jQuery :root Selector

Posted in jQuery Tutorial

Updated on Apr 27, 2024

By Mari Selvan

👁️ 3 - Views

⏳ 4 mins

💬 0

Photo Credit to CodeToFun

🙋 Introduction

jQuery is renowned for its simplicity and effectiveness in web development. Among its arsenal of selectors is the :root selector, which targets the root element of the document. Understanding how to leverage this selector can enhance your ability to manipulate the DOM (Document Object Model) effectively.

In this guide, we'll delve into the usage of the jQuery :root selector with clear examples to help you harness its power.

🧠 Understanding :root Selector

The :root selector is used to target the root element of the document, typically the <html> element. It's particularly useful when you want to apply styles or manipulate attributes that affect the entire document.

💡 Syntax

The syntax for the :root selector is straightforward:

syntax.js

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$(":root")

📝 Example

Changing Document-Wide Styles:

Suppose you want to change the font family of the entire document. You can achieve this using the :root selector along with CSS:
example.js
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```
$(":root").css("font-family", "Arial, sans-serif");
```
This will set the font family of the root element (usually <html>) and consequently affect the entire document.
Setting Document-Level Variables:

You can use the :root selector to set and access CSS variables at the document level. For example:
index.html
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```
:root {
  --main-color: #3498db;
}
```
example.js
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```
$(":root").css("--main-color", "#ff0000");
```
This will change the value of the --main-color variable to red (hex code #ff0000) throughout the document.
Applying Document-Wide Event Handlers:

You can bind event handlers to the root element to handle events globally across the document. For instance:
example.js
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```
$(":root").on("click", function() {
  alert("Document clicked!");
});
```
This will trigger an alert whenever any part of the document is clicked.
Accessing Document-Level Data Attributes:

The :root selector can be useful for accessing data attributes defined at the document level. For example:
index.html
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```
<html data-theme="light">
```
example.js
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```
var theme = $(":root").data("theme");
console.log("Document theme:", theme);
```
This will log the value of the data-theme attribute defined on the root element.

🎉 Conclusion

The jQuery :root selector provides a convenient way to target and manipulate the root element of the document. Whether you need to apply document-wide styles, set variables, handle events globally, or access document-level data, this selector offers a straightforward solution.

By mastering its usage, you can efficiently manage and manipulate the entire document structure with ease.