Logo Questions Linux Laravel Mysql Ubuntu Git Menu
 

jQuery .css() function not returning expected values

Alright, I've search the jQuery docs (needs somebody devoted to maintaining), I've searched SO, and I've searched Google. I can't find the answer to this question.


In Words

In the past, I remember jQuery working like this:

$('#myObj').width() returns the computed width of #myObj.
$('#myObj').css('width') returns the width as it is entered into the CSS stylesheet.

Now, any jQuery package I use returns the exact same number no matter which method I use.

$('#myObj').width() returns the computed width of #myObj as an integer (float?).
$('#myObj').css('width') returns the computed width of #myObj as a string with px on the end.


In Pseudocode

#myobject{
    width: 14em;
    height: 14em;
}

<div id="myobject">Has Text</div>

<script type="text/javascript">
    $( '#myobject' ).click(function(){
        alert($(this).css('width') + "\n" + $(this).width());
    });
</script>

//Always alerts "224px [newline] 224"
//Expected to alert "14em [newline] 224"

These pixel-based return values are almost completely useless, as I need to do calculations based on what's actually in the CSS. For example, I want to do math on the left position of an element, but I can't because it keeps returning pixel values, which are worthless in an em-based design.

Is there any way to get the actual values out of the CSS in jQuery?
Is this a jQuery bug, or am I missing something?

Here's a jsfiddle: http://jsfiddle.net/yAnFL/1/.


Resolution

Apparently, this is the intended result.
I have decided to use this plugin to do conversions for me.
Taking away control of CSS seems like a poor choice in the jQuery design.

like image 760
rockerest Avatar asked Mar 29 '11 16:03

rockerest


1 Answers

This is not a complete answer to your question but it may be a working solution to caclulate the em values. I adapted this function from here. And here is the updated fiddle.

$.fn.emWidth = function(){
    var wpx = this.width();
    var temp = $('<div />').css({
        width:'1em', 
        position: 'absolute'
    });
    this.append(temp);
    var oneEm = temp.width();
    temp.remove();
    var value = wpx/oneEm;
    return Math.round(value*100)/100;
};
like image 155
Josiah Ruddell Avatar answered Oct 27 '22 21:10

Josiah Ruddell