How to Use a Specific Class in JavaScript to Count Table Cells

Active

Triggering a Modal with Active Class Count in a Table

You may wish to apply custom behavior based on the contents of each cell when working with . For instance, you can use specific patterns or criteria to dynamically assign classes to table cells. Your table may become more useful and engaging as a result.

In this example, table cells that satisfy certain requirements will have a class named added to them. A function that examines each cell, verifies its contents, and then applies the class appropriately is used to do this. It's a productive method of organizing particular cells according to their data.

After applying the class to a subset of cells, counting the number of cells that have this class could be a frequent next step. If you wish to start an event or action, such opening a modal that shows the count, counting these cells can be quite helpful.

This tutorial will teach you how to use JavaScript to count the number of cells that have the class and to automatically launch a modal that shows the count. Using , the solution is straightforward, efficient, and simple to implement.

Command Example of Use
.each() Every element in a set of matched elements is iterated over by this jQuery function. It applies conditional logic or classes by iterating over each table cell () in our example.
addClass() The selected items receive one or more class names added to them by this jQuery method. The script applies the or class to cells according to their content.
.dialog() Used with jQuery UI to generate a modal dialog. When the script triggers the modal, the autoOpen: true option makes sure it opens automatically and shows the number of active items.
.text() The text content of the chosen components is retrieved or set using this technique. In this instance, it checks to see if the contents of every cell match a particular pattern.
RegExp() Regular expressions are made with this JavaScript constructor. The script may assign classes based on content by identifying patterns such as or .
classList.add() This basic JavaScript technique gives an element a particular class. It functions similarly to jQuery's addClass() in the vanilla JavaScript solution, adding the or class depending on conditions.
DOMContentLoaded When the HTML document has finished loading and parsing, the DOMContentLoaded event is triggered. In the vanilla JavaScript example, it makes sure the script executes after the DOM has finished loading.
querySelectorAll() Every element in the document that matches the given CSS selector is returned by this JavaScript function. In the basic JavaScript example, it is utilized to pick every element in the table for further processing.
forEach() An array method in JavaScript that lets you iterate over elements. Here, it's utilized to iterate over every table cell that querySelectorAll() returned and apply the required logic to each one.

Understanding the Script: Counting Cells and Triggering a Modal

In the first script example, each table cell is iterated over, its content is evaluated, and a class is assigned depending on the evaluation using . This feature is made possible by iterating through each of the

items in the table using the method. Regular expressions are used to apply two conditional checks inside this loop. These patterns ascertain if each cell's content adheres to a particular format. The cell gains the class if the content follows a pattern, such as a number and a capital letter. For the cells to be dynamically categorized, this is essential.

With the constructor, a regular expression for matching numbers followed by letters is constructed. This technique makes sure that cells with data, such as "1A" or "3C," are recognized and labeled with the current class. The cell receives a separate class called if the content matches a different pattern, such "c" followed by a number. This makes it possible to classify the data in the table more precisely. Furthermore, the method guarantees that cells can have these classes added without deleting any classes they may already have.

The next step is to count the appropriate cells and initiate a modal after they have all been tagged with the active class. Every time a cell obtains the active class, the count is incremented and saved in a variable named . The number of qualifying cells in the table must be ascertained using this count. Using the function from jQuery UI, a modal is generated when the counting is finished. The attribute allows the modal to open automatically. The number of active cells is shown inside the modal.

In the second case, vanilla JavaScript is used to duplicate the identical procedure. is used in place of jQuery in this approach to select all table cells, and a straightforward loop iterates through each cell. Regular expressions are utilized to match the cell content, just like in the jQuery solution. If a match is discovered, the activeCount is updated and the active class is added using the method. Ultimately, altering the internal HTML of a predefined modal element in the DOM activates the modal. The same outcome as the jQuery example is achieved using this solution, which doesn't rely on outside libraries.

Counting Cells with a Specific Class and Triggering a Modal

This method counts items that have a given class and dynamically assigns classes to them using . It then opens a modal window.

$(document).ready(function() {
  var activeCount = 0;
  $('td').each(function() {
    var $this = $(this);
    if ($this.text().match(new RegExp(/[0-9][A-Z]/)) !== null) {
      $this.addClass('active');
      activeCount++;
    }
    if ($this.text().match(new RegExp(/c[0-9]/)) !== null) {
      $this.addClass('none');
    }
  });
  // Trigger the modal with the count of 'active' items
  $('#myModal').dialog({ autoOpen: true, modal: true, title: 'Active Count',
      open: function() { $(this).html('Number of active items: ' + activeCount); } });
});

Alternative: Using Vanilla JavaScript to Count Active Cells

Instead than relying on third-party libraries like jQuery, this solution adds a class and counts the cells using .

document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {
  var cells = document.querySelectorAll('td');
  var activeCount = 0;
  cells.forEach(function(cell) {
    if (/[0-9][A-Z]/.test(cell.textContent)) {
      cell.classList.add('active');
      activeCount++;
    } else if (/c[0-9]/.test(cell.textContent)) {
      cell.classList.add('none');
    }
  });
  // Open the modal to display the count
  var modal = document.getElementById('myModal');
  modal.style.display = 'block';
  modal.innerHTML = 'Number of active items: ' + activeCount;
});

Backend Approach: Using Node.js and Express with EJS Templating

This example uses to render the cell count in a modal window while counting cells server-side.

const express = require('express');
const app = express();
app.set('view engine', 'ejs');
app.get('/', (req, res) => {
  const tableData = [['1A', '2B', '3C'], ['c1', '4D', '5E']];
  let activeCount = 0;
  tableData.forEach(row => {
    row.forEach(cell => {
      if (/[0-9][A-Z]/.test(cell)) {
        activeCount++;
      }
    });
  });
  res.render('index', { activeCount });
});
app.listen(3000, () => console.log('Server running on port 3000'));

Unit Testing with Jest for Backend Solution

Here, we develop unit tests for the Node.js solution using to make that the active count logic functions as intended.

const { countActiveCells } = require('./countActive');
test('counts active cells correctly', () => {
  const tableData = [['1A', '2B', '3C'], ['c1', '4D', '5E']];
  expect(countActiveCells(tableData)).toBe(4);
});
test('returns zero if no active cells', () => {
  const tableData = [['c1', 'c2', 'c3'], ['c4', 'c5', 'c6']];
  expect(countActiveCells(tableData)).toBe(0);
});

Expanding on Cell Selection and Class Handling in JavaScript

Working with and also involves the ability to dynamically modify classes in response to user input or content. You can do more than just count the cells; you can also handle user inputs and instantly change the content of the table. For example, using methods like in jQuery or classList.remove() in vanilla JavaScript, you may dynamically modify the class, highlight, or even remove the class when a user clicks on a table cell. Tables become considerably more interactive as a result, and further customisation based on updates to content in real time is possible.

A table displaying real-time data where specific cells need to be visually separated depending on a class change would be a useful use case for this. It's simple to bind functions that cause these modifications by using event listeners. In JavaScript, for instance, you can use to listen for events on particular cells, such as clicks or key presses. Additional class modifications or even updates to a counter reflecting the number of cells in the table may result from this interaction.

You can also think about situations in which cells should update automatically without any input from the user. Table content can be updated and monitored continually via an interval or AJAX calls. Regular expressions and methods such as allow the table to automatically change its classes and launch a modal when a threshold is reached. Tables can now be used in more dynamic applications, like dashboards and data-driven settings.

  1. In vanilla JavaScript, how can I count components that belong to a particular class?
  2. To select every element with that class, use ; to count them, use .
  3. Based on the content of the table cell, how can I add a class to it?
  4. You may apply a class using and inspect the contents of a cell using or properties.
  5. What distinguishes in vanilla JavaScript from in jQuery?
  6. is a native JavaScript property, and is a jQuery method that retrieves or modifies the content of selected elements.
  7. When counting cells that belong to a particular class, how can I start a modal?
  8. To construct a modal in jQuery and have it trigger dependent on the number of items with a particular class, use .
  9. In JavaScript, how can I take a class out of an element?
  10. In vanilla JavaScript, you can use to remove a class from an element.

JavaScript or jQuery can be used to manage counting cells with a specified class, such , in an effective manner. Regular expressions are a useful tool for identifying patterns in table content, which facilitates dynamic class assignments and other interactions.

Furthermore, a useful method of informing users of a table's status is to initiate a modal based on the number of these active cells. The function in jQuery or a custom modal are two methods that provide a great deal of versatility when it comes to handling table content.

  1. Information on dynamically adding classes and handling content using JavaScript and jQuery was sourced from a detailed guide available at jQuery API Documentation .
  2. Insights into using regular expressions in JavaScript to manipulate content were referenced from the documentation found at MDN Web Docs .
  3. Modal creation using the jQuery UI Dialog method and its detailed usage can be explored at jQuery UI Dialog Documentation .
  4. The importance of counting elements with specific classes in JavaScript and practical examples can be reviewed in articles like FreeCodeCamp JavaScript Guide .