How to get element by classname or id

getElementsByClassName is a function on the DOM Document. It is neither a jQuery nor a jqLite function.

Don't add the period before the class name when using it:

var result = document.getElementsByClassName("multi-files");

Wrap it in jqLite (or jQuery if jQuery is loaded before Angular):

var wrappedResult = angular.element(result);

If you want to select from the element in a directive's link function you need to access the DOM reference instead of the the jqLite reference - element[0] instead of element:

link: function (scope, element, attrs) {

  var elementResult = element[0].getElementsByClassName('multi-files');
}

Alternatively you can use the document.querySelector function (need the period here if selecting by class):

var queryResult = element[0].querySelector('.multi-files');
var wrappedQueryResult = angular.element(queryResult);

Demo: http://plnkr.co/edit/AOvO47ebEvrtpXeIzYOH?p=preview

You don't have to add a . in getElementsByClassName, i.e.

var multibutton = angular.element(element.getElementsByClassName("multi-files"));

However, when using angular.element, you do have to use jquery style selectors:

angular.element('.multi-files');

should do the trick.

Also, from this documentation "If jQuery is available, angular.element is an alias for the jQuery function. If jQuery is not available, angular.element delegates to Angular's built-in subset of jQuery, called "jQuery lite" or "jqLite.""

@tasseKATT's Answer is great, but if you don't want to make a directive, why not use $document?

.controller('ExampleController', ['$scope', '$document', function($scope, $document) {
  var dumb = function (id) {
  var queryResult = $document[0].getElementById(id)
  var wrappedID = angular.element(queryResult);
  return wrappedID;
};

PLUNKR