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javascriptjqueryarrow-keys

detecting the last list item in jquery/javascript

I have a set of tab (main-tabs) on a website and each tab has another set of tabs (sub-tabs). I want to use arrow keys on a keyboard to navigate the tabs, instead of a mouse.

These tabs are just HTML list items <li>

When I reach the last sub-tab with the arrow key, I want it to go back to the next main tab so it can display its own sub-tabs, and carry on the navigation inside it.

My question is, how can I detect, in jQuery/javascript, when I've reached the last list item (tab) using the arrow keys i.e. the right arrow key?

Many Thanks

Solution

  • You might be able to use either the :last or :last-child selectors in jQuery. Depending on how your <li> tags are nested, you might also have to use the children() function along with it.

    For example, let's say you have the following markup:

        <ul id="nav">
        <li>List item</li>
        <li>List item with sub items
            <ul>
                <li>Sub list item</li>
            </ul>
        </li>
    </ul>

    This would select the last top-level <li>

    $('ul#nav > li:last').css('border', '1px solid red');

    alt text

    This would select the last <li> traversing the DOM downward. In this case it's the <li> with text "Sub list item"

    $('ul#nav li:last').css('border', '1px solid red');

    alt text

    This would select any <li> tags that are the last child of their parent

    $('ul#nav li:last-child').css('border', '1px solid red');

    alt text