[javascript] Detect changes in the DOM

I want to execute a function when some div or input are added to the html. Is this possible?

For example, a text input is added, then the function should be called.

How about extending a jquery for this?

   (function () {
        var ev = new $.Event('remove'),
            orig = $.fn.remove;
        var evap = new $.Event('append'),
           origap = $.fn.append;
        $.fn.remove = function () {
            $(this).trigger(ev);
            return orig.apply(this, arguments);
        }
        $.fn.append = function () {
            $(this).trigger(evap);
            return origap.apply(this, arguments);
        }
    })();
    $(document).on('append', function (e) { /*write your logic here*/ });
    $(document).on('remove', function (e) { /*write your logic here*/ });

Jquery 1.9+ has built support for this(I have heard not tested).

MutationObserver = window.MutationObserver || window.WebKitMutationObserver;

var observer = new MutationObserver(function(mutations, observer) {
    // fired when a mutation occurs
    console.log(mutations, observer);
    // ...
});

// define what element should be observed by the observer
// and what types of mutations trigger the callback
observer.observe(document, {
  subtree: true,
  attributes: true
  //...
});

Complete explanations: https://stackoverflow.com/a/11546242/6569224

I have recently written a plugin that does exactly that - jquery.initialize

You use it the same way as .each function

$(".some-element").initialize( function(){
    $(this).css("color", "blue"); 
});

The difference from .each is - it takes your selector, in this case .some-element and wait for new elements with this selector in the future, if such element will be added, it will be initialized too.

In our case initialize function just change element color to blue. So if we'll add new element (no matter if with ajax or even F12 inspector or anything) like:

$("<div/>").addClass('some-element').appendTo("body"); //new element will have blue color!

Plugin will init it instantly. Also plugin makes sure one element is initialized only once. So if you add element, then .detach() it from body and then add it again, it will not be initialized again.

$("<div/>").addClass('some-element').appendTo("body").detach()
    .appendTo(".some-container");
//initialized only once

Plugin is based on MutationObserver - it will work on IE9 and 10 with dependencies as detailed on the readme page.

Use the MutationObserver interface as shown in Gabriele Romanato's blog

Chrome 18+, Firefox 14+, IE 11+, Safari 6+

// The node to be monitored
var target = $( "#content" )[0];

// Create an observer instance
var observer = new MutationObserver(function( mutations ) {
  mutations.forEach(function( mutation ) {
    var newNodes = mutation.addedNodes; // DOM NodeList
    if( newNodes !== null ) { // If there are new nodes added
        var $nodes = $( newNodes ); // jQuery set
        $nodes.each(function() {
            var $node = $( this );
            if( $node.hasClass( "message" ) ) {
                // do something
            }
        });
    }
  });    
});

// Configuration of the observer:
var config = { 
    attributes: true, 
    childList: true, 
    characterData: true 
};

// Pass in the target node, as well as the observer options
observer.observe(target, config);

// Later, you can stop observing
observer.disconnect();

Ultimate approach so far, with smallest code:

(IE9+, FF, Webkit)

Using MutationObserver and falling back to the deprecated Mutation events if needed:
(Example below if only for DOM changes concerning nodes appended or removed)

var observeDOM = (function(){
  var MutationObserver = window.MutationObserver || window.WebKitMutationObserver;

  return function( obj, callback ){
    if( !obj || obj.nodeType !== 1 ) return; 

    if( MutationObserver ){
      // define a new observer
      var mutationObserver = new MutationObserver(callback)

      // have the observer observe foo for changes in children
      mutationObserver.observe( obj, { childList:true, subtree:true })
      return mutationObserver
    }
    
    // browser support fallback
    else if( window.addEventListener ){
      obj.addEventListener('DOMNodeInserted', callback, false)
      obj.addEventListener('DOMNodeRemoved', callback, false)
    }
  }
})()


//------------< DEMO BELOW >----------------

// add item
var itemHTML = "<li><button>list item (click to delete)</button></li>",
    listElm = document.querySelector('ol');

document.querySelector('body > button').onclick = function(e){
  listElm.insertAdjacentHTML("beforeend", itemHTML);
}

// delete item
listElm.onclick = function(e){
  if( e.target.nodeName == "BUTTON" )
    e.target.parentNode.parentNode.removeChild(e.target.parentNode);
}
    
// Observe a specific DOM element:
observeDOM( listElm, function(m){ 
   var addedNodes = [], removedNodes = [];

   m.forEach(record => record.addedNodes.length & addedNodes.push(...record.addedNodes))
   
   m.forEach(record => record.removedNodes.length & removedNodes.push(...record.removedNodes))

  console.clear();
  console.log('Added:', addedNodes, 'Removed:', removedNodes);
});


// Insert 3 DOM nodes at once after 3 seconds
setTimeout(function(){
   listElm.removeChild(listElm.lastElementChild);
   listElm.insertAdjacentHTML("beforeend", Array(4).join(itemHTML));
}, 3000);

<button>Add Item</button>
<ol>
  <li><button>list item (click to delete)</button></li>
  <li><button>list item (click to delete)</button></li>
  <li><button>list item (click to delete)</button></li>
  <li><button>list item (click to delete)</button></li>
  <li><em>&hellip;More will be added after 3 seconds&hellip;</em></li>
</ol>

or you can simply Create your own event, that run everywhere

 $("body").on("domChanged", function () {
                //dom is changed 
            });


 $(".button").click(function () {

          //do some change
          $("button").append("<span>i am the new change</span>");

          //fire event
          $("body").trigger("domChanged");

        });

Full example http://jsfiddle.net/hbmaam/Mq7NX/

The following example was adapted from Mozilla Hacks' blog post and is using MutationObserver.

// Select the node that will be observed for mutations
var targetNode = document.getElementById('some-id');

// Options for the observer (which mutations to observe)
var config = { attributes: true, childList: true };

// Callback function to execute when mutations are observed
var callback = function(mutationsList) {
    for(var mutation of mutationsList) {
        if (mutation.type == 'childList') {
            console.log('A child node has been added or removed.');
        }
        else if (mutation.type == 'attributes') {
            console.log('The ' + mutation.attributeName + ' attribute was modified.');
        }
    }
};

// Create an observer instance linked to the callback function
var observer = new MutationObserver(callback);

// Start observing the target node for configured mutations
observer.observe(targetNode, config);

// Later, you can stop observing
observer.disconnect();

Browser support: Chrome 18+, Firefox 14+, IE 11+, Safari 6+