SimpleLightbox can be installed via npm, yarn, or by including the minified CSS and JS files directly in your project.
npm:
npm install simplelightboxyarn:
yarn add simplelightboxDirect Download:
Download the minified CSS (simplelightbox.min.css) and JS (simplelightbox.min.js) files from the SimpleLightbox repository or CDN and include them in your project’s HTML file within the <head> (for CSS) and before the closing </body> tag (for JS).
After installation, initialize SimpleLightbox on your gallery elements. The simplest usage involves selecting your gallery items and calling the SimpleLightbox constructor:
const lightbox = new SimpleLightbox('.gallery a', {
// Options go here (see below for details)
});Replace .gallery a with the CSS selector targeting your image links within a container with the class “gallery”. This selector should target <a> tags containing your images, preferably as <img> tags within the <a> tags.
Your HTML should structure your image gallery as a container (e.g., a <div>) containing links to your images. Each image link should be an <a> tag containing an <img> tag:
<div class="gallery">
<a href="image1.jpg" data-caption="Image 1 Caption">
<img src="image1_thumb.jpg" alt="Image 1">
</a>
<a href="image2.jpg" data-caption="Image 2 Caption">
<img src="image2_thumb.jpg" alt="Image 2">
</a>
<!-- ...more images... -->
</div>The href attribute specifies the path to the full-sized image, while the src attribute points to a thumbnail image. The data-caption attribute is optional and provides a caption for the lightbox. Using descriptive alt text for accessibility is crucial.
Include the SimpleLightbox CSS file in your project’s <head> section. If you used npm or yarn, this might be handled automatically by your bundler; otherwise, add it via a <link> tag:
<link href="simplelightbox.min.css" rel="stylesheet">Replace "simplelightbox.min.css" with the actual path to your downloaded CSS file. No additional CSS is generally needed for basic functionality, but you can customize the lightbox’s appearance by overriding the default styles. Check the SimpleLightbox documentation for details on customizing styles.
SimpleLightbox offers extensive configuration options to customize its behavior and appearance. These options are passed as a single object to the SimpleLightbox constructor. For example:
const lightbox = new SimpleLightbox('.gallery a', {
/* options here */
});All options are optional; if not provided, SimpleLightbox will use its default settings.
sourceAttr (string, default: 'href'): The attribute from the <a> tag that contains the URL of the full-sized image. Defaults to href.preloading (boolean, default: true): Enables preloading of adjacent images for faster transitions.showImageCounter (boolean, default: true): Displays the image counter (e.g., “1 of 5”).captionSelector (string, default: 'img'): The selector used to find the caption within the lightbox item. Defaults to selecting the img tag’s alt attribute. Note that this can be overridden with data-caption (see HTML Structure section).captionData (string, default: 'alt'): The attribute used to obtain caption text, if captionSelector doesn’t return a caption. Defaults to using the alt attribute.captionPosition (string, default: 'bottom'): Position of the caption (e.g., "top", "bottom", "outside"). "outside" places the caption outside the image container.counterSelector (string, default: null): Allows you to specify a custom counter element. If not set, SimpleLightbox will generate its own. This option allows using your own counter design and placement.nav (boolean, default: true): Enables/disables navigation arrows.showNextPrev (boolean, default: true): Show Next/Prev navigation arrows.close (boolean, default: true): Show close button.toolbar (boolean, default: true): Show toolbar with controls (close, counter, etc.).animationSlide (boolean, default: true): Enables/disables slide animation.animationSpeed (number, default: 250): Animation speed in milliseconds.enableKeyboard (boolean, default: true): Enables/disables keyboard navigation (arrow keys, Escape key).disableScroll (boolean, default: true): Disables page scrolling while the lightbox is open.docClose (boolean, default: true): Closes the lightbox when clicking outside the lightbox.overlayOpacity (number, default: 0.8): Opacity of the overlay.rel (string, default: null): If you have multiple galleries with the same rel value, they will share the same instance of SimpleLightbox. This is handy for multiple galleries on a single page.classes (object, default: { 'lightbox': 'simple-lightbox', 'nav': 'simple-lightbox__nav', 'prev': 'simple-lightbox__prev', 'next': 'simple-lightbox__next', 'wrap': 'simple-lightbox__wrap'}): Lets you customize the CSS classes used by SimpleLightbox elements for more granular style control.loop (boolean, default: false): Enables looping through images. When you reach the last image, it will loop back to the first.onOpen (function): A callback function that is called when the lightbox is opened.onClose (function): A callback function that is called when the lightbox is closed.Remember to consult the SimpleLightbox documentation for the most up-to-date information on available options and their usage.
You can programmatically open the lightbox by using the show() method. Pass the index (zero-based) of the image you want to open. If no index is specified, it opens the first image in the gallery.
lightbox.show(2); // Opens the third image
lightbox.show(); // Opens the first imageTo close the lightbox, use the close() method:
lightbox.close();SimpleLightbox handles next/previous navigation automatically when the lightbox is open. However, you can trigger these actions programmatically using:
lightbox.next(); // Go to the next image
lightbox.prev(); // Go to the previous imageshow(index): Opens the lightbox at a specific index (optional).close(): Closes the lightbox.next(): Moves to the next image.prev(): Moves to the previous image.destroy(): Removes SimpleLightbox from the DOM and unbinds all event listeners, freeing up resources. Useful for scenarios where you need to dynamically remove and re-add SimpleLightbox instances.SimpleLightbox triggers several events that you can listen for using the standard addEventListener method. These events are dispatched on the SimpleLightbox instance itself.
show.simplelightbox: Triggered when the lightbox is opened.shown.simplelightbox: Triggered after the lightbox is fully opened and animations are complete.close.simplelightbox: Triggered when the lightbox is closed.closed.simplelightbox: Triggered after the lightbox is fully closed and animations are complete.next.simplelightbox: Triggered when navigation moves to the next image.prev.simplelightbox: Triggered when navigation moves to the previous image.change.simplelightbox: Triggered when the current image changes.Example of adding an event listener:
lightbox.on('show.simplelightbox', function() {
console.log('Lightbox opened!');
});
lightbox.on('closed.simplelightbox', function() {
// Perform some action after the lightbox is closed
console.log('Lightbox closed!');
});
//To remove an event listener:
lightbox.off('show.simplelightbox');Remember to consult the SimpleLightbox documentation for the most up-to-date list of methods and events. The event names might include namespaces for better organization. Check the library’s documentation for accurate naming.
SimpleLightbox provides a clean and customizable CSS structure. You can modify the default styles by creating your own CSS rules and overriding the existing classes. The main CSS class is simple-lightbox, but you can also target more specific elements using classes like simple-lightbox__nav, simple-lightbox__prev, simple-lightbox__next, and simple-lightbox__wrap. Refer to the SimpleLightbox source code or the generated CSS file for a complete list of classes and their selectors.
For instance, to change the background color of the overlay, you could add the following to your stylesheet:
.simple-lightbox__overlay {
background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7); /* Adjust opacity as needed */
}Remember that overriding styles should be done with specificity in mind, ensuring your custom CSS targets the correct elements effectively.
While SimpleLightbox doesn’t allow direct manipulation of its internal HTML structure, you can influence its appearance indirectly through CSS styling and the configuration options. For instance, the captionSelector and captionData options allow you to choose where to find caption text, which can be used in conjunction with custom HTML structuring and CSS to alter how the caption is displayed. The counterSelector option allows using a custom counter element.
For more extensive HTML changes, consider creating a custom lightbox implementation.
SimpleLightbox’s architecture allows for extension. Though not directly supported through a plugin system, you can create custom functionality by extending its capabilities within your own code. This could involve adding new methods, modifying existing ones, or attaching custom event listeners.
For example, let’s add a method to SimpleLightbox that centers the lightbox vertically:
// Assuming 'lightbox' is your SimpleLightbox instance
lightbox.centerVertically = function() {
const lightboxWrapper = this.options.classes.wrap; //Get the wrapper using options
const lightboxElement = document.querySelector(`.${lightboxWrapper}`);
if (lightboxElement) {
const windowHeight = window.innerHeight;
const lightboxHeight = lightboxElement.offsetHeight;
const topOffset = (windowHeight - lightboxHeight) / 2;
lightboxElement.style.top = `${topOffset}px`;
}
};
//Now you can use it:
lightbox.centerVertically();This example demonstrates how to add a new method; similar techniques can be used to extend other aspects of SimpleLightbox. Remember to be mindful of SimpleLightbox’s internal workings to avoid conflicts or unexpected behavior when modifying or extending its functionality. Always back up your changes or work within a separate development branch.
Lightbox not appearing: Double-check that you’ve correctly included the SimpleLightbox CSS and JS files, that the JS initialization is placed correctly in your HTML (after the DOM is ready and after including the CSS), and that your CSS selector ('.gallery a' or a custom one) accurately targets your image links. Inspect your HTML source to ensure your links have the correct href attributes pointing to your images. Examine your browser’s developer console for any JavaScript errors.
Images not loading: Verify the paths to your images are correct. Check for typos in your image URLs and ensure the images are accessible on the server. If using relative paths, confirm they are relative to the correct location.
Styling issues: Ensure your custom CSS doesn’t conflict with SimpleLightbox’s default styles. Use the browser’s developer tools to inspect the elements and identify any conflicting styles. Remember to use specificity in your CSS to make sure your customizations override default styles.
Functionality problems: Check your SimpleLightbox initialization options to make sure they’re correctly set. Incorrect options, such as an invalid sourceAttr can lead to unexpected behavior. Review the API Reference section for proper usage of methods and events.
Multiple lightboxes on a page: If you have multiple galleries, make sure you initialize SimpleLightbox separately for each gallery with its own unique selector. Using the rel attribute for galleries that should share the same SimpleLightbox instance will be useful.
Issues with specific browsers: Test your implementation across different browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) to identify browser-specific issues.
Use your browser’s developer tools: The browser’s developer tools (usually accessed by pressing F12) are invaluable for debugging. Inspect the HTML structure, examine the CSS styles, and check the console for JavaScript errors or warnings.
Simplify your HTML: Create a minimal HTML example to isolate the problem. Try removing unnecessary elements or styles to see if that resolves the issue. This helps to pinpoint the cause of the problem more effectively.
Check the console for errors: The browser’s JavaScript console will display any errors that occur during SimpleLightbox initialization or execution. These error messages often provide valuable clues about the problem’s source.
Debug in steps: Initialize SimpleLightbox with minimal options first. Gradually add options to pinpoint which option is causing the issue.
Inspect the network tab: Use your browser’s network tab to check if images are loaded successfully. Look for 404 errors or slow loading times.
At the time of writing this, there are no known critical bugs affecting SimpleLightbox. However, always refer to the official SimpleLightbox repository or documentation for the most up-to-date information on known issues and bug fixes. Report any newly discovered bugs or unexpected behaviors to the project maintainers.
We welcome contributions to SimpleLightbox! Whether you’re reporting a bug, submitting a pull request, or suggesting improvements, your help is valuable.
When reporting bugs, please provide as much detail as possible to help us understand and reproduce the issue. A good bug report typically includes:
Use the issue tracker on the SimpleLightbox repository to report bugs. Follow the issue template provided for a structured report.
Before submitting a pull request, please ensure your code adheres to the coding style guide (see below) and that all tests pass. A good pull request includes:
Fork the SimpleLightbox repository, create a new branch for your changes, and then submit a pull request.
SimpleLightbox follows a consistent coding style to ensure readability and maintainability. Please adhere to these guidelines when contributing:
Following these guidelines ensures a consistent codebase and makes it easier for others to understand and contribute to the project. Before submitting your pull request, make sure to run the provided linting tools (if any exist for the project) to automatically format and verify your code style.
SimpleLightbox is licensed under the MIT License. This means you are free to use, modify, and distribute SimpleLightbox in your projects, both commercial and non-commercial, provided you include the original copyright notice and license. See the LICENSE file in the SimpleLightbox repository for the complete license text.