Drag and Drop Z-Index Stacking

By  on  
MooTools Drag Opacity

In an example for a previous post, I showed you how to use opacity during a drag'n'drop transaction. One bit I didn't account for was element stacking and bringing the most recent element to the top of the stack. To do so, we'll need to use a variable that represents the highest zIndex, which we'll be incrementing.

The MooTools JavaScript

window.addEvent('domready',function() {
	var zIndex = 2;
	$$('.draggable').each(function(el) {
		var drag = new Drag.Move(el,{
			grid: false,
			preventDefault: true,
			onStart: function() {
				el.setStyle('z-index',zIndex++); //increment!
			}
		});
	});
});

As you probably expected, the process is as simple as it gets. Correct stacking order is incredibly important as you don't want items to be wrongly buried.

Recent Features

  • By
    Responsive Images: The Ultimate Guide

    Chances are that any Web designers using our Ghostlab browser testing app, which allows seamless testing across all devices simultaneously, will have worked with responsive design in some shape or form. And as today's websites and devices become ever more varied, a plethora of responsive images...

  • By
    Being a Dev Dad

    I get asked loads of questions every day but I'm always surprised that they're rarely questions about code or even tech -- many of the questions I get are more about non-dev stuff like what my office is like, what software I use, and oftentimes...

Incredible Demos

  • By
    MooTools-Like Element Creation in jQuery

    I really dislike jQuery's element creation syntax. It's basically the same as typing out HTML but within a JavaScript string...ugly! Luckily Basil Goldman has created a jQuery plugin that allows you to create elements using MooTools-like syntax. Standard jQuery Element Creation Looks exactly like writing out...

  • By
    Facebook Sliders With Mootools and CSS

    One of the great parts of being a developer that uses Facebook is that I can get some great ideas for progressive website enhancement. Facebook incorporates many advanced JavaScript and AJAX features: photo loads by left and right arrow, dropdown menus, modal windows, and...

Discussion

  1. I believe z++ should actually be zIndex++ … or you get fail ;)

  2. This Friday’s dumbass mistake brought to you by…lack of sleep.

  3. Nice idea, although it does not seem to work for me (tested in Chrome/Windows).

    Either way, I think you should do pre-increment instead of post-increment, to assign the incremented value to the element: el.setStyle('z-index', ++zIndex). That way you wont need to start the variable in 2 :)

  4. Is it just me or did your original referenced topic use z-index stacking as well?

  5. Have a look at the footer on my homepage. I have incorporated dragging functions with jquery for the 4 items. I had hover z-index replace at one point but removed it because it was not realistic with solid gears :) THX

  6. @Brian Klepper: I meant 6 items.. :0

  7. daniele

    hi dav, is it possible to write draggable events into a db?

Wrap your code in <pre class="{language}"></pre> tags, link to a GitHub gist, JSFiddle fiddle, or CodePen pen to embed!