Fancybox - Documentation

Getting Started

This section guides you through setting up and using Fancybox. We’ll cover installation, basic usage, and provide a quick example to get you started.

Installation

Fancybox can be installed via several methods:

1. Using a CDN (Content Delivery Network): This is the quickest method for getting started. Include the necessary CSS and JavaScript files directly in your HTML <head>:

<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/@fancyapps/fancybox@3.6.0/dist/jquery.fancybox.min.css" />
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script> <!-- Ensure jQuery is included -->
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/@fancyapps/fancybox@3.6.0/dist/jquery.fancybox.min.js"></script>

Note: Replace https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/@fancyapps/fancybox@3.6.0/dist/... with the appropriate CDN link if using a different version. Always check the official Fancybox documentation for the latest CDN links. Ensure that jQuery is included before the Fancybox JavaScript file.

2. Using npm (Node Package Manager): For more advanced projects, using npm allows for better integration with your build process.

npm install @fancyapps/fancybox

Then, import the necessary files into your project using a module bundler like Webpack or Parcel. Example using ES6 modules:

import $ from 'jquery'; //If needed, include jQuery
import 'fancybox'; // Import CSS
import '@fancyapps/fancybox'; //Import JS

3. Downloading Directly: You can also download the files directly from the Fancybox release page and include them in your project as described in method 1.

Basic Usage

Once Fancybox is installed, you need to initialize it on elements you want to trigger the lightbox effect. This is typically done by adding a class or data attribute to your HTML elements and then using jQuery to initialize Fancybox.

The simplest way is to add the fancybox class to elements you want to open in Fancybox:

<a class="fancybox" href="image1.jpg" data-caption="Image 1"></a>
<a class="fancybox" href="image2.jpg" data-caption="Image 2"></a>
<a class="fancybox" href="video.mp4" data-caption="My Video"></a>

Then, initialize Fancybox:

$(document).ready(function() {
  $('.fancybox').fancybox();
});

This will make all elements with the class fancybox open in a Fancybox lightbox. The data-caption attribute provides alt text/captions. You can use href to link to images, videos or even inline content (using #id selector).

Quick Example

Let’s create a quick example demonstrating how to display a single image using Fancybox:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Fancybox Example</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/@fancyapps/fancybox@3.6.0/dist/jquery.fancybox.min.css" />
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/@fancyapps/fancybox@3.6.0/dist/jquery.fancybox.min.js"></script>
</head>
<body>

<a class="fancybox" href="path/to/your/image.jpg" data-caption="My Image">Click to view image</a>

<script>
$(document).ready(function() {
  $('.fancybox').fancybox();
});
</script>

</body>
</html>

Remember to replace "path/to/your/image.jpg" with the actual path to your image. This example shows the minimal setup required to get Fancybox working. More advanced configurations and options are covered in subsequent sections of this manual.

Core Functionality

This section details the core functionalities of Fancybox, including opening and closing lightboxes, handling content loading, managing events, and utilizing API methods for advanced control.

Opening and Closing

Fancybox provides several ways to open and close lightboxes:

Opening:

$.fancybox.open({
  src  : 'path/to/your/image.jpg',
  type : 'image',
  caption : 'My Image Caption'
});

//Or opening from a selector
$.fancybox.open($('#myElement'));

Replace 'path/to/your/image.jpg' with the actual path or selector. The type option specifies the content type (image, video, iframe, inline, etc.). See the “Content Loading” section for more details on content types.

Closing:

$.fancybox.close();

You can also close a specific instance if you have multiple lightboxes open. See the “API Methods” section for details.

Content Loading

Fancybox supports various content types:

Example using different content types:

$.fancybox.open({
  src  : 'myvideo.mp4',
  type : 'video'
});

$.fancybox.open({
  src  : '#myInlineContent',
  type : 'inline'
});

$.fancybox.open({
    src: 'my-ajax-page.php',
    type: 'ajax'
});

Event Handling

Fancybox provides several events that you can listen for to customize behavior:

$.fancybox.bind('afterShow', function(instance, current) {
  console.log('Fancybox opened!');
});

$.fancybox.bind('beforeClose', function(instance, current) {
    //Perform action before closing
});

$.fancybox.bind('afterClose', function(instance, current) {
  console.log('Fancybox closed!');
});

These are just a few examples. Consult the official Fancybox documentation for a complete list of events and their parameters. You can also use instance to access and manipulate the currently open Fancybox instance.

API Methods

Fancybox provides several API methods for advanced control:

Remember to consult the official Fancybox documentation for the most up-to-date information on API methods, events, and options. The available options and methods may vary slightly depending on the version of Fancybox you are using.

Customization

This section details how to customize Fancybox’s appearance and behavior to fit your specific needs.

Options Reference

Many aspects of Fancybox’s behavior can be controlled through options passed to the $.fancybox.open() method or the $('.fancybox').fancybox() initialization. Here’s a summary of key options:

A complete list of options with detailed descriptions can be found in the official Fancybox documentation. Remember that the available options may differ slightly depending on the version of Fancybox.

CSS Customization

You can extensively customize Fancybox’s appearance by overriding the default CSS styles. You can achieve this in several ways:

To find the selectors you need to override, inspect the Fancybox HTML structure using your browser’s developer tools.

Customizing the HTML

For more extensive customization, you can modify the HTML structure of the lightbox. While this is generally more advanced, it gives you the greatest control over the look and feel.

Fancybox uses templates to generate its HTML. While directly modifying these templates might be possible depending on your setup (e.g., by forking and building from source), it’s generally easier and safer to work with the provided options and add custom CSS for most customization needs.

Callbacks

Callbacks allow you to execute custom code at various stages of the Fancybox lifecycle. Several events are available, including:

Example using callbacks:

$('.fancybox').fancybox({
  beforeShow: function(instance, current){
      console.log("Fancybox is about to show!");
  },
  afterShow: function(instance, current){
      console.log("Fancybox is now showing!");
      //Add your custom logic here
  },
  beforeClose: function(instance, current) {
    console.log("Fancybox is about to close!");
  },
  afterClose: function(instance, current) {
    console.log("Fancybox has closed!");
  }

});

Consult the official Fancybox documentation for a complete list of available callbacks and their arguments. Using callbacks provides a flexible way to interact with and customize Fancybox’s functionality without directly modifying its core code.

Advanced Usage

This section covers more advanced techniques for using Fancybox, including handling different content types, creating galleries, and ensuring accessibility.

Ajax Loading

Fancybox supports loading content dynamically via AJAX. This is useful when you need to fetch content from a server without a full page reload.

To load content via AJAX, set the type option to 'ajax' and specify the URL in the src option:

$.fancybox.open({
  src  : '/my-ajax-endpoint.php',
  type : 'ajax',
  opts : {
    ajax: {
        dataType: 'html', // Specify data type if needed
        data: {param1: 'value1'} //Add parameters if needed
    }
  }
});

This will send an AJAX request to /my-ajax-endpoint.php and display the returned HTML content within the Fancybox lightbox. The opts option allows for additional configuration of the AJAX request, including specifying data types or additional parameters. Error handling should be implemented in the success/error callbacks of the AJAX call or within the Fancybox callbacks, afterLoad and onError.

Remember to handle potential errors gracefully, such as network issues or server errors, by adding error handling within the AJAX request or by handling the onError Fancybox event.

Inline Content

To display content that’s already present on your page within a Fancybox lightbox, use the 'inline' type and provide a CSS selector targeting the element as the src option:

<div id="myInlineContent" style="display:none;">
  <h2>My Inline Content</h2>
  <p>This content will be displayed in a Fancybox lightbox.</p>
</div>

<a class="fancybox" data-fancybox data-src="#myInlineContent">Open Inline Content</a>

<script>
    $(document).ready(function() {
        $('[data-fancybox]').fancybox();
    });
</script>

The id="myInlineContent" element’s content will be shown in the Fancybox lightbox. Note that the inline content is initially hidden (style="display:none;") to prevent it from being visible on the page before it’s opened in Fancybox. The data-fancybox and data-src attributes are used when initializing with the fancybox() function.

Image Galleries

Fancybox excels at creating image galleries. Simply add the fancybox class (or use data-fancybox) to multiple image links:

<a class="fancybox" href="image1.jpg" data-caption="Image 1"></a>
<a class="fancybox" href="image2.jpg" data-caption="Image 2"></a>
<a class="fancybox" href="image3.jpg" data-caption="Image 3"></a>

Fancybox will automatically detect that these are part of a gallery and provide navigation controls to switch between images. For more control over the gallery behavior, see the options related to loop, buttons, thumbs, and others.

Video Integration

Fancybox supports various video providers. For YouTube, Vimeo, and others, simply provide the video URL in the src option and set type to 'video':

$.fancybox.open({
  src  : 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOUR_YOUTUBE_VIDEO_ID',
  type : 'video'
});

Fancybox will automatically embed the video using the appropriate provider’s embed code. For less common video providers or for more fine-grained control, you may need to use the iframe type with custom parameters in the src option.

IFrame Integration

Use the 'iframe' type to display content from another website or web page within a Fancybox lightbox:

$.fancybox.open({
  src  : 'https://www.example.com/my-page',
  type : 'iframe'
});

This will load the specified URL within an iframe inside the Fancybox lightbox. You can further customize the iframe’s size using the width and height options.

Multiple Instances

You can have multiple Fancybox instances open simultaneously. Each instance is independent, managing its own content and settings. Each instance will receive a unique ID that you can use to target specific instances programmatically.

Accessibility

Ensure your Fancybox implementation follows accessibility best practices:

Remember to consult the official Fancybox documentation and relevant accessibility guidelines for more detailed information on creating accessible Fancybox lightboxes. Using ARIA attributes and proper semantic HTML is crucial for full screen reader compatibility.

Troubleshooting

This section helps you resolve common issues and optimize your Fancybox implementation.

Common Issues

Debugging Tips

Browser Compatibility

Fancybox generally supports modern browsers. However, very old or outdated browsers may not be fully supported. Refer to the official Fancybox documentation for the most current browser compatibility information. For older browsers, you may need to consider using polyfills for missing features or use a different lightbox library.

Performance Optimization

Remember that performance optimization is an iterative process. Profile your website to identify performance bottlenecks and address them systematically. Consider using performance analysis tools to pinpoint areas for improvement.

Examples

This section provides practical examples showcasing various Fancybox functionalities and integrations.

This example demonstrates a basic image gallery using Fancybox:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Fancybox Image Gallery</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/@fancyapps/fancybox@3.6.0/dist/jquery.fancybox.min.css" />
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/@fancyapps/fancybox@3.6.0/dist/jquery.fancybox.min.js"></script>
</head>
<body>

<a class="fancybox" href="image1.jpg" data-caption="Image 1"><img src="thumbnail1.jpg" alt="Image 1"></a>
<a class="fancybox" href="image2.jpg" data-caption="Image 2"><img src="thumbnail2.jpg" alt="Image 2"></a>
<a class="fancybox" href="image3.jpg" data-caption="Image 3"><img src="thumbnail3.jpg" alt="Image 3"></a>

<script>
$(document).ready(function() {
  $('.fancybox').fancybox({
      // Add options here if needed (e.g., loop: true, thumbnails: true)
  });
});
</script>

</body>
</html>

Remember to replace "image1.jpg", "image2.jpg", "image3.jpg", "thumbnail1.jpg", "thumbnail2.jpg", and "thumbnail3.jpg" with the actual paths to your images. The thumbnails are optional, but improve user experience. You can also customize this with additional options (see Options Reference section). For instance, adding loop: true will allow continuous looping through the gallery.

Ajax-Powered Content

This example shows how to load content via AJAX:

<a id="ajax-link" href="#">Load Content via AJAX</a>

<script>
$(document).ready(function() {
  $('#ajax-link').click(function(event) {
    event.preventDefault();
    $.fancybox.open({
      src  : '/my-ajax-endpoint.php',
      type : 'ajax',
      ajax : {
          dataType: 'html'
      }
    });
  });
});
</script>

Replace /my-ajax-endpoint.php with the URL of your server-side script that returns the HTML content. Ensure your server-side script handles the request correctly and returns the appropriate data. Add error handling as necessary.

Custom Theme Implementation

Creating a custom theme involves creating a new CSS file to override the default Fancybox styles. This example outlines the process:

  1. Create a new CSS file (e.g., my-fancybox-theme.css).

  2. Add your custom styles: Use CSS selectors targeting specific Fancybox classes and IDs to modify colors, fonts, spacing, and other visual aspects. For example:

/* my-fancybox-theme.css */
.fancybox-container {
  background-color: #f0f0f0; /* Change background color */
}

.fancybox-close-small {
  color: #ff0000; /* Change close button color */
}
  1. Include your custom CSS file in your HTML: Make sure to include it after the default Fancybox CSS file:
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/@fancyapps/fancybox@3.6.0/dist/jquery.fancybox.min.css" />
<link rel="stylesheet" href="my-fancybox-theme.css" />

Remember to inspect the Fancybox HTML structure using your browser’s developer tools to find the correct selectors for your customizations.

API Reference

This section provides detailed information on the core Fancybox API methods. Refer to the official Fancybox documentation for the most up-to-date and comprehensive API reference. Method signatures and available options may vary depending on the version of Fancybox you are using.

$.fancybox.open( options )

Opens a new Fancybox instance. This is the primary method for displaying content in a Fancybox lightbox.

Parameters:

Return Value:

Returns a Fancybox instance object. This object allows access to methods for controlling the lightbox’s behavior (e.g., jumpTo, close, next, prev).

Example:

$.fancybox.open({
    src: 'image.jpg',
    type: 'image',
    caption: 'My Image',
    smallBtn: true
});

$.fancybox.close( index )

Closes an existing Fancybox instance.

Parameters:

Return Value:

undefined

Example:

$.fancybox.close(); // Closes the currently active instance.

$.fancybox.close(1); // Closes the instance at index 1.

$.fancybox.destroy()

Completely removes Fancybox from the page, including event listeners and any attached data. Use this only when you no longer need Fancybox at all.

Parameters:

None.

Return Value:

undefined

Example:

$.fancybox.destroy();

$.fancybox.getInstance( index )

Retrieves a Fancybox instance object. Useful for directly manipulating an open instance.

Parameters:

Return Value:

A Fancybox instance object or null if no instance is found at the specified index or if no instances are open.

Example:

let instance = $.fancybox.getInstance();
if (instance) {
  instance.jumpTo(2); // Go to the third slide
}

$.fancybox.isMobile()

Checks if the current browser is on a mobile device.

Parameters:

None

Return Value:

true if it’s a mobile device, false otherwise.

Example:

if ($.fancybox.isMobile()) {
  // Apply mobile-specific styles or behavior
}

$.fancybox.defaults

An object containing the default settings for Fancybox. You can modify these defaults to change the global behavior of Fancybox before any instances are created. Modifying this object will affect all subsequent Fancybox instances.

Parameters:

None

Return Value:

An object containing the default options.

Example:

$.fancybox.defaults.animationEffect = "fade"; // Set the default animation effect to "fade".

Remember to always consult the official Fancybox documentation for the most up-to-date and complete information on the API and its options. The specific options and behavior might change slightly between versions.