Question

Is there an HTML element, or an element that, when combined with the correct CSS style properties, has no footprint except that it can be used as a container for other elements?

It would almost be like a “marker” on the page marker where actual HTML that does stuff should be placed by jQuery.

Example of what it might look like:

<span id='the_view_container' style='display:dont-do-anything'></span>

The reason I ask is because I’m working with Backbonejs and when I have to add a view to the screen, I find that I either have to specify the element that the view should be pegged to when creating the view, which has its drawbacks:

theView = new TheView({
    el:    $('#the-view-container')
});

Or I have to insert the view inside an existing element, usually a div. This creates difficulties with templating:

theView = new TheView({});
$('#the-view-container').html(theView.el);
$('#the-view-container').addClass('theViewClass');  // <-- Shouldn't have to do this

Any input is appreciated, thanks so much!

Answer 1

You would be better off dynamically creating an element.

However, you can create a ‘nothing’ element like this:

<div id="nothing" style="display: none; visibility: hidden; width: 0; height: 0; line-height: 0"></div>

Then set the style when needed:

$('#nothing').css('');