function getDomPath(el) { var stack = []; while ( el.parentNode != null ) { console.log(el.nodeName); var sibCount = 0; var sibIndex = 0; for ( var i = 0; i < el.parentNode.childNodes.length; i++ ) { var sib = el.parentNode.childNodes[i]; if ( sib.nodeName == el.nodeName ) { if ( sib === el ) { sibIndex = sibCount; } sibCount++; } } if ( el.hasAttribute('id') && el.id != '' ) { stack.unshift(el.nodeName.toLowerCase() + '#' + el.id); } else if ( sibCount > 1 ) { stack.unshift(el.nodeName.toLowerCase() + ':eq(' + sibIndex + ')'); } else { stack.unshift(el.nodeName.toLowerCase()); } el = el.parentNode; } return stack.slice(1); // removes the html element } //Usage: var path = getDomPath(document.getElementById('button')); console.log(path.join(' > '));