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Resize columns of a table

Written byPhuoc Nguyen
Created
05 Mar, 2020
Last updated
07 May, 2021
Category
Level 3 — Advanced
Assume that we want to resize any column of the following table:
html
<table id="resizeMe" class="table">
...
</table>

Prepare the resizer

For each column, we insert a `div` element indicating that the associated column can be resized. The resizer element is positioned absolutely inside the column. The CSS styles for them would be as below:
css
.table th {
position: relative;
}
.resizer {
/* Displayed at the right side of column */
position: absolute;
top: 0;
right: 0;
width: 5px;
cursor: col-resize;
user-select: none;
}
To create resizers and append them to columns, we have to query and loop over all columns:
js
// Query the table
const table = document.getElementById('resizeMe');

// Query all headers
const cols = table.querySelectorAll('th');

// Loop over them
[].forEach.call(cols, function (col) {
// Create a resizer element
const resizer = document.createElement('div');
resizer.classList.add('resizer');

// Set the height
resizer.style.height = `${table.offsetHeight}px`;

// Add a resizer element to the column
col.appendChild(resizer);

// Will be implemented in the next section
createResizableColumn(col, resizer);
});

Handle the resizer's events

We are going to implement a function, `createResizableColumn`, which accepts two parameters:
  • `col` that represents the table header
  • `resizer` that represents the resizer element within the column
In order to allow user to resize `col`, we have to handle three events:
  • `mousedown` on the resizer: Track the current position of mouse
  • `mousemove` on `document`: Calculate how far the mouse has been moved, and adjust the width of the column
  • `mouseup` on `document`: Remove the event handlers of `document`
js
const createResizableColumn = function (col, resizer) {
// Track the current position of mouse
let x = 0;
let w = 0;

const mouseDownHandler = function (e) {
// Get the current mouse position
x = e.clientX;

// Calculate the current width of column
const styles = window.getComputedStyle(col);
w = parseInt(styles.width, 10);

// Attach listeners for document's events
document.addEventListener('mousemove', mouseMoveHandler);
document.addEventListener('mouseup', mouseUpHandler);
};

const mouseMoveHandler = function (e) {
// Determine how far the mouse has been moved
const dx = e.clientX - x;

// Update the width of column
col.style.width = `${w + dx}px`;
};

// When user releases the mouse, remove the existing event listeners
const mouseUpHandler = function () {
document.removeEventListener('mousemove', mouseMoveHandler);
document.removeEventListener('mouseup', mouseUpHandler);
};

resizer.addEventListener('mousedown', mouseDownHandler);
};
Tip

Highlight the resizer

We can improve the user experience a little bit. When user hovers or clicks on the resizer, it can be hightlighted. To demonstrate the idea in the most simple way, we add a solid border to the `:hover` selector:
css
.resizer:hover,
.resizing {
border-right: 2px solid blue;
}
The `resizing` class is added to the resizer while user clicks and drags the resizer:
js
const mouseDownHandler = function(e) {
...
resizer.classList.add('resizing');
};

const mouseUpHandler = function() {
...
resizer.classList.remove('resizing');
};

Demo

See also

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Phước Nguyễn