dhtml - Set content of HTML <span> with Javascript

Question

In a webpage I am calling a WebService that gives me an integer value. I need to display this value in a block of text. I am currently using an HTML <span>.

So far, I've found two methods of putting my value in a span. innerText() is an IE proprietary way of doing it and innerHTML() is a non-standards compliant way, although widely supported.

What is the correct standards compliant way of setting the text between <span> and </span> from Javascript?

Answer 1

This is standards compliant and cross-browser safe.

Example: http://jsfiddle.net/kv9pw/

var span = document.getElementById('someID');

while( span.firstChild ) {
    span.removeChild( span.firstChild );
}
span.appendChild( document.createTextNode("some new content") );