JavaScript detach: detach a node from the DOM, optionally reattaching it when done.

ba-detach.js

/*!
 * JavaScript detach - v0.2 - 5/18/2011
 * http://benalman.com/
 * 
 * Copyright (c) 2011 "Cowboy" Ben Alman
 * Dual licensed under the MIT and GPL licenses.
 * http://benalman.com/about/license/
 */

function detach(node, async, fn) {
  var parent = node.parentNode;
  var next = node.nextSibling;
  // No parent node? Abort!
  if (!parent) { return; }
  // Detach node from DOM.
  parent.removeChild(node);
  // Handle case where optional `async` argument is omitted.
  if (typeof async !== "boolean") {
    fn = async;
    async = false;
  }
  // Note that if a function wasn't passed, the node won't be re-attached!
  if (fn && async) {
    // If async == true, reattach must be called manually.
    fn.call(node, reattach);
  } else if (fn) {
    // If async != true, reattach will happen automatically.
    fn.call(node);
    reattach();
  }
  // Re-attach node to DOM.
  function reattach() {
    parent.insertBefore(node, next);
  }
}

usage.js

// Get an element.
var elem = document.getElementById('huge-ass-table');

// Just detach element from the DOM.
detach(elem);

// Detach + exec fn + reattach, synchronous.
detach(elem, function() {
  // this == elem, do stuff here.
});

// Detach + exec fn + reattach, asynchronous.
detach(elem, true, function(reattach) {
  // this == elem, do stuff here, call reattach() when done!
  setTimeout(reattach, 1000);
});