Can I get a div's background-image URL?
Swiftly unearth a div's background-image URL with this jewel:
This will judiciously extract the URL from instead of serving the whole backgroundImage
property – leaving you with a lean URL for your perusal.
Efficiency trick with jQuery
JavaScript got us started, but jQuery steps in to save the day – and some keystrokes:
The .css()
method gets the computed style while .replace()
surgically cuts out what's not needed, presenting a clean, usable URL.
Robust handling of 'none' and URL formats
Great Jedi programmers prepare for all possible disturbances in the code:
-
No Background Image: If Vader set
backgroundImage
to'none'
, we snap into action: -
URL Format Jiggery-Pokery: Background images come in various URL formats, not unlike the myriad species in the Star Wars universe. Be ready to normalize these formats for consistent handling.
Performance tip: Avoid regex overhead
Great power comes great responsibility. Regular expressions are super handy, but their power can be an overkill for simple tasks. The .slice(5, -2)
pattern sidesteps regex overhead, helping you speed through galaxies of elements.
Extended utility of this method
Inline styles? No problem
For inline div styles, the above snippets work as smooth as a lightsaber cut. But how do we deal with styles set in external CSS or <style>
blocks?
Computed styles? Bring 'em on
Ensure the selector you're using is correct when dealing with non-inline styles.
More backgrounds than you can shake a stick at?
Sometimes your div may have multiple backgrounds. The Force is with you, young Jedi:
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