# HTML DOM contains() Method

Element Object

## Example

Find out if a <span> element is a descendant of a <div> element:

var span = document.getElementById("mySPAN");
var div = document.getElementById("myDIV").contains(span);

The result of div will be:

true
Try it yourself »

## Definition and Usage

The contains() method returns a Boolean value indicating whether a node is a descendant of a specified node.

A descendant can be a child, grandchild, great-grandchild, and so on.

## Browser Support

The numbers in the table specify the first browser version that fully supports the method.

Method |  |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
contains() | Yes | 5.0 | 9.0 | 3.0 | Yes

## Syntax

node.contains(node)

## Parameter Values

Parameter | Description
--- | ---
node | Required. Specifies the node that may be contained by (a descendant of) a specified node

## Technical Details

Return Value:

A Boolean, indicating whether a node is a descendant of a specified node:

- true - The node is is a descendant
- false - The node is NOT a descendant

Element Object

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