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Jons
Jons
June 30, 2025
Question

Adding custom script

  • June 30, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 30 views

Hello Community,

 

I'm facing a strange issue with a custom script located in my script.js file in the Zendesk Guide theme.

When I load an article page, my script initializes and works perfectly. However, if I stay on that same page for a while, the script's functionality suddenly stops working.

 

This can happen when navigating to another article and back again but not always the case. It appears to happen after a short period of time, or possibly after some other element loads onto the page. It feels as if the event listeners my script created have been detached or that the DOM elements they were attached to have been altered. I'm using the browser's Sources panel to verify whether the script.js file is actually included when the page loads.

 

My question is:
What could cause a script's functionality to "disappear" like this on a single page? Could it be another component loading asynchronously (like a widget, cookie banner, or the comments section) and altering the DOM? Is there a recommended way to debug this or make my script robust against such changes?

 

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

    1 reply

    Elaine14
    Elaine14Employee
    Employee
    July 18, 2025
    Hi Jons,
     
    It sounds like you're encountering a frustrating issue with your custom script. Here are a few thoughts that might help:
     

    1. Event Listeners: If your script relies on event listeners, it’s possible they could be getting detached if the DOM is modified. Consider re-attaching your listeners whenever the DOM changes, perhaps by using MutationObserver to monitor for changes to the DOM.

       

    2. Script Timing: Ensure your script runs after all elements (like widgets or banners) have fully loaded. You might want to wrap your initialization code in a window load event to ensure that everything is ready.

       

    3. Debugging: Use console logs to check if your script is still running after the issue occurs. This might help you pinpoint where things are going wrong. The browser's developer tools can also help you track DOM changes.

       

    4. Asynchronous Loading: If components are loading asynchronously, try to handle that within your script. You can use promises or callbacks to ensure your script behaves correctly as new elements are added to the page.

       

    5. Testing: Create a simple test environment where you can isolate the issue without other components interfering, which will help you debug more effectively.

       

    I hope these suggestions help you get to the bottom of the issue! Looking forward to hearing if you find a solution.
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