
            type: 'text/css',
            href: '/inc/body/jquery/css/start/jquery-ui-1.8.10.custom.css'
        }).appendTo('head');
        $.getScript("/inc/body/jquery/js/jquery-ui-1.8.10.custom.min.js", function(){
        });
    });
</script>

Basically I want to load jQuery UI after the all other data, images, styles, etc load to the page.

The $.getScript works great for JS file. Only problem is with CSS in IE.

Do you know a better solution?

Answer 1

Here's a method for asynchronous stylesheet loading that doesn't block page render that worked for me:

https://github.com/filamentgroup/loadCSS/blob/master/loadCSS.js

Reduced example of the code linked above, based on lonesomeday's answer

var stylesheet = document.createElement('link');
stylesheet.href = '/inc/body/jquery/css/start/jquery-ui-1.8.10.custom.css';
stylesheet.rel = 'stylesheet';
stylesheet.type = 'text/css';
// temporarily set media to something inapplicable to ensure it'll fetch without blocking render
stylesheet.media = 'only x';
// set the media back when the stylesheet loads
stylesheet.onload = function() {stylesheet.media = 'all'}
document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(stylesheet);

Answer 2

The safe way is the old way...

var stylesheet = document.createElement('link');
stylesheet.href = '/inc/body/jquery/css/start/jquery-ui-1.8.10.custom.css';
stylesheet.rel = 'stylesheet';
stylesheet.type = 'text/css';
document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(stylesheet);