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Lightbox (JavaScript)
Encyclopedia
Lightbox, and the newer Lightbox 2, is a JavaScript
application used to display large images using modal dialogs
. The script has gained widespread popularity due to its simple yet elegant style and easy implementation. While it was initially developed from scratch, Lightbox has since been modified to use a number of JavaScript libraries (such as the Prototype Javascript Framework
and script.aculo.us
for its animations and positioning), in order to reduce the size of the code. The release of Lightbox encouraged other developers to work on similar projects, resulting in products such as the later Thickbox and lighter Slimbox.
While Lightbox is dependent upon a browser's compatibility with Prototype
to function, Lightbox is triggered through a standard link tag. Thus browsers that do not support JavaScript simply load the image as a separate file, losing the Lightbox effect but still retaining the ability to display the full-sized image. Even so, some compatibility problems have been identified with versions of Lightbox, in particular when displaying larger images on Firefox or Opera
.
Many users have also noted that there is a lack of compatibility across the Internet Explorer
range of browsers, and in particular, the newly released Internet Explorer 9. However, many times the compatibility issues can be attributed to users not reading the documentation on how to make lightbox function correctly in these browsers.
JavaScript
JavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
application used to display large images using modal dialogs
Modal window
In user interface design, a modal window is a child window that requires users to interact with it before they can return to operating the parent application, thus preventing the workflow on the application main window...
. The script has gained widespread popularity due to its simple yet elegant style and easy implementation. While it was initially developed from scratch, Lightbox has since been modified to use a number of JavaScript libraries (such as the Prototype Javascript Framework
Prototype Javascript Framework
The Prototype JavaScript Framework is a JavaScript framework created by Sam Stephenson in February 2005 as part of the foundation for Ajax support in Ruby on Rails. It is implemented as a single file of JavaScript code, usually named prototype.js...
and script.aculo.us
Script.aculo.us
script.aculo.us is a JavaScript library built on the Prototype JavaScript Framework, providing dynamic visual effects and user interface elements via the Document Object Model ....
for its animations and positioning), in order to reduce the size of the code. The release of Lightbox encouraged other developers to work on similar projects, resulting in products such as the later Thickbox and lighter Slimbox.
What it does
On a Lightbox-enabled page, a user can click an image to have it magnified in a Lightbox window, which resizes itself according to the size of the image using a gliding animation. Lightbox determines which images will be shown in the modal window through the XHTML "rel" attribute, which is used on an <a> element wrapped around the <img> element. Lightbox also provides a way to attach captions to images and to run a slide show, which can be navigated using the arrow keys.Functionality
Lightbox permits users to view larger versions of images without having to leave the current page, and is also able to display simple slideshows. The use of the dark background, which dims the page over which the image has been overlaid, also serves to disable the remainder of the interface.While Lightbox is dependent upon a browser's compatibility with Prototype
Prototype Javascript Framework
The Prototype JavaScript Framework is a JavaScript framework created by Sam Stephenson in February 2005 as part of the foundation for Ajax support in Ruby on Rails. It is implemented as a single file of JavaScript code, usually named prototype.js...
to function, Lightbox is triggered through a standard link tag. Thus browsers that do not support JavaScript simply load the image as a separate file, losing the Lightbox effect but still retaining the ability to display the full-sized image. Even so, some compatibility problems have been identified with versions of Lightbox, in particular when displaying larger images on Firefox or Opera
Opera (web browser)
Opera is a web browser and Internet suite developed by Opera Software with over 200 million users worldwide. The browser handles common Internet-related tasks such as displaying web sites, sending and receiving e-mail messages, managing contacts, chatting on IRC, downloading files via BitTorrent,...
.
Many users have also noted that there is a lack of compatibility across the Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer
Windows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year...
range of browsers, and in particular, the newly released Internet Explorer 9. However, many times the compatibility issues can be attributed to users not reading the documentation on how to make lightbox function correctly in these browsers.