← Back toHTML DOM

Show a ghost element when dragging an element

Written byPhuoc Nguyen
Created
31 Mar, 2020
Category
Level 2 — Intermediate
Assume that we have a draggable element:
html
<div draggable="true" class="draggable">Drag me</div>
Using the `draggable` attribute lets the browser know that the element can be dragged around. By default, the browser will show a ghost element created from the original element when it is being dragged.
We can customize the ghost element:
js
// Query the element
const ele = document.getElementById('dragMe');

// The ghost element
let ghostEle;

ele.addEventListener('dragstart', function (e) {
// Create the ghost element
ghostEle = document.createElement('div');
ghostEle.classList.add('dragging');
ghostEle.innerHTML = 'I am flying';

// Append it to `body`
document.body.appendChild(ghostEle);

// Customize the drag image
e.dataTransfer.setDragImage(ghostEle, 0, 0);
});
It's worth noting that the ghost element should be removed from the page when users drag the element:
js
ele.addEventListener('dragend', function (e) {
document.body.removeChild(ghostEle);
});
In the sample code above, the ghost element is created and removed on the fly. However, it's also possible to use an existing element:
html
<div draggable="true" class="draggable">Drag me</div>
<div id="ghost" class="dragging">I am flying</div>
The event handler doesn't change much:
js
const ghostEle = document.getElementById('ghost');

ele.addEventListener('dragstart', function (e) {
e.dataTransfer.setDragImage(ghostEle, 0, 0);
});

Demo

See also

If you found this post helpful, please consider giving the repository a star on GitHub or sharing the post on your favorite social networks 😍. Your support would mean a lot to me!

Questions? 🙋

Do you have any questions about front-end development? If so, feel free to create a new issue on GitHub using the button below. I'm happy to help with any topic you'd like to learn more about, even beyond what's covered in this post.
While I have a long list of upcoming topics, I'm always eager to prioritize your questions and ideas for future content. Let's learn and grow together! Sharing knowledge is the best way to elevate ourselves 🥷.
Ask me questions

Recent posts ⚡

Newsletter 🔔

If you're into front-end technologies and you want to see more of the content I'm creating, then you might want to consider subscribing to my newsletter.
By subscribing, you'll be the first to know about new articles, products, and exclusive promotions.
Don't worry, I won't spam you. And if you ever change your mind, you can unsubscribe at any time.
Phước Nguyễn