Understanding Web Components in JavaScript: Creating Custom Elements

mahdimahdi
3 min read

In the ever-evolving landscape of web development, the concept of Web Components has gained considerable traction. They offer a way to build reusable and encapsulated components, fostering modularity and reusability in web applications. These components are native to the browser, allowing developers to define their custom elements.

Defining Web Components

Basics of Creating a Web Component

To define a web component, you start by creating a custom element using JavaScript's CustomElementRegistry interface. Let's take an example of a simple custom element, my-element.

class MyElement extends HTMLElement {
  constructor() {
    super();
    // Define the component's functionality here
  }
}

customElements.define('my-element', MyElement);

Exploring Shadow DOM

The Shadow DOM is a crucial aspect of web components that provides encapsulation. It enables a scoped subtree in a DOM, shielding the component's internals from the global scope.

class MyElement extends HTMLElement {
  constructor() {
    super();
    const shadow = this.attachShadow({ mode: 'open' });
    // Shadow DOM content and styling goes here
  }
}

Advantages and Disadvantages:

Advantages

  • Reusability: Components are self-contained, reusable, and independent.

  • Encapsulation: Shadow DOM shields internal structure and styling.

  • Consistency: Promotes consistency across different parts of an application.

Disadvantages

  • Browser Compatibility: Some features might not be supported in older browsers.

  • Complexity: Learning curve, especially when dealing with Shadow DOM.

Defining Web Components in HTML:

To define a web component in HTML, you simply use the custom element name like any other HTML element:

<my-element></my-element>

Making Components Dynamic:

You can make components dynamic by utilizing attributes and fetching data. For instance, let's consider a dynamic my-element that fetches data using an attribute:

class MyElement extends HTMLElement {
  static get observedAttributes() {
    return ['data'];
  }

  constructor() {
    super();
    const shadow = this.attachShadow({ mode: 'open' });
    // Fetch data based on the 'data' attribute
    const data = this.getAttribute('data');

    // Perform fetch and render logic here
  }

  attributeChangedCallback(name, oldValue, newValue) {
    if (name === 'data' && oldValue !== newValue) {
      // Handle changes in the 'data' attribute
      // Fetch new data and update component
    }
  }
}

Linking CSS to Web Components:

To link a CSS file to a web component, you can utilize the <link> tag within the component's Shadow DOM:

class MyElement extends HTMLElement {
  constructor() {
    super();
    const shadow = this.attachShadow({ mode: 'open' });

    const link = document.createElement('link');
    link.setAttribute('rel', 'stylesheet');
    link.setAttribute('href', 'styles/my-element-styles.css');
    shadow.appendChild(link);

    // Other component logic here
  }
}

Styling and Making Components Dynamic

Styling components within the Shadow DOM involves conventional CSS, providing the freedom to style without affecting the global scope. Dynamic changes can be managed through JavaScript and CSS classes.

Effect on Site Speed and Coding

Web components can enhance site speed by promoting modularity and reusability, leading to more efficient code. However, their use of Shadow DOM and custom elements might introduce some overhead. Coding speed can improve with reusable components, but the initial learning curve might impact development pace.

Complete Example:

Here's a simple example of red-square defined in js HTML: js:

class RedSquare extends HTMLElement {
  connectedCallback() {
    const shadowRoot = this.attachShadow({ mode: 'open' });
    shadowRoot.innerHTML = `
      <style>
        .red-square {
          width: 100px;
          height: 100px;
          background-color: red;
        }
      </style>
      <div class="red-square"></div>
    `;
  }
}

customElements.define('red-square', RedSquare);

html:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
  <title>Red Square Example</title>
</head>
<body>
  <red-square></red-square>
  <script src="red-square.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

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Web components offer a robust way to build scalable and reusable elements in web development. Embracing this technology can significantly enhance the structure and maintainability of web applications.

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Written by

mahdi
mahdi

“Hello, I’m a web programmer exploring the fascinating world of front-end and back-end development in my captivating articles. Join me in this tech journey!”