[javascript] Load HTML File Contents to Div [without the use of iframes]

I'm quite sure this a common question, but I'm pretty new to JS and am having some trouble with this.

I would like to load x.html into a div with id "y" without using iframes. I've tried a few things, searched around, but I can't find a decent solution to my issue.

I would prefer something in JavaScript if possible.

Thanks in advance, everyone!

Wow, from all the framework-promotional answers you'd think this was something JavaScript made incredibly difficult. It isn't really.

var xhr= new XMLHttpRequest();
xhr.open('GET', 'x.html', true);
xhr.onreadystatechange= function() {
    if (this.readyState!==4) return;
    if (this.status!==200) return; // or whatever error handling you want
    document.getElementById('y').innerHTML= this.responseText;
};
xhr.send();

If you need IE<8 compatibility, do this first to bring those browsers up to speed:

if (!window.XMLHttpRequest && 'ActiveXObject' in window) {
    window.XMLHttpRequest= function() {
        return new ActiveXObject('MSXML2.XMLHttp');
    };
}

Note that loading content into the page with scripts will make that content invisible to clients without JavaScript available, such as search engines. Use with care, and consider server-side includes if all you want is to put data in a common shared file.

I'd suggest getting into one of the JS libraries out there. They ensure compatibility so you can get up and running really fast. jQuery and DOJO are both really great. To do what you're trying to do in jQuery, for example, it would go something like this:

<script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript">
$.ajax({
    url: "x.html", 
    context: document.body,
    success: function(response) {
        $("#yourDiv").html(response);
    }
});
</script>

http://www.boutell.com/newfaq/creating/include.html

this would explain how to write your own clientsideinlcude but jQuery is a lot, A LOT easier option ... plus you will gain a lot more by using jQuery anyways

    document.getElementById("id").innerHTML='<object type="text/html" data="x.html"></object>';

jQuery:

$("#y").load("x.html");

2019
Using fetch

<script>
fetch('page.html')
  .then(data => data.text())
  .then(html => document.getElementById('elementID').innerHTML = html);
</script>

<div id='elementID'> </div>

fetch needs to receive a http or https link, this means that it won't work locally.

Note: As Altimus Prime said, it is a feature for modern browsers