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ParentNode.childElementCount

The ParentNode.childElementCount read-only property returns an unsigned long representing the number of child elements of the given element.

This property was initially defined in the ElementTraversal pure interface. As this interface contained two distinct set of properties, one aimed at Node that have children, one at those that are children, they have been moved into two separate pure interfaces, ParentNode and ChildNode. In this case, childElementCount moved to ParentNode. This is a fairly technical change that shouldn't affect compatibility.

Syntax

var count = node.childElementCount;

count: holds the return value an unsigned long (simply an integer) type.
node: is an object representing a Document, DocumentFragment or Element.

Example

var foo = document.getElementById("foo"); 
if (foo.childElementCount > 0) { 
    // do something
}

Polyfill for IE8 & IE9 & Safari

This property is unsupported prior to IE9, and also in IE9 & Safari Document, DocumentFragment objects don't have it.

;(function(constructor) {
    if (constructor &&
        constructor.prototype &&
        constructor.prototype.childElementCount == null) {
        Object.defineProperty(constructor.prototype, 'childElementCount', {
            get: function() {
                var i = 0, count = 0, node, nodes = this.childNodes;
                while (node = nodes[i++]) {
                    if (node.nodeType === 1) count++;
                }
                return count;
            }
        });
    }
})(window.Node || window.Element);

Specification

Specification	Status	Comment
DOM The definition of 'ParentNode.childElementCount' in that specification.	Living Standard	Split the `ElementTraversal` interface in `ChildNode` and `ParentNode`. This method is now defined on the latter. The `Document` and `DocumentFragment` implemented the new interfaces.
Element Traversal Specification The definition of 'ElementTraversal.childElementCount' in that specification.	Obsolete	Added its initial definition to the `ElementTraversal` pure interface and use it on `Element`.

Browser compatibilityUpdate compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari
Basic support	1	Yes	3.5	9	10	4
Support on `Document` and `DocumentFragment`	29	?	25	No	16	No