How to force a script reload and re-execute?

javascript

prompt-engineering

functions

performance

byAnton Shumikhin·Feb 17, 2025

For an instant script reload, inject a unique, cache-busting query string:

var script = document.createElement('script');
script.src = 'script.js?' + Date.now(); // Time travel! Because, hey, it's always NOW
document.head.appendChild(script);

To prevent past mistakes (literally), remove the old script before attaching the new one. Gives you memory efficiency and fewer feuds on your DOM:

var oldScript = document.querySelector('script[src="script.js"]');
if (oldScript) {
  oldScript.parentNode.removeChild(oldScript); // You served us well, oldScript. RIP
}
document.head.appendChild(script);

Effective techniques for script reloading

Automate the process using `setTimeout` or `setInterval`

Automatically reload scripts at selected intervals with setTimeout or setInterval:

function reloadScript() {
  var script = document.createElement('script');
  script.src = 'script.js?' + new Date().getTime(); // Not a DeLorean, but still time travel!
  var oldScript = document.getElementById('dynamicScript');
  if (oldScript) {
    document.head.removeChild(oldScript);
  }
  script.id = 'dynamicScript';
  document.head.appendChild(script);
}

setInterval(reloadScript, 60000); // Reloads every 60 seconds like clockwork

Use well-crafted functions for dynamic reloading

Enhance efficiency with a function to dynamically append scripts, efficiently avoiding duplicates:

function loadScript(scriptPath, scriptId) {
  var script = document.createElement('script');
  script.src = scriptPath + '?' + Date.now(); // Piercing through time for a fresh cached file.
  if (scriptId) {
    var oldScript = document.getElementById(scriptId);
    if (oldScript) {
      oldScript.parentNode.removeChild(oldScript);
    }
    script.id = scriptId;
  }
  document.head.appendChild(script);
}

// Usage
loadScript('script.js', 'uniqueScript');

Handling potential issues

Dynamically reloading scripts isn't always roses. Here are some thorns:

Performance Implications: Too many reloads can slow down performance — use moderately.
State Management: Scripts hold states, and reloading them resets the states. Get around this by managing states outside of the scripts or employing modules.

Advanced script management techniques

How jQuery can simplify reloading

Using jQuery? You're in luck! Simplify the process by using jQuery's DOM manipulation ease:

function reloadWithJQuery(scriptPath) {
  $('script[src="' + scriptPath + '"]').remove();
  $('<script>')
    .attr('src', scriptPath + '?' + Date.now())
    .appendTo('head');
}

// Usage
reloadWithJQuery('script.js'); // jQuery, making life simpler since 2006

Using a keyword for reloading

Target scripts containing a specific keyword or namespace using a helper function:

function forceReloadJS(keyword) {
  var scripts = document.querySelectorAll(`script[src*="${keyword}"]`);
  scripts.forEach(function(scr) {
    scr.remove();
    var newScript = document.createElement('script');
    newScript.src = scr.src.split('?')[0] + '?' + Date.now(); // Playing Dr Who with timestamps
    document.head.appendChild(newScript);
  });
}

// Usage
forceReloadJS('library'); // Replace 'library' with your keyword