Javascript error in IE 8 when executing element.closest(':visible');

Condition to recreate the defect:

1. browser: IE only (works fine on FF, Safari, Chrome)

2. target html object does not exist

3. ancestor of the element is not part of html DOM tree

• created by document.createElement("div") or
• child of element #abc which has been removed by $("#abc").empty()

Root cause:

property parentNode of the above ascestor element is different in different browser:

• FireFox: 3.6.12 null
• IE 8: an element with nodeName "#document-fragment" (value of parentElement is null)

Because jQuery uses following codes to get parent node in closest() method:

• cur = cur.parentNode;

And following codes to check whether the element is visible:

• (!jQuery.support.reliableHiddenOffsets && (elem.style.display | | jQuery.css( elem, "display" )) === "none")

Because the document fragment element does not have style property, exception will be thrown.

It is found in jQuery 1.4.4, and is also there in 1.5.2