Create a Custom “:selected” Pseudo Selector in MooTools
A while back I read a very interesting article by MooTools core developer Jan Kassens about how to create a custom pseudo selector in MooTools. I was surprised at the ease in which one can add their own pseudo selector that I thought I'd add a pseudo selector that I found useful in jQuery: :selected. This pseudo selector would return option elements that are selected. Here's how I did it:
The XHTML
<select name="mysel" id="mysel" multiple="multiple"> <option value="One">One</a> <option value="Two">Two</a> <option value="Three" selected="selected">Three</a> <option value="Four" selected="selected">Four</a> </select>
A basic select element that allows for multiple selections and has two elements selected by default.
The MooTools Custom Pseudo Selector
Selectors.Pseudo.selected = function(){
return (this.selected && 'option' == this.get('tag'));
};
MooTools has an internal "Selectors.Pseudo" variable so all I needed to do was add a selected property. That property is a function that returns whether an individual returned elements should be added to the collection. In this case, if the element has the selected property as true, the element should be returned. Using my example above, the 2 matching elements will be returned.
What other pseudo selectors do you think would be useful in MooTools? Please share!
Interesting. I can defiantly see using this one.
What would happen if I tried to use that pseudo selector on an element that is not a select? Do you think it would be a good idea to wrap it in an if statement? Also could we return the selected element with the MooTools element extensions already applied?
if(this.get('tag') == 'select'){ return $(this.selected); }@Evan: Per your comment:
@Even: Actually, let me reconsider my response:
There should be a check to make sure it’s a “select” element. I’ll add that and test when I get a free moment. Your “return $()” is wrong though. All that needs to be returned within the pseudos is a “true” or “false” value. Essentially, is the condition a match or no?
@Evan: One more update. You want to make sure the tag is an “option” tag, not a “select” tag.
The word is definitely… Why do so many people have trouble spelling this word?
@Grammar Nazi… I noticed the stupid spelling mistake right after I posted and could not go back to edit…
@david Thanks for testing out my questions for me.
really nice one, it look good
MooTools has functionality built in to get selected elements:
http://mootools.net/docs/Element/Element#Element:getSelected
@atom: Yep, I guess I find “:selected” to be shorter and within the $$() functionality.
This is one of the neatest tricks I’ve seen in a while. I can already think of two situations where I’d use this right away! Keep up the good work Mister Walsh.
Oh, and when I read that someone would “defiantly” use this, I just figured they were being rebellious, audacious, insubordinate … mutinous. Using this technique with recalcitrant disobedience.
“Definitely” is spelled right, but much less interesting.
Ha, nice script, in my current style of programming I don’t use it, but defiantly will later on!
Sorry Grammar, couldn’t resist :)
If MooTools implement CSS3 for it’s selector the :checked could be used.
While the :checked pseudo-class is dynamic in nature, and is altered by user action, since it can also be based on the presence of the semantic HTML4 selected and checked attributes, it applies to all media.
See http://www.w3.org/TR/css3-selectors/#UIstates
Do you know your script doesn’t work on IE ?
In response to Yann’s comment to have this pseudo selector and other play nice with IEs you might like to have a look at this Mootools Core ticket on Lighthouse
from Valerio’s comment there the script would need to be something like (note haven’t tested)
Selectors.Pseudo.selected = function(){ return (this.selected && 'option' == Element.get(this, 'tag')); };For IE and FF support you can wrap it in a Try/Catch
Selectors.Pseudo.selected = function(){ var tag; try { tag = Element.get(this, 'tag'); } catch (ex) { tag = this.get('tag'); } return (this.selected && ‘option’ == tag); );