img-comparison-slider: A Handy Tool for Image Comparison
Overview
The img-comparison-slider is a web component designed to enable users to compare two images interactively. This tool is especially useful for viewing "before" and "after" scenarios, which can be applicable to photo editing, restoration, or even in showcasing changes in a product. It allows users to slide between two images to see differences seamlessly. The component has gained a following with easy accessibility through popular platforms such as npm and jsDelivr, alongside recognition on webcomponents.org.
Key Features
- Mobile Friendly: Ensures smooth operation across all devices, including smartphones and tablets.
- Accessible: Designed with accessibility in mind, making it usable for all individuals.
- Responsive: Adapts to various screen sizes without losing functionality.
- Compact Size: The component is lightweight, with a minified size of less than 12 kB and under 4 kB when gzipped, ensuring fast loading times.
- Framework Compatibility: Integrates effortlessly with modern frameworks like React, Angular, Vue2, and Vue3.
- Flexible Distribution: Available via CDN for easy integration or through npm for those using a node-based development environment.
Installation and Requirements
To work effectively, the browser must support ECMAScript 2015 (ES6) and newer, including Custom Elements and Shadow DOM features. If older browser support is necessary, polyfills can be applied to fill in these gaps. CSS Variables are used for styling flexibility and although they are well supported, additional polyfill might be needed for Internet Explorer 11.
HTML Setup
To use the img-comparison-slider in a webpage:
<script defer src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/img-comparison-slider@8/dist/index.js"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/img-comparison-slider@8/dist/styles.css" />
<img-comparison-slider>
<img slot="first" src="before.jpg" />
<img slot="second" src="after.jpg" />
</img-comparison-slider>
This simple HTML snippet integrates the slider, requiring just an inclusion of the script and linking the stylesheet.
Supported Frameworks
The installation is flexible, with dedicated support for major JavaScript frameworks, making it easy to integrate into existing projects without breaking the workflow:
- React
- Angular
- Vue2
- Vue3
Customization Attributes
The slider offers several attributes for customization:
- value: Controls the initial position of the slider (0-100%).
- hover: Enables automatic sliding on hover.
- direction: Sets whether the slider is horizontal or vertical.
- keyboard: Manages keyboard navigation controls.
- handle: Limits drag to handle only when true.
Events and Styling
The slider emits a slide event each time a user alters the position manually. For appearance customization, developers can leverage CSS variables to modify elements like the handle and the divider line, for improved aesthetics and branding:
<style type="text/css">
img-comparison-slider {
--divider-width: 2px;
--divider-color: #c0c0c0;
--default-handle-opacity: 0.3;
}
</style>
Available CSS Variables
- --divider-width: Defines the line width separating images.
- --divider-color: Sets the line color between images.
- --default-handle-opacity: Adjusts the handle's transparency.
Conclusion
The img-comparison-slider is a dynamic, modern tool allowing easy interactive image comparisons that are ideal for developers looking to engage users with visual transformations. Its lightweight design and wide-ranging compatibility make it an excellent option for any web-based project that involves side-by-side image comparisons.