Sortable Widgetversion added: 1.0
Description: Reorder elements in a list or grid using the mouse.
The jQuery UI Sortable plugin makes selected elements sortable by dragging with the mouse.
Note: In order to sort table rows, the tbody must be made sortable, not the table.
Options
appendToType: jQuery or Element or Selector or String
"parent"
- jQuery: A jQuery object containing the element to append the helper to.
- Element: The element to append the helper to.
- Selector: A selector specifying which element to append the helper to.
- 
String: The string "parent"will cause the helper to be a sibling of the sortable item.
Initialize the sortable with the appendTo option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ appendTo: document.body }); | 
Get or set the appendTo option, after initialization:
| // gettervarappendTo = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "appendTo");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "appendTo", document.body ); | 
axisType: String
false
"x", "y".Initialize the sortable with the axis option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ axis: "x"}); | 
Get or set the axis option, after initialization:
| // gettervaraxis = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "axis");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "axis", "x"); | 
cancelType: Selector
":input,button"
Initialize the sortable with the cancel option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ cancel: "a,button"}); | 
Get or set the cancel option, after initialization:
| // gettervarcancel = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "cancel");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "cancel", "a,button"); | 
connectWithType: Selector
false
connectWith option must be set on both sortable elements.Initialize the sortable with the connectWith option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ connectWith: "#shopping-cart"}); | 
Get or set the connectWith option, after initialization:
| // gettervarconnectWith = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "connectWith");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "connectWith", "#shopping-cart"); | 
containmentType: Element or Selector or String
false
Defines a bounding box that the sortable items are contrained to while dragging.
Note: The element specified for containment must have a calculated width and height (though it need not be explicit). For example, if you have float: left sortable children and specify containment: "parent" be sure to have float: left on the sortable/parent container as well or it will have height: 0, causing undefined behavior.
- Element: An element to use as the container.
- Selector: A selector specifying an element to use as the container.
- 
String: A string identifying an element to use as the container. Possible values: "parent","document","window".
Initialize the sortable with the containment option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ containment: "parent"}); | 
Get or set the containment option, after initialization:
| // gettervarcontainment = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "containment");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "containment", "parent"); | 
cursorType: String
"auto"
Initialize the sortable with the cursor option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ cursor: "move"}); | 
Get or set the cursor option, after initialization:
| // gettervarcursor = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "cursor");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "cursor", "move"); | 
cursorAtType: Object
false
{ top, left, right, bottom }.Initialize the sortable with the cursorAt option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ cursorAt: { left: 5 } }); | 
Get or set the cursorAt option, after initialization:
| // gettervarcursorAt = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "cursorAt");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "cursorAt", { left: 5 } ); | 
delayType: Integer
0
Initialize the sortable with the delay option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ delay: 150 }); | 
Get or set the delay option, after initialization:
| // gettervardelay = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "delay");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "delay", 150 ); | 
disabledType: Boolean
false
true.Initialize the sortable with the disabled option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ disabled: true}); | 
Get or set the disabled option, after initialization:
| // gettervardisabled = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "disabled");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "disabled", true); | 
distanceType: Number
1
Initialize the sortable with the distance option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ distance: 5 }); | 
Get or set the distance option, after initialization:
| // gettervardistance = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "distance");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "distance", 5 ); | 
dropOnEmptyType: Boolean
true
false, items from this sortable can't be dropped on an empty connect sortable (see the connectWith option.Initialize the sortable with the dropOnEmpty option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ dropOnEmpty: false}); | 
Get or set the dropOnEmpty option, after initialization:
| // gettervardropOnEmpty = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "dropOnEmpty");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "dropOnEmpty", false); | 
forceHelperSizeType: Boolean
false
true, forces the helper to have a size.Initialize the sortable with the forceHelperSize option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ forceHelperSize: true}); | 
Get or set the forceHelperSize option, after initialization:
| // gettervarforceHelperSize = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "forceHelperSize");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "forceHelperSize", true); | 
forcePlaceholderSizeType: Boolean
false
Initialize the sortable with the forcePlaceholderSize option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ forcePlaceholderSize: true}); | 
Get or set the forcePlaceholderSize option, after initialization:
| // gettervarforcePlaceholderSize = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "forcePlaceholderSize");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "forcePlaceholderSize", true); | 
gridType: Array
false
[ x, y ].Initialize the sortable with the grid option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ grid: [ 20, 10 ] }); | 
Get or set the grid option, after initialization:
| // gettervargrid = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "grid");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "grid", [ 20, 10 ] ); | 
handleType: Selector or Element
false
Initialize the sortable with the handle option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ handle: ".handle"}); | 
Get or set the handle option, after initialization:
| // gettervarhandle = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "handle");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "handle", ".handle"); | 
helperType: String or Function()
"original"
- 
String: If set to "clone", then the element will be cloned and the clone will be dragged.
- Function: A function that will return a DOMElement to use while dragging. The function receives the event and the element being sorted.
Initialize the sortable with the helper option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ helper: "clone"}); | 
Get or set the helper option, after initialization:
| // gettervarhelper = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "helper");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "helper", "clone"); | 
itemsType: Selector
"> *"
Initialize the sortable with the items option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ items: "> li"}); | 
Get or set the items option, after initialization:
| // gettervaritems = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "items");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "items", "> li"); | 
opacityType: Number
false
0.01 to 1.Initialize the sortable with the opacity option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ opacity: 0.5 }); | 
Get or set the opacity option, after initialization:
| // gettervaropacity = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "opacity");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "opacity", 0.5 ); | 
placeholderType: String
false
Initialize the sortable with the placeholder option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ placeholder: "sortable-placeholder"}); | 
Get or set the placeholder option, after initialization:
| // gettervarplaceholder = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "placeholder");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "placeholder", "sortable-placeholder"); | 
revertType: Boolean or Number
false
- 
Boolean: When set to true, the items will animate with the default duration.
- Number: The duration for the animation, in milliseconds.
Initialize the sortable with the revert option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ revert: true}); | 
Get or set the revert option, after initialization:
| // gettervarrevert = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "revert");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "revert", true); | 
scrollType: Boolean
true
Initialize the sortable with the scroll option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ scroll: false}); | 
Get or set the scroll option, after initialization:
| // gettervarscroll = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "scroll");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "scroll", false); | 
scrollSensitivityType: Number
20
Initialize the sortable with the scrollSensitivity option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ scrollSensitivity: 10 }); | 
Get or set the scrollSensitivity option, after initialization:
| // gettervarscrollSensitivity = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "scrollSensitivity");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "scrollSensitivity", 10 ); | 
scrollSpeedType: Number
20
scrollSensitivity distance.Initialize the sortable with the scrollSpeed option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ scrollSpeed: 40 }); | 
Get or set the scrollSpeed option, after initialization:
| // gettervarscrollSpeed = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "scrollSpeed");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "scrollSpeed", 40 ); | 
toleranceType: String
"intersect"
- 
"intersect": The item overlaps the other item by at least 50%.
- 
"pointer": The mouse pointer overlaps the other item.
Initialize the sortable with the tolerance option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ tolerance: "pointer"}); | 
Get or set the tolerance option, after initialization:
| // gettervartolerance = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "tolerance");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "tolerance", "pointer"); | 
zIndexType: Integer
1000
Initialize the sortable with the zIndex option specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({ zIndex: 9999 }); | 
Get or set the zIndex option, after initialization:
| // gettervarzIndex = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "zIndex");// setter$( ".selector").sortable( "option", "zIndex", 9999 ); | 
Methods
cancel()
- This method does not accept any arguments.
Invoke the cancel method:
| $( ".selector").sortable( "cancel"); | 
destroy()
- This method does not accept any arguments.
Invoke the destroy method:
| $( ".selector").sortable( "destroy"); | 
disable()
- This method does not accept any arguments.
Invoke the disable method:
| $( ".selector").sortable( "disable"); | 
enable()
- This method does not accept any arguments.
Invoke the enable method:
| $( ".selector").sortable( "enable"); | 
option( optionName )Returns: Object
optionName.- 
optionNameType: StringThe name of the option to get.
Invoke the method:
| varisDisabled = $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "disabled"); | 
option()Returns: PlainObject
- This method does not accept any arguments.
Invoke the method:
| varoptions = $( ".selector").sortable( "option"); | 
option( optionName, value )
optionName.- 
optionNameType: StringThe name of the option to set.
- 
valueType: ObjectA value to set for the option.
Invoke the method:
| $( ".selector").sortable( "option", "disabled", true); | 
option( options )
- 
optionsType: ObjectA map of option-value pairs to set.
Invoke the method:
| $( ".selector").sortable( "option", { disabled: true} ); | 
refresh()
- This method does not accept any arguments.
Invoke the refresh method:
| $( ".selector").sortable( "refresh"); | 
refreshPositions()
- This method does not accept any arguments.
Invoke the refreshPositions method:
| $( ".selector").sortable( "refreshPositions"); | 
serialize( options )Returns: String
Serializes the sortable's item ids into a form/ajax submittable string. Calling this method produces a hash that can be appended to any url to easily submit a new item order back to the server.
It works by default by looking at the id of each item in the format "setname_number", and it spits out a hash like "setname[]=number&setname[]=number".
Note: If serialize returns an empty string, make sure the id attributes include an underscore.  They must be in the form: "set_number" For example, a 3 element list with id attributes "foo_1", "foo_5", "foo_2" will serialize to "foo[]=1&foo[]=5&foo[]=2". You can use an underscore, equal sign or hyphen to separate the set and number. For example "foo=1", "foo-1", and "foo_1" all serialize to "foo[]=1".
- 
optionsType: ObjectOptions to customize the serialization.- 
key (default:the part of the attribute in front of the separator)Type: StringReplacespart1[]with the specified value.
- 
attribute (default:"id")Type: StringThe name of the attribute to use for the values.
- 
expression (default:/(.+)[-=_](.+)/)Type: RegExpA regular expression used to split the attribute value into key and value parts.
 
- 
Invoke the serialize method:
| varsorted = $( ".selector").sortable( "serialize", { key: "sort"} ); | 
toArray()Returns: Array
- This method does not accept any arguments.
Invoke the toArray method:
| varsortedIDs = $( ".selector").sortable( "toArray"); | 
widget()Returns: jQuery
jQuery object containing the sortable element.
	- This method does not accept any arguments.
Invoke the widget method:
| varwidget = $( ".selector").sortable( "widget"); | 
Events
activate( event, ui )Type: sortactivate
- 
eventType: Event
- 
uiType: Object- 
helperType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the helper being sorted
- 
itemType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the current dragged element
- 
offsetType: ObjectThe current absolute position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
positionType: ObjectThe current position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
originalPositionType: ObjectThe original position of the element represented as{ top, left }
- 
senderType: jQueryThe sortable that the item comes from if moving from one sortable to another
 
- 
Initialize the sortable with the activate callback specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({    activate: function( event, ui ) {}}); | 
Bind an event listener to the sortactivate event:
| $( ".selector").on( "sortactivate", function( event, ui ) {} ); | 
beforeStop( event, ui )Type: sortbeforestop
- 
eventType: Event
- 
uiType: Object- 
helperType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the helper being sorted
- 
itemType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the current dragged element
- 
offsetType: ObjectThe current absolute position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
positionType: ObjectThe current position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
originalPositionType: ObjectThe original position of the element represented as{ top, left }
- 
senderType: jQueryThe sortable that the item comes from if moving from one sortable to another
 
- 
Initialize the sortable with the beforeStop callback specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({    beforeStop: function( event, ui ) {}}); | 
Bind an event listener to the sortbeforestop event:
| $( ".selector").on( "sortbeforestop", function( event, ui ) {} ); | 
change( event, ui )Type: sortchange
- 
eventType: Event
- 
uiType: Object- 
helperType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the helper being sorted
- 
itemType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the current dragged element
- 
offsetType: ObjectThe current absolute position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
positionType: ObjectThe current position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
originalPositionType: ObjectThe original position of the element represented as{ top, left }
- 
senderType: jQueryThe sortable that the item comes from if moving from one sortable to another
 
- 
Initialize the sortable with the change callback specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({    change: function( event, ui ) {}}); | 
Bind an event listener to the sortchange event:
| $( ".selector").on( "sortchange", function( event, ui ) {} ); | 
create( event, ui )Type: sortcreate
Initialize the sortable with the create callback specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({    create: function( event, ui ) {}}); | 
Bind an event listener to the sortcreate event:
| $( ".selector").on( "sortcreate", function( event, ui ) {} ); | 
deactivate( event, ui )Type: sortdeactivate
- 
eventType: Event
- 
uiType: Object- 
helperType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the helper being sorted
- 
itemType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the current dragged element
- 
offsetType: ObjectThe current absolute position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
positionType: ObjectThe current position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
originalPositionType: ObjectThe original position of the element represented as{ top, left }
- 
senderType: jQueryThe sortable that the item comes from if moving from one sortable to another
 
- 
Initialize the sortable with the deactivate callback specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({    deactivate: function( event, ui ) {}}); | 
Bind an event listener to the sortdeactivate event:
| $( ".selector").on( "sortdeactivate", function( event, ui ) {} ); | 
out( event, ui )Type: sortout
- 
eventType: Event
- 
uiType: Object- 
helperType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the helper being sorted
- 
itemType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the current dragged element
- 
offsetType: ObjectThe current absolute position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
positionType: ObjectThe current position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
originalPositionType: ObjectThe original position of the element represented as{ top, left }
- 
senderType: jQueryThe sortable that the item comes from if moving from one sortable to another
 
- 
Initialize the sortable with the out callback specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({    out: function( event, ui ) {}}); | 
Bind an event listener to the sortout event:
| $( ".selector").on( "sortout", function( event, ui ) {} ); | 
over( event, ui )Type: sortover
- 
eventType: Event
- 
uiType: Object- 
helperType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the helper being sorted
- 
itemType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the current dragged element
- 
offsetType: ObjectThe current absolute position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
positionType: ObjectThe current position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
originalPositionType: ObjectThe original position of the element represented as{ top, left }
- 
senderType: jQueryThe sortable that the item comes from if moving from one sortable to another
 
- 
Initialize the sortable with the over callback specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({    over: function( event, ui ) {}}); | 
Bind an event listener to the sortover event:
| $( ".selector").on( "sortover", function( event, ui ) {} ); | 
receive( event, ui )Type: sortreceive
- 
eventType: Event
- 
uiType: Object- 
helperType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the helper being sorted
- 
itemType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the current dragged element
- 
offsetType: ObjectThe current absolute position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
positionType: ObjectThe current position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
originalPositionType: ObjectThe original position of the element represented as{ top, left }
- 
senderType: jQueryThe sortable that the item comes from if moving from one sortable to another
 
- 
Initialize the sortable with the receive callback specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({    receive: function( event, ui ) {}}); | 
Bind an event listener to the sortreceive event:
| $( ".selector").on( "sortreceive", function( event, ui ) {} ); | 
remove( event, ui )Type: sortremove
- 
eventType: Event
- 
uiType: Object- 
helperType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the helper being sorted
- 
itemType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the current dragged element
- 
offsetType: ObjectThe current absolute position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
positionType: ObjectThe current position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
originalPositionType: ObjectThe original position of the element represented as{ top, left }
- 
senderType: jQueryThe sortable that the item comes from if moving from one sortable to another
 
- 
Initialize the sortable with the remove callback specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({    remove: function( event, ui ) {}}); | 
Bind an event listener to the sortremove event:
| $( ".selector").on( "sortremove", function( event, ui ) {} ); | 
sort( event, ui )Type: sort
- 
eventType: Event
- 
uiType: Object- 
helperType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the helper being sorted
- 
itemType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the current dragged element
- 
offsetType: ObjectThe current absolute position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
positionType: ObjectThe current position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
originalPositionType: ObjectThe original position of the element represented as{ top, left }
- 
senderType: jQueryThe sortable that the item comes from if moving from one sortable to another
 
- 
Initialize the sortable with the sort callback specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({    sort: function( event, ui ) {}}); | 
Bind an event listener to the sort event:
| $( ".selector").on( "sort", function( event, ui ) {} ); | 
start( event, ui )Type: sortstart
- 
eventType: Event
- 
uiType: Object- 
helperType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the helper being sorted
- 
itemType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the current dragged element
- 
offsetType: ObjectThe current absolute position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
positionType: ObjectThe current position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
originalPositionType: ObjectThe original position of the element represented as{ top, left }
- 
senderType: jQueryThe sortable that the item comes from if moving from one sortable to another
 
- 
Initialize the sortable with the start callback specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({    start: function( event, ui ) {}}); | 
Bind an event listener to the sortstart event:
| $( ".selector").on( "sortstart", function( event, ui ) {} ); | 
stop( event, ui )Type: sortstop
- 
eventType: Event
- 
uiType: Object- 
helperType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the helper being sorted
- 
itemType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the current dragged element
- 
offsetType: ObjectThe current absolute position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
positionType: ObjectThe current position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
originalPositionType: ObjectThe original position of the element represented as{ top, left }
- 
senderType: jQueryThe sortable that the item comes from if moving from one sortable to another
 
- 
Initialize the sortable with the stop callback specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({    stop: function( event, ui ) {}}); | 
Bind an event listener to the sortstop event:
| $( ".selector").on( "sortstop", function( event, ui ) {} ); | 
update( event, ui )Type: sortupdate
- 
eventType: Event
- 
uiType: Object- 
helperType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the helper being sorted
- 
itemType: jQueryThe jQuery object representing the current dragged element
- 
offsetType: ObjectThe current absolute position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
positionType: ObjectThe current position of the helper represented as{ top, left }
- 
originalPositionType: ObjectThe original position of the element represented as{ top, left }
- 
senderType: jQueryThe sortable that the item comes from if moving from one sortable to another
 
- 
Initialize the sortable with the update callback specified:
| $( ".selector").sortable({    update: function( event, ui ) {}}); | 
Bind an event listener to the sortupdate event:
| $( ".selector").on( "sortupdate", function( event, ui ) {} ); | 
Example:
A simple jQuery UI Sortable.
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 | <!doctype html><htmllang="en"><head>    <metacharset="utf-8">    <title>sortable demo</title></head><body><ulid="sortable">    <li>Item 1</li>    <li>Item 2</li>    <li>Item 3</li>    <li>Item 4</li>    <li>Item 5</li></ul><script>$("#sortable").sortable();</script></body></html> |