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May 24th, 2021 × #javascript#drag and drop#web api

Hasty Treat - JavaScript's Drag and Drop API

Wes and Scott discuss using the native drag and drop API in JavaScript to enable dragging elements between web apps and customizing the drag experience.

Wes Bos

Wes Bos Host

Scott Tolinski

Scott Tolinski Host

or
Show Notes Transcript

In this Hasty Treat, Scott and Wes talk about JavaScript's drag and drop API — how it works, concerns, best practices, and more!

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Show Notes

04:45 - What is it?

  • Drag and drop is really for desktop apps
  • You can drag and drop anything from any browser to any browser
  • The important thing here is that this is a set of browser standards that allow different apps to communicate

07:50 - How to implement

  1. Make an element draggable
  2. Listen on elements for drag events
    • The events bubble up, so you can listen on the parent element as items are added/removed

09:06 - DataTransfer API

  • You can store anything you want in it
  • getData / setData API
  • Reference strings

11:35 - Accepting drops

  • When you dragOver, you need to preventDefault()
  • Calling the preventDefault() method during both a dragEnter and dragOver event will indicate that a drop is allowed at that location

13:01 - Drop Image

  • Set whatever you want

16:00 - Drop Effect

  • What does it look like when you drop it? Does it go back?
  • dataTransfer.effectAllowed
  • e.dataTransfer.setDragImage(nothing, 0, 0);

18:02 - Security concerns

20:34 - Shortcomings:

  • Edge cases out the WAZOO
    • Margin caused dragout events
    • Lots of if statements
  • It's up to you to do EVERYTHING
    • CSS, classes, hover styles, etc.
  • Accessibility
    • Inaccessible by default, unless using mouse keys
    • Have to announce everything
  • Mobile

26:14 - Lbs

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