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javascriptimageprototypejs

Getting the alt attribute of an image in prototype

I'm editing some old sideshow code someone else written a while ago and I was wondering how you get the alt attribute of an image with prototype.

Ive got the image tag selected with the code below:

$$('#' + this.slides[this.currentSlide].id + ' a img')

But for the life of me I don't know how to get the alt text.

I've tried...

$$('#' + this.slides[this.currentSlide].id + ' a img').alt;
$$('#' + this.slides[this.currentSlide].id + ' a img').alt();
$$('#' + this.slides[this.currentSlide].id + ' a img').readAttribute('alt');

Could anyone help.

Solution

  • The $$ utility method returns an array. You need to get the element out of the array and then read its attribute.

    var elements = $$('#' + this.slides[this.currentSlide].id + ' a img');
if (elements.length > 0) {
   var altText = elements[0].readAttribute('alt');
   alert(altText);
}