select only updating elements with d3.js - d3.js

Question

With a d3.js join Is there a way to select only the 'updating' elements separately from the 'entering' elements?
updateAndEnter = d3.selectAll('element').data(data);
entering = updateAndEnter.enter();
exiting = updateAndEnter.exit();
updatingOnly = ??;

Answer 1

Yes, the selection just after the data join contains the 'update only' elements. After appending to the enter() selection, it will be expanded to include the entering elements as well.
See General Update Pattern:
// DATA JOIN
// Join new data with old elements, if any.
var text = svg.selectAll("text")
.data(data);
// UPDATE
// Update old elements as needed.
text.attr("class", "update");
// ENTER
// Create new elements as needed.
text.enter().append("text")
.attr("class", "enter")
.attr("x", function(d, i) { return i * 32; })
.attr("dy", ".35em");
// ENTER + UPDATE
// Appending to the enter selection expands the update selection to include
// entering elements; so, operations on the update selection after appending to
// the enter selection will apply to both entering and updating nodes.
text.text(function(d) { return d; });
// EXIT
// Remove old elements as needed.
text.exit().remove();

Answer 2

it's my pleasure
For me ( too ) this is a little bit confusing : it seems that the only available set is actually ENTER+UPDATE ( blended together ) and EXIT.
But what if i want to work or at least identify only updated elements?
I wrote a very simple function ( that follows, simply put wrap it in a script tag at the end of a basic html page ) showing this simple dilemma : how do I highlight updated elements ? Only ENTER and EXIT seem to react "correctly"
To test it, just type in chrome console :
manage_p(['append','a few','paragraph'])
manage_p(['append','a few','new','paragraph'])
manage_p(['append','paragraphs'])
I can get green or red highlighting, i can't get white
Maybe we're missing D3Js specs?
Best regards,
Fabrizio
function join_p(dataSet) {
var el = d3.select('body');
var join = el
.selectAll('p')
.data(dataSet);
join.enter().append('p').style('background-color','white');
join.style('background-color','green').text(function(d) { return d; });
join.exit().text('eliminato').style('background-color','red');
}