Creating a Time Slider Component like Workboard’s Booking Screen

In recent years, the popularity of time-based selection components has increased significantly, particularly in applications such as booking screens, scheduling tools, and time management interfaces. One notable example is the time slider used in Workboard’s booking screen, which allows users to select a specific time interval within a 30-minute window. In this article, we will explore how to create a similar time slider component using JavaScript and HTML, along with a discussion on the libraries and techniques used.

Introduction to Time Sliders

A time slider is a graphical representation of time that allows users to select a specific duration or range of time. It typically consists of a horizontal or vertical bar that can be dragged along the timeline to set a new time selection. The benefits of using time sliders include improved user experience, increased productivity, and enhanced accessibility.

Challenges in Creating a Time Slider

When creating a time slider component, several challenges arise. These include:

• Handling user input and updating the slider accordingly
• Ensuring accurate calculations for time intervals and durations
• Implementing smooth animations for the slider’s movement
• Accommodating different screen sizes and devices
• Meeting accessibility standards for users with disabilities

Libraries and Techniques Used

There are several libraries and techniques that can be used to create a time slider component. Some popular options include:

• Moment.js: A JavaScript library for working with dates and times.
• D3.js: A JavaScript library for producing dynamic, interactive data visualizations.

However, for this example, we will focus on using Vanilla JavaScript and HTML.

Creating the Time Slider Component

To create a basic time slider component, you can use the following HTML structure:

<div class="time-slider">
    <div class="slider-handle" id="start-handle"></div>
    <div class="slider-handle" id="end-handle"></div>
    <input type="number" value="0" min="0" max="1800" id="slider-input">
</div>

Next, you can add some basic JavaScript code to handle user input and update the slider accordingly:

const startHandle = document.getElementById('start-handle');
const endHandle = document.getElementById('end-handle');
const sliderInput = document.getElementById('slider-input');

// Set initial values for the handles
let startTime = 0;
let endTime = 1800;

// Function to handle user input
function handleInput(event) {
    // Update the start and end times based on the selected value
    startTime = parseInt(sliderInput.value);
    endTime = startTime + (parseInt(sliderInput.value) * 60);

    // Update the handles
    startHandle.style.left = `${startTime}px`;
    endHandle.style.left = `${endTime}px`;

    // Update the input field
    sliderInput.value = Math.floor(endTime / 60);
}

// Add event listener to the input field
sliderInput.addEventListener('input', handleInput);

// Function to animate the handles
function animateHandles() {
    // Animate the start and end handles over a period of 0.5 seconds
    requestAnimationFrame(() => {
        const startTimeDelta = Math.abs(endTime - startTime) / 100;
        startHandle.style.left = `${startTime + startTimeDelta}px`;
        endHandle.style.left = `${endTime - startTimeDelta}px`;

        // Repeat the animation until the handles reach their final positions
        if (startHandle.style.left !== `${endTime}px` || endHandle.style.left !== `${startTime}px`) {
            requestAnimationFrame(animateHandles);
        }
    });
}

// Initialize the handles
animateHandles();

// Function to check for valid input
function validateInput() {
    const startTime = parseInt(sliderInput.value * 60);
    const endTime = parseInt(sliderInput.value) * 60;

    // Check if the selected time is within the allowed range
    if (startTime >= 0 && startTime < 720) {
        return true;
    } else {
        return false;
    }
}

// Add event listener to the input field for validation
sliderInput.addEventListener('input', validateInput);

Styling the Time Slider

To create a visually appealing time slider, you can use CSS to style the HTML elements. Here’s an example of how you can achieve this:

.time-slider {
    width: 100%;
    height: 40px;
    border: 1px solid #ccc;
    display: flex;
    justify-content: space-between;
}

.slider-handle {
    width: 20px;
    height: 20px;
    border-radius: 50%;
    background-color: #333;
    cursor: pointer;
}

#start-handle {
    margin-right: 10px;
}

#end-handle {
    margin-left: 10px;
}

input[type="number"] {
    width: 60px;
    height: 20px;
    border: none;
    font-size: 14px;
    text-align: center;
}

Conclusion

In this article, we explored how to create a basic time slider component using Vanilla JavaScript and HTML. We discussed the challenges of creating such a component and highlighted some popular libraries and techniques that can be used for the task.

We also provided an example implementation of the time slider, including the HTML structure, JavaScript code, and CSS styling. With this knowledge, you should be able to create your own custom time slider components tailored to your specific needs.

Additional Considerations

When creating a time slider component, there are several additional considerations to keep in mind:

• Accessibility: Ensure that the component meets accessibility standards by providing alternative text for screen readers and keyboard navigation.
• Responsiveness: Make sure that the component adapts well to different screen sizes and devices.
• Data Binding: Consider implementing data binding mechanisms to update the time slider automatically when user input changes.
• Error Handling: Add error handling mechanisms to ensure that the component handles unexpected input or errors gracefully.

By taking these factors into account, you can create a robust and reliable time slider component that meets your specific requirements.

Last modified on 2023-06-20