# Container bug when adding a custom component

**URL:** <https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/container-bug-when-adding-a-custom-component/46092>\
**Category:** Elements API\
**Created:** [January 28, 2025, 4:24pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/container-bug-when-adding-a-custom-component/46092 "2025-01-28T16:24:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Bartje](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/bartje/32/1210_2.png) [@Bartje](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/Bartje)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 4:24pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/container-bug-when-adding-a-custom-component/46092/1 "2025-01-28T16:24:00Z")

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When I add a custom component inside a container, I always see a \< at the bottom in preview mode. This does not happen in edit mode.

 ![Container](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/realmacsoftware1/original/3X/b/3/b33d7208c6d144e38e350adb297671ecc4daf181.png)  
 ![Scherm­afbeelding 2025-01-29 om 17.22.12](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/realmacsoftware1/original/3X/c/1/c156eafe88d33fbb66535db3668c09432f26b630.png)

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**Author:** ![dan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/dan/32/28516_2.png) [@dan](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/dan)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 4:50pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/container-bug-when-adding-a-custom-component/46092/2 "2025-01-28T16:50:39Z")

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I’m going to bet there’s a coding error in your custom component…

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bartje](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/bartje/32/1210_2.png) [@Bartje](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/Bartje)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 7:08pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/container-bug-when-adding-a-custom-component/46092/3 "2025-01-28T19:08:11Z")

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That is probably the case. It’s just strange that the \< is only visible when the custom component is placed inside a container and not when no container is used.

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**Author:** ![dan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/dan/32/28516_2.png) [@dan](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/dan)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 7:18pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/container-bug-when-adding-a-custom-component/46092/4 "2025-01-28T19:18:11Z")

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have you tried running the custom Component through ChatGPT to check for the error in the HTML?

If that doesn’t work, I’m sure DanGPT could take a look for you 😆

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**Author:** ![Bartje](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/bartje/32/1210_2.png) [@Bartje](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/Bartje)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 7:23pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/container-bug-when-adding-a-custom-component/46092/5 "2025-01-28T19:23:14Z")

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Yes, ChatGTP, Claude and the whole AI family has already looked at it, but they couldn’t find any reason within the custom component itself why the \< keeps appearing. I will bring it up again with the specific note that it only happens when using a container. If I still can’t find it, I will ask DeepDan for help 🐋

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bartje](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/bartje/32/1210_2.png) [@Bartje](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/Bartje)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 7:45pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/container-bug-when-adding-a-custom-component/46092/6 "2025-01-28T19:45:49Z")

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Claude solved the problem. For what it’s worth here: this was the solution:

_Let’s try a different approach. The issue seems to lie in the HTML structure. Instead of using a full HTML document structure, we can focus solely on the component code itself, as Elements already provides the base HTML structure._

_ **Key Changes in This Version:** _

_• Removal of all HTML boilerplate (, , , etc.)._

_• Retention of only the essential component code._

_• Simplified script structure._

_• Elimination of unnecessary wrappers and namespaces._

_ **Why This Should Work Better in Elements:** _

_• No duplicate HTML structure._

_• The code is more minimalistic._

_• There’s less chance of conflicts with the container._

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**Author:** ![dan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/dan/32/28516_2.png) [@dan](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/dan)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 9:03pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/container-bug-when-adding-a-custom-component/46092/7 "2025-01-29T21:03:03Z")

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Glad to hear you got it sorted. My bet was that you have a bit of malformed HTMl in there.

If it comes up again, send the project over and we can take a look for you 😊