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Events are mostly triggered by the user's interaction with the page, like when a button or link is clicked, a selection is made in a select box, a key is pressed on the keyword, the mouse pointer is moved, the text is entered into an input box or textarea and so on. However, the browser on its own can trigger the events, like the page load and unload events.
JQuery improves the fundamental event-handling mechanisms by offering the events methods for most native browser events. These methods includes ready(), click(), keypress(), focus(), blur(), change(), and so on. Take for instance, in other for you to execute some JavaScript code when the DOM is ready, you can use the jQuery ready() method, as shown below:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>Executing a Function when Document is Ready in jQuery</title>
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
// Code to be executed
alert("Hello World!");
});
</script>
</head>
<body>
<!--Contents will be inserted here-->
</body>
</html>
Events can be categorized into four main groups. These four groups will be discussed briefly in this tutorial, as well as related jQuery methods one after the other.
For example, when the user clicks some event or moves the mouse pointer the mouse event is fired.
Below are some commonly used jQuery methods to handle the mouse events.
The click() method in jQuery is used to attach an event handler function to the selected elements for the "click" event. This attached function is executed the element is clicked by the user. The example below shows how you can hide the <p> elements on a page when they are clicked.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>Executing a Function on Click Event in jQuery</title>
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script>
<style>
p{
padding: 20px;
font: 20px sans-serif;
background: khaki;
}
</style>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
$("p").click(function(){
$(this).slideUp();
});
});
</script>
</head>
<body>
<p>Click on me and I'll disappear.</p>
<p>Click on me and I'll disappear.</p>
<p>Click on me and I'll disappear.</p>
</body>
</html>The dblclick() method in jQuery attaches an event handler function to the selected elements for the "dblclick" event. When the user double-clicks on the element, the attached function is then executed. The example below shows how you can hide the <p> elements when they are double-clicked.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>Executing a Function on Double-click Event in jQuery</title>
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script>
<style>
p{
padding: 20px;
font: 20px sans-serif;
background: khaki;
}
</style>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
$("p").dblclick(function(){
$(this).slideUp();
});
});
</script>
</head>
<body>
<p>Double-click on me and I'll disappear.</p>
<p>Double-click on me and I'll disappear.</p>
<p>Double-click on me and I'll disappear.</p>
</body>
</html>The hover() method in jQuery attaches one or two event handler functions to the selected elements that are executed if the mouse pointer enters and also leaves the elements. When the user places a mouse pointer over an element, the first function is executed, while the second function is executed when the user removes the mouse pointer from that same element.
The example below shows how you can highlight <p> elements when you place the cursor on it, the highlighting will be removed when you remove the cursor.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>Executing a Function on Hover Event in jQuery</title>
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script>
<style>
p{
padding: 20px;
font: 20px sans-serif;
background: #f2f2f2;
}
p.highlight{
background: yellow;
}
</style>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
$("p").hover(function(){
$(this).addClass("highlight");
}, function(){
$(this).removeClass("highlight");
});
});
</script>
</head>
<body>
<p>Place mouse pointer on me.</p>
<p>Place mouse pointer on me.</p>
<p>Place mouse pointer on me.</p>
</body>
</html>The mouseenter() method in jQuery attaches an event handler function to the selected elements that are executed only if the mouse enters an element. The example below shows how you can add the class highlight to the <p> element when you place the cursor on it.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>Executing a Function on Mouseenter Event in jQuery</title>
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.5.1.min.js"></script>
<style>
p{
padding: 20px;
font: 20px sans-serif;
background: #f2f2f2;
}
p.highlight{
background: yellow;
}
</style>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
$("p").mouseenter(function(){
$(this).addClass("highlight");
});
$("p").mouseleave(function(){
$(this).removeClass("highlight");
});
});
</script>
</head>
<body>
<p>Place mouse pointer on me.</p>
<p>Place mouse pointer on me.</p>
<p>Place mouse pointer on me.</p>
</body>
</html>
The mouseleave() method in jQuery attaches an event handler function to the selected elements that are executed if the mouse leaves an element. The example below shows how you can remove the class highlight from the <p> element when you remove the cursor from it.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>Executing a Function on Mouseleave Event in jQuery</title>
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script>
<style>
p{
padding: 20px;
font: 20px sans-serif;
background: #f2f2f2;
}
p.highlight{
background: yellow;
}
</style>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
$("p").mouseenter(function(){
$(this).addClass("highlight");
});
$("p").mouseleave(function(){
$(this).removeClass("highlight");
});
});
</script>
</head>
<body>
<p>Place mouse pointer on me.</p>
<p>Place mouse pointer on me.</p>
<p>Place mouse pointer on me.</p>
</body>
</html>
When the user press or release a key on the keyboard, the keyboard event is fired.. below are some commonly used jQuery methods in handling the keyboard events.
The keypress() method in jQuery attaches an event handler function to the selected elements (also acts as form controls) that is executed if the browser receives keyboard input from any user. The example shown below will display a message when the keypress event is fired and how many times it is fired when you press the key on the keyboard.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>Executing a Function on Keypress Event in jQuery</title>
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script>
<style>
p{
padding: 10px;
background: lightgreen;
display: none;
}
div{
margin: 20px 0;
}
</style>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
var i = 0;
$('input[type="text"]').keypress(function(){
$("span").text(i += 1);
$("p").show().fadeOut();
});
});
</script>
</head>
<body>
<input type="text">
<div>Keypress: <span>0</span></div>
<div><strong>Note:</strong> Enter something inside the input box and see the result.</div>
<p>Keypress is triggered.</p>
</body>
</html>The jQuery keydown() method in jQuery attaches an event handler function to the selected elements (it acts as form controls) that is executed if the user first presses a key on the keyboard. The example shown below will display a message when the keydown event is fired and how many times it is fired if you press the key on the keyboard.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>Executing a Function on Keydown Event in jQuery</title>
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script>
<style>
p{
padding: 10px;
background: lightgreen;
display: none;
}
div{
margin: 20px 0;
}
</style>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
var i = 0;
$('input[type="text"]').keydown(function(){
$("span").text(i += 1);
$("p").show().fadeOut();
});
});
</script>
</head>
<body>
<input type="text">
<div>Keydown: <span>0</span></div>
<div><strong>Note:</strong> Enter something inside the input box and see the result.</div>
<p>Keydown is triggered.</p>
</body>
</html>The jQuery keyup() method in jQuery attaches an event handler function to the selected elements (it acts as form controls) that is executed only if the user releases a key on the keyboard. The example shown below will display a message when the keyup event is fired and how many times it is fired if you press and release a key on the keyboard.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>Executing a Function on Keyup Event in jQuery</title>
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script>
<style>
p{
padding: 10px;
background: lightgreen;
display: none;
}
div{
margin: 20px 0;
}
</style>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
var i = 0;
$('input[type="text"]').keyup(function(){
$("span").text(i += 1);
$("p").show().fadeOut();
});
});
</script>
</head>
<body>
<input type="text">
<div>Keyup: <span>0</span></div>
<div><strong>Note:</strong> Enter something inside the input box and see the result.</div>
<p>Keyup is triggered.</p>
</body>
</html>A form event in jQuery is fired when a form control receives or loses focus, or when the user modifies a form control value by doing either of these; typing text in a text input, selecting an option in a select box, and so on. Below are some commonly used jQuery methods in handling the form events.
The change() method in jQuery attach an event handler function to the <input>, <textarea> and <select> elements which are executed when their value changes. The example shown below will display an alert message if you select any option in dropdown select box.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>Executing a Function on Change Event in jQuery</title>
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
$("select").change(function(){
var selectedOption = $(this).find(":selected").val();
alert("You have selected - " + selectedOption);
});
});
</script>
</head>
<body>
<form>
<label>City:</label>
<select>
<option>London</option>
<option>Paris</option>
<option>New York</option>
</select>
</form>
<p><strong>Note:</strong> Select any value from the dropdown select and see the result.</p>
</body>
</html>The jQuery focus() method is a type of form event that attaches an event handler function to the selected elements (typically form controls and links) that is executed when it gains focus The example shown below will display a message when the text input receives focus.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>Executing a Function on Focus Event in jQuery</title>
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script>
<style>
label{
display: block;
margin: 5px 0;
}
label span{
display: none;
}
</style>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
$("input").focus(function(){
$(this).next("span").show().fadeOut("slow");
});
});
</script>
</head>
<body>
<form>
<label>Email: <input type="text"> <span>focus fire</span></label>
<label>Password: <input type="password"> <span>focus fire</span></label>
<label><input type="submit" value="Sign In"> <span>focus fire</span></label>
</form>
<p><strong>Note:</strong> Click on the form control or press the "Tab" key to set focus.</p>
</body>
</html>The jQuery blur() method is also a type of form event, it attach an event handler function to the form elements such as <input>, <textarea>, <select> that is executed if it loses focus. The example shown below will display a message when the text input loses focus.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>Executing a Function on Blur Event in jQuery</title>
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script>
<style>
label{
display: block;
margin: 5px 0;
}
label span{
display: none;
}
</style>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
$("input").blur(function(){
$(this).next("span").show().fadeOut("slow");
});
});
</script>
</head>
<body>
<form>
<label>Email: <input type="text"> <span>blur fire</span></label>
<label>Password: <input type="password"> <span>blur fire</span></label>
<label><input type="submit" value="Sign In"> <span>blur fire</span></label>
</form>
<p><strong>Note:</strong> Click away from the form control or press the "Tab" key to remove focus.</p>
</body>
</html>Lastly, the jQuery submit() method in jQuery attach an event handler function to the <form> elements that are executed only if the user is attempting to submit a form. The example shown below will display a message depending on the value entered if you try to submit the form.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>Executing a Function on Form Submit Event in jQuery</title>
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script>
<style>
.error{
color: red;
}
</style>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
$("form").submit(function(event){
var regex = /^[a-zA-Z]+$/;
var currentValue = $("#firstName").val();
if(regex.test(currentValue) == false){
$("#result").html('<p class="error">Not valid!</p>').show().fadeOut(1000);
// Preventing form submission
event.preventDefault();
}
});
});
</script>
</head>
<body>
<p><strong>Note:</strong> If try to submit any invalid value. It will produce an error.</p>
<form action="/jquery/example/action.php" method="post" id="users">
<label for="firstName">First Name:</label>
<input type="text" name="first-name" id="firstName">
<input type="submit" value="Submit">
<div id="result"></div>
</form>
</body>
</html>Events can be triggered in situations where the webpage Document Object Model (DOM) is ready or when the user resizes or scrolls the browser window, and so on. Below are some commonly used jQuery methods to handle such kinds of events.
The method here is the jQuery ready() method, it specifies a function to be executed when the DOM is loaded fully.
The example shown below will replace the paragraph's text as soon as the DOM hierarchy has been fully constructed and ready for manipulation.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>Executing a Function on Ready Event in jQuery</title>
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
$("p").text("The DOM is now loaded and can be manipulated.");
});
</script>
</head>
<body>
<p>Not loaded yet.</p>
</body>
</html>The resize() method in jQuery, is used to attach an event handler function to the window element that is executed if the size of the browser window changes.
The example shown below will display the current width and height of the browser window if you try to resize it by dragging its corners.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>Executing a Function on Resize Event in jQuery</title>
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script>
<style>
p{
padding: 20px;
font: 20px sans-serif;
background: #f0e68c;
}
</style>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
$(window).resize(function() {
$(window).bind("resize", function(){
$("p").text("Window width: " + $(window).width() + ", " + "Window height: " + $(window).height());
});
});
});
</script>
</head>
<body>
<p>Open the output in a new tab and resize the browser window by dragging the corners.</p>
</body>
</html>Lastly, the jQuery scroll() method is another method, it attaches an event handler function to the window or scrollable iframes and elements that are executed every time the element's scroll position changes.
The example shown below will display a message when you scroll the browser window.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>Executing a Function on Scroll Event in jQuery</title>
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script>
<style>
p{
width: 100%;
padding: 50px 0;
text-align: center;
font: bold 34px sans-serif;
background: #f0e68c;
position: fixed;
top: 50px;
display: none;
}
.dummy-content{
height: 600px;
font: 34px sans-serif;
text-align: center;
}
</style>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
$(window).scroll(function() {
$("p").show().fadeOut("slow");
});
});
</script>
</head>
<body>
<p>Scroll Happened!</p>
<div class="dummy-content">Scroll the viewport.</div>
<div class="dummy-content">Scroll the viewport.</div>
<div class="dummy-content">Scroll the viewport.</div>
<div class="dummy-content">Scroll the viewport.</div>
<div class="dummy-content">Scroll the viewport.</div>
</body>
</html>