Sortable  

Sortable is a JavaScript library for reorderable drag-and-drop lists.

Demo: http://sortablejs.github.io/Sortable/

Features

• Supports touch devices and modern browsers (including IE9)
• Can drag from one list to another or within the same list
• CSS animation when moving items
• Supports drag handles and selectable text (better than voidberg's html5sortable)
• Smart auto-scrolling
• Advanced swap detection
• Smooth animations
• Multi-drag support
• Support for CSS transforms
• Built using native HTML5 drag and drop API
• Supports
  • Meteor
  • Angular
    • 2.0+
    • 1.*
  • React
    • ES2015+
    • Mixin
  • Knockout
  • Polymer
  • Vue
  • Ember
• Supports any CSS library, e.g. Bootstrap
• Simple API
• Support for plugins
• CDN
• No jQuery required (but there is support)
• Typescript definitions at @types/sortablejs

Articles

• Dragging Multiple Items in Sortable (April 26, 2019)
• Swap Thresholds and Direction (December 2, 2018)
• Sortable v1.0 — New capabilities (December 22, 2014)
• Sorting with the help of HTML5 Drag'n'Drop API (December 23, 2013)

Getting Started

Install with NPM:

1npm install sortablejs --save

Install with Bower:

1bower install --save sortablejs

Import into your project:

1// Default SortableJS
2import Sortable from 'sortablejs';
3
4// Core SortableJS (without default plugins)
5import Sortable from 'sortablejs/modular/sortable.core.esm.js';
6
7// Complete SortableJS (with all plugins)
8import Sortable from 'sortablejs/modular/sortable.complete.esm.js';

Cherrypick plugins:

1// Cherrypick extra plugins
2import Sortable, { MultiDrag, Swap } from 'sortablejs';
3
4Sortable.mount(new MultiDrag(), new Swap());
5
6
7// Cherrypick default plugins
8import Sortable, { AutoScroll } from 'sortablejs/modular/sortable.core.esm.js';
9
10Sortable.mount(new AutoScroll());

---

Usage

1<ul id="items">
2	<li>item 1</li>
3	<li>item 2</li>
4	<li>item 3</li>
5</ul>

1var el = document.getElementById('items');
2var sortable = Sortable.create(el);

You can use any element for the list and its elements, not just ul/li. Here is an example with divs.

---

Options

1var sortable = new Sortable(el, {
2	group: "name",  // or { name: "...", pull: [true, false, 'clone', array], put: [true, false, array] }
3	sort: true,  // sorting inside list
4	delay: 0, // time in milliseconds to define when the sorting should start
5	delayOnTouchOnly: false, // only delay if user is using touch
6	touchStartThreshold: 0, // px, how many pixels the point should move before cancelling a delayed drag event
7	disabled: false, // Disables the sortable if set to true.
8	store: null,  // @see Store
9	animation: 150,  // ms, animation speed moving items when sorting, `0` — without animation
10	easing: "cubic-bezier(1, 0, 0, 1)", // Easing for animation. Defaults to null. See https://easings.net/ for examples.
11	handle: ".my-handle",  // Drag handle selector within list items
12	filter: ".ignore-elements",  // Selectors that do not lead to dragging (String or Function)
13	preventOnFilter: true, // Call `event.preventDefault()` when triggered `filter`
14	draggable: ".item",  // Specifies which items inside the element should be draggable
15
16	dataIdAttr: 'data-id', // HTML attribute that is used by the `toArray()` method
17
18	ghostClass: "sortable-ghost",  // Class name for the drop placeholder
19	chosenClass: "sortable-chosen",  // Class name for the chosen item
20	dragClass: "sortable-drag",  // Class name for the dragging item
21
22	swapThreshold: 1, // Threshold of the swap zone
23	invertSwap: false, // Will always use inverted swap zone if set to true
24	invertedSwapThreshold: 1, // Threshold of the inverted swap zone (will be set to swapThreshold value by default)
25	direction: 'horizontal', // Direction of Sortable (will be detected automatically if not given)
26
27	forceFallback: false,  // ignore the HTML5 DnD behaviour and force the fallback to kick in
28
29	fallbackClass: "sortable-fallback",  // Class name for the cloned DOM Element when using forceFallback
30	fallbackOnBody: false,  // Appends the cloned DOM Element into the Document's Body
31	fallbackTolerance: 0, // Specify in pixels how far the mouse should move before it's considered as a drag.
32
33	dragoverBubble: false,
34	removeCloneOnHide: true, // Remove the clone element when it is not showing, rather than just hiding it
35	emptyInsertThreshold: 5, // px, distance mouse must be from empty sortable to insert drag element into it
36
37
38	setData: function (/** DataTransfer */dataTransfer, /** HTMLElement*/dragEl) {
39		dataTransfer.setData('Text', dragEl.textContent); // `dataTransfer` object of HTML5 DragEvent
40	},
41
42	// Element is chosen
43	onChoose: function (/**Event*/evt) {
44		evt.oldIndex;  // element index within parent
45	},
46
47	// Element is unchosen
48	onUnchoose: function(/**Event*/evt) {
49		// same properties as onEnd
50	},
51
52	// Element dragging started
53	onStart: function (/**Event*/evt) {
54		evt.oldIndex;  // element index within parent
55	},
56
57	// Element dragging ended
58	onEnd: function (/**Event*/evt) {
59		var itemEl = evt.item;  // dragged HTMLElement
60		evt.to;    // target list
61		evt.from;  // previous list
62		evt.oldIndex;  // element's old index within old parent
63		evt.newIndex;  // element's new index within new parent
64		evt.oldDraggableIndex; // element's old index within old parent, only counting draggable elements
65		evt.newDraggableIndex; // element's new index within new parent, only counting draggable elements
66		evt.clone // the clone element
67		evt.pullMode;  // when item is in another sortable: `"clone"` if cloning, `true` if moving
68	},
69
70	// Element is dropped into the list from another list
71	onAdd: function (/**Event*/evt) {
72		// same properties as onEnd
73	},
74
75	// Changed sorting within list
76	onUpdate: function (/**Event*/evt) {
77		// same properties as onEnd
78	},
79
80	// Called by any change to the list (add / update / remove)
81	onSort: function (/**Event*/evt) {
82		// same properties as onEnd
83	},
84
85	// Element is removed from the list into another list
86	onRemove: function (/**Event*/evt) {
87		// same properties as onEnd
88	},
89
90	// Attempt to drag a filtered element
91	onFilter: function (/**Event*/evt) {
92		var itemEl = evt.item;  // HTMLElement receiving the `mousedown|tapstart` event.
93	},
94
95	// Event when you move an item in the list or between lists
96	onMove: function (/**Event*/evt, /**Event*/originalEvent) {
97		// Example: https://jsbin.com/nawahef/edit?js,output
98		evt.dragged; // dragged HTMLElement
99		evt.draggedRect; // DOMRect {left, top, right, bottom}
100		evt.related; // HTMLElement on which have guided
101		evt.relatedRect; // DOMRect
102		evt.willInsertAfter; // Boolean that is true if Sortable will insert drag element after target by default
103		originalEvent.clientY; // mouse position
104		// return false; — for cancel
105		// return -1; — insert before target
106		// return 1; — insert after target
107		// return true; — keep default insertion point based on the direction
108		// return void; — keep default insertion point based on the direction
109	},
110
111	// Called when creating a clone of element
112	onClone: function (/**Event*/evt) {
113		var origEl = evt.item;
114		var cloneEl = evt.clone;
115	},
116
117	// Called when dragging element changes position
118	onChange: function(/**Event*/evt) {
119		evt.newIndex // most likely why this event is used is to get the dragging element's current index
120		// same properties as onEnd
121	}
122});

---

group option

To drag elements from one list into another, both lists must have the same group value. You can also define whether lists can give away, give and keep a copy (clone), and receive elements.

• name: String — group name
• pull: true|false|["foo", "bar"]|'clone'|function — ability to move from the list. clone — copy the item, rather than move. Or an array of group names which the elements may be put in. Defaults to true.
• put: true|false|["baz", "qux"]|function — whether elements can be added from other lists, or an array of group names from which elements can be added.
• revertClone: boolean — revert cloned element to initial position after moving to a another list.

Demo:

• https://jsbin.com/hijetos/edit?js,output
• https://jsbin.com/nacoyah/edit?js,output — use of complex logic in the pull and put
• https://jsbin.com/bifuyab/edit?js,output — use revertClone: true

---

sort option

Allow sorting inside list.

Demo: https://jsbin.com/jayedig/edit?js,output

---

delay option

Time in milliseconds to define when the sorting should start. Unfortunately, due to browser restrictions, delaying is not possible on IE or Edge with native drag & drop.

Demo: https://jsbin.com/zosiwah/edit?js,output

---

delayOnTouchOnly option

Whether or not the delay should be applied only if the user is using touch (eg. on a mobile device). No delay will be applied in any other case. Defaults to false.

---

swapThreshold option

Percentage of the target that the swap zone will take up, as a float between 0 and 1.

Read more

Demo: http://sortablejs.github.io/Sortable#thresholds

---

invertSwap option

Set to true to set the swap zone to the sides of the target, for the effect of sorting "in between" items.

Read more

Demo: http://sortablejs.github.io/Sortable#thresholds

---

invertedSwapThreshold option

Percentage of the target that the inverted swap zone will take up, as a float between 0 and 1. If not given, will default to swapThreshold.

Read more

---

direction option

Direction that the Sortable should sort in. Can be set to 'vertical', 'horizontal', or a function, which will be called whenever a target is dragged over. Must return 'vertical' or 'horizontal'.

Read more

Example of direction detection for vertical list that includes full column and half column elements:

1Sortable.create(el, {
2	direction: function(evt, target, dragEl) {
3		if (target !== null && target.className.includes('half-column') && dragEl.className.includes('half-column')) {
4			return 'horizontal';
5		}
6		return 'vertical';
7	}
8});

---

touchStartThreshold option

This option is similar to fallbackTolerance option.

When the delay option is set, some phones with very sensitive touch displays like the Samsung Galaxy S8 will fire unwanted touchmove events even when your finger is not moving, resulting in the sort not triggering.

This option sets the minimum pointer movement that must occur before the delayed sorting is cancelled.

Values between 3 to 5 are good.

---

disabled options

Disables the sortable if set to true.

Demo: https://jsbin.com/sewokud/edit?js,output

1var sortable = Sortable.create(list);
2
3document.getElementById("switcher").onclick = function () {
4	var state = sortable.option("disabled"); // get
5
6	sortable.option("disabled", !state); // set
7};

---

handle option

To make list items draggable, Sortable disables text selection by the user. That's not always desirable. To allow text selection, define a drag handler, which is an area of every list element that allows it to be dragged around.

Demo: https://jsbin.com/numakuh/edit?html,js,output

1Sortable.create(el, {
2	handle: ".my-handle"
3});

1<ul>
2	<li><span class="my-handle">::</span> list item text one
3	<li><span class="my-handle">::</span> list item text two
4</ul>

1.my-handle {
2	cursor: move;
3	cursor: -webkit-grabbing;
4}

---

filter option

1Sortable.create(list, {
2	filter: ".js-remove, .js-edit",
3	onFilter: function (evt) {
4		var item = evt.item,
5			ctrl = evt.target;
6
7		if (Sortable.utils.is(ctrl, ".js-remove")) {  // Click on remove button
8			item.parentNode.removeChild(item); // remove sortable item
9		}
10		else if (Sortable.utils.is(ctrl, ".js-edit")) {  // Click on edit link
11			// ...
12		}
13	}
14})

---

ghostClass option

Class name for the drop placeholder (default sortable-ghost).

Demo: https://jsbin.com/henuyiw/edit?css,js,output

1.ghost {
2  opacity: 0.4;
3}

1Sortable.create(list, {
2  ghostClass: "ghost"
3});

---

chosenClass option

Class name for the chosen item (default sortable-chosen).

Demo: https://jsbin.com/hoqufox/edit?css,js,output

1.chosen {
2  color: #fff;
3  background-color: #c00;
4}

1Sortable.create(list, {
2  delay: 500,
3  chosenClass: "chosen"
4});

---

forceFallback option

If set to true, the Fallback for non HTML5 Browser will be used, even if we are using an HTML5 Browser. This gives us the possibility to test the behaviour for older Browsers even in newer Browser, or make the Drag 'n Drop feel more consistent between Desktop , Mobile and old Browsers.

On top of that, the Fallback always generates a copy of that DOM Element and appends the class fallbackClass defined in the options. This behaviour controls the look of this 'dragged' Element.

Demo: https://jsbin.com/sibiput/edit?html,css,js,output

---

fallbackTolerance option

Emulates the native drag threshold. Specify in pixels how far the mouse should move before it's considered as a drag. Useful if the items are also clickable like in a list of links.

When the user clicks inside a sortable element, it's not uncommon for your hand to move a little between the time you press and the time you release. Dragging only starts if you move the pointer past a certain tolerance, so that you don't accidentally start dragging every time you click.

3 to 5 are probably good values.

---

dragoverBubble option

If set to true, the dragover event will bubble to parent sortables. Works on both fallback and native dragover event. By default, it is false, but Sortable will only stop bubbling the event once the element has been inserted into a parent Sortable, or can be inserted into a parent Sortable, but isn't at that specific time (due to animation, etc).

Since 1.8.0, you will probably want to leave this option as false. Before 1.8.0, it may need to be true for nested sortables to work.

---

removeCloneOnHide option

If set to false, the clone is hidden by having it's CSS display property set to none. By default, this option is true, meaning Sortable will remove the cloned element from the DOM when it is supposed to be hidden.

---

emptyInsertThreshold option

The distance (in pixels) the mouse must be from an empty sortable while dragging for the drag element to be inserted into that sortable. Defaults to 5. Set to 0 to disable this feature.

Demo: https://jsbin.com/becavoj/edit?js,output

An alternative to this option would be to set a padding on your list when it is empty.

For example:

1ul:empty {
2  padding-bottom: 20px;
3}

Warning: For :empty to work, it must have no node inside (even text one).

Demo: https://jsbin.com/yunakeg/edit?html,css,js,output

---

Event object (demo)

• to:HTMLElement — list, in which moved element
• from:HTMLElement — previous list
• item:HTMLElement — dragged element
• clone:HTMLElement
• oldIndex:Number|undefined — old index within parent
• newIndex:Number|undefined — new index within parent
• oldDraggableIndex: Number|undefined — old index within parent, only counting draggable elements
• newDraggableIndex: Number|undefined — new index within parent, only counting draggable elements
• pullMode:String|Boolean|undefined — Pull mode if dragging into another sortable ("clone", true, or false), otherwise undefined

move event object

• to:HTMLElement
• from:HTMLElement
• dragged:HTMLElement
• draggedRect:DOMRect
• related:HTMLElement — element on which have guided
• relatedRect:DOMRect
• willInsertAfter:Boolean — true if will element be inserted after target (or false if before)

---

Methods

option(name:String[, value:*]):*

Get or set the option.

closest(el:HTMLElement[, selector:String]):HTMLElement|null

For each element in the set, get the first element that matches the selector by testing the element itself and traversing up through its ancestors in the DOM tree.

toArray():String[]

Serializes the sortable's item data-id's (dataIdAttr option) into an array of string.

sort(order:String[], useAnimation:Boolean)

Sorts the elements according to the array.

1var order = sortable.toArray();
2sortable.sort(order.reverse(), true); // apply

save()

Save the current sorting (see store)

destroy()

Removes the sortable functionality completely.

---

Store

Saving and restoring of the sort.

1<ul>
2	<li data-id="1">order</li>
3	<li data-id="2">save</li>
4	<li data-id="3">restore</li>
5</ul>

1Sortable.create(el, {
2	group: "localStorage-example",
3	store: {
4		/**
5		 * Get the order of elements. Called once during initialization.
6		 * @param   {Sortable}  sortable
7		 * @returns {Array}
8		 */
9		get: function (sortable) {
10			var order = localStorage.getItem(sortable.options.group.name);
11			return order ? order.split('|') : [];
12		},
13
14		/**
15		 * Save the order of elements. Called onEnd (when the item is dropped).
16		 * @param {Sortable}  sortable
17		 */
18		set: function (sortable) {
19			var order = sortable.toArray();
20			localStorage.setItem(sortable.options.group.name, order.join('|'));
21		}
22	}
23})

---

Bootstrap

Demo: https://jsbin.com/visimub/edit?html,js,output

1<!-- Latest compiled and minified CSS -->
2<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://maxcdn.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/3.3.1/css/bootstrap.min.css"/>
3
4
5<!-- Latest Sortable -->
6<script src="http://SortableJS.github.io/Sortable/Sortable.js"></script>
7
8
9<!-- Simple List -->
10<ul id="simpleList" class="list-group">
11	<li class="list-group-item">This is <a href="http://SortableJS.github.io/Sortable/">Sortable</a></li>
12	<li class="list-group-item">It works with Bootstrap...</li>
13	<li class="list-group-item">...out of the box.</li>
14	<li class="list-group-item">It has support for touch devices.</li>
15	<li class="list-group-item">Just drag some elements around.</li>
16</ul>
17
18<script>
19    // Simple list
20    Sortable.create(simpleList, { /* options */ });
21</script>

---

Static methods & properties

Sortable.create(el:HTMLElement[, options:Object]):Sortable

Create new instance.

---

Sortable.active:Sortable

The active Sortable instance.

---

Sortable.dragged:HTMLElement

The element being dragged.

---

Sortable.ghost:HTMLElement

The ghost element.

---

Sortable.clone:HTMLElement

The clone element.

---

Sortable.get(element:HTMLElement):Sortable

Get the Sortable instance on an element.

---

Sortable.mount(plugin:...SortablePlugin|SortablePlugin[])

Mounts a plugin to Sortable.

---

Sortable.utils

• on(el:HTMLElement, event:String, fn:Function) — attach an event handler function
• off(el:HTMLElement, event:String, fn:Function) — remove an event handler
• css(el:HTMLElement):Object — get the values of all the CSS properties
• css(el:HTMLElement, prop:String):Mixed — get the value of style properties
• css(el:HTMLElement, prop:String, value:String) — set one CSS properties
• css(el:HTMLElement, props:Object) — set more CSS properties
• find(ctx:HTMLElement, tagName:String[, iterator:Function]):Array — get elements by tag name
• bind(ctx:Mixed, fn:Function):Function — Takes a function and returns a new one that will always have a particular context
• is(el:HTMLElement, selector:String):Boolean — check the current matched set of elements against a selector
• closest(el:HTMLElement, selector:String[, ctx:HTMLElement]):HTMLElement|Null — for each element in the set, get the first element that matches the selector by testing the element itself and traversing up through its ancestors in the DOM tree
• clone(el:HTMLElement):HTMLElement — create a deep copy of the set of matched elements
• toggleClass(el:HTMLElement, name:String, state:Boolean) — add or remove one classes from each element
• detectDirection(el:HTMLElement):String — automatically detect the direction of the element as either 'vertical' or 'horizontal'
• index(el:HTMLElement, selector:String):Number — index of the element within its parent for a selected set of elements
• getChild(el:HTMLElement, childNum:Number, options:Object, includeDragEl:Boolean):HTMLElement — get the draggable element at a given index of draggable elements within a Sortable instance
• expando:String — expando property name for internal use, sortableListElement[expando] returns the Sortable instance of that elemenet

---

Plugins

Extra Plugins (included in complete versions)

• MultiDrag
• Swap

Default Plugins (included in default versions)

• AutoScroll
• OnSpill

---

CDN

1<!-- jsDelivr :: Sortable :: Latest (https://www.jsdelivr.com/package/npm/sortablejs) -->
2<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/sortablejs@latest/Sortable.min.js"></script>

---

Contributing (Issue/PR)

Please, read this.

---

Contributors

Code Contributors

This project exists thanks to all the people who contribute. [Contribute].

Financial Contributors

Become a financial contributor and help us sustain our community. [Contribute]

Individuals

Organizations

Support this project with your organization. Your logo will show up here with a link to your website. [Contribute]

MIT LICENSE

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.