drag-helper

library1.3.6jsnpmunverified

DragHelper is a lightweight, vanilla JavaScript utility designed to simplify the implementation of basic drag and drop functionalities within web applications. Currently at version 1.3.6, the package has not seen any updates since 2016, indicating it is an abandoned project. Its last publish date on npm was over nine years ago, and the GitHub repository shows no activity since August 2016. While it provides a basic API for making DOM elements draggable, it lacks features common in modern drag-and-drop libraries, such as touch event optimization, robust accessibility, or explicit framework integrations (e.g., React, Vue). It is suitable only for extremely basic, legacy projects where minimal footprint is prioritized over active maintenance or advanced capabilities.

web-framework

npm install drag-helper

github ↗package ↗

INSTALL

IMPORT

SIG · DRAG-HELPER

drag-helper

web-frameworkjavascriptv1.3.6

Install

—

Import

—

Disk

—

Pass rate

0/ 6

Env Coverage0 / 6

glibc

18–22

musl

18–22

Install & Compatibility

Where this runs

tested against v? · npm install

Install × environment matrix

Each cell = how many times install + import succeeded across repeated harness runs. Partial = flaky.
glibc = Debian/Ubuntu slim · musl = Alpine Linux

musl

node 18–226 runs

build_error

glibc

node 18–226 runs

build_error

Code

Verified usage

Verified import paths — ran on the pinned version, not inferred.

DragHelper

✓ import DragHelper from 'drag-helper';

✗ const DragHelper = require('drag-helper');

Assumed default export for ESM. For CommonJS or older environments, direct script inclusion or a global `window.DragHelper` might be the intended use.

DragHelper

✓ <script src="./node_modules/drag-helper/dist/drag-helper.min.js"></script> // then use window.DragHelper

For browser environments without a module bundler, it's typically included via a script tag, exposing `DragHelper` globally. Path might vary.

This quickstart demonstrates how to initialize a draggable element confined within a parent container using the `DragHelper` utility. It assumes a basic API for event callbacks (`onDragStart`, `onDrag`, `onDragEnd`) and positional updates, reflecting common patterns for vanilla JS drag libraries, though the specific API for this abandoned package is inferred.

<html> <head> <title>DragHelper Quickstart</title> <style> body { font-family: sans-serif; } #container { width: 400px; height: 300px; border: 2px dashed #ccc; margin: 50px auto; position: relative; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; background-color: #f9f9f9; } #draggable-element { width: 100px; height: 100px; background-color: #007bff; color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; cursor: grab; position: absolute; border-radius: 8px; box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); touch-action: none; /* Prevent default touch behavior */ } </style> </head> <body> <div id="container"> <div id="draggable-element">Drag Me!</div> </div> <script type="module"> import DragHelper from './node_modules/drag-helper/dist/drag-helper.min.js'; // Adjust path as necessary document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', () => { const draggableEl = document.getElementById('draggable-element'); const containerEl = document.getElementById('container'); if (draggableEl && containerEl) { // Assuming DragHelper is a factory function or constructor that takes the element and optional config. // The internal API is inferred based on common patterns for 'drag-helper' type libraries. const dragInstance = new DragHelper(draggableEl, { container: containerEl, // Restrict dragging within this container onDragStart: (event, element) => { console.log('Drag started:', element.id); element.style.borderColor = 'blue'; }, onDrag: (event, element, { x, y }) => { // Update element's position. This is a common pattern for manual position updates. // Some drag libraries handle this internally, but for a basic helper, manual might be needed. element.style.left = `${x}px`; element.style.top = `${y}px`; }, onDragEnd: (event, element) => { console.log('Drag ended:', element.id); element.style.borderColor = 'transparent'; } }); console.log('DragHelper initialized for element:', draggableEl.id); // Example of cleanup if the library provides a destroy method // setTimeout(() => { // if (dragInstance.destroy) { // dragInstance.destroy(); // console.log('DragHelper destroyed.'); // } // }, 10000); } else { console.error('Draggable element or container not found.'); } }); </script> </body> </html>

Debug

Known issues

breakingThe `drag-helper` package is abandoned, with its last update occurring in 2016. There will be no further bug fixes, security patches, or feature enhancements. Using it in new projects is strongly discouraged.

fix

Migrate to actively maintained drag-and-drop libraries such as `Draggable-Helper`, `Dragula`, `react-draggable`, or `@atlaskit/pragmatic-drag-and-drop` for modern applications.

affects: >=1.0.0

gotchaDue to its age, `drag-helper` may have limited or no support for modern browser features, including updated touch event APIs, CSS transforms, or newer accessibility standards. Compatibility issues, especially on mobile devices, are highly probable.

fix

Thoroughly test on all target browsers and devices. Be prepared to implement polyfills or custom solutions for unsupported behaviors. For robust cross-browser and touch support, consider modern alternatives.

affects: >=1.0.0

gotchaThe package lacks official TypeScript declarations and is not designed for direct integration with modern JavaScript frameworks like React, Vue, or Angular. Usage will require manual DOM manipulation and might lead to conflicts with framework's virtual DOM or component lifecycles.

fix

If using a framework, integrate via `useEffect` (React) or `onMounted` (Vue) hooks to ensure proper DOM access and cleanup. For type safety, custom declaration files (`.d.ts`) would need to be created. Consider framework-specific drag-and-drop solutions instead.

affects: >=1.0.0

deprecatedThe entire package is effectively deprecated due to its abandonment. While it may still function for very simple use cases, its API is outdated compared to contemporary drag-and-drop libraries and is not recommended for production.

fix

Evaluate migration to a current, actively maintained library that provides similar or enhanced functionality. This ensures access to ongoing support, bug fixes, and modern features.

affects: >=1.0.0

Errors

Common errors & fixes

TypeError: DragHelper is not a constructor

The module system (ESM vs CJS) is incorrectly used, or the script is loaded without a module bundler, and `DragHelper` is not globally available as expected.

fix

Ensure you are using the correct import syntax for your environment (`import DragHelper from 'drag-helper'` for ESM, `const DragHelper = require('drag-helper')` for CJS, or verifying global `window.DragHelper` if using a script tag). Verify the path to the `drag-helper.min.js` in browser environments.

Drag functionality not working or element jumping erratically.

This often occurs if the draggable element's CSS positioning (`position: absolute;` or `relative;`) is not set correctly, or if event handlers are being interfered with by other scripts or default browser behaviors (e.g., text selection during drag).

fix

Ensure the draggable element has `position: absolute;` (if moved relative to a positioned parent) or `relative;` (if moved within its normal flow) and that `touch-action: none;` is applied to prevent default browser gestures. Debug event propagation and ensure no other scripts are inadvertently preventing or stopping `drag-helper`'s event handling.

Uncaught ReferenceError: DragHelper is not defined

The `drag-helper` script or module failed to load, or the global `DragHelper` object was not exposed when included via a script tag.

fix

Verify that the `npm install drag-helper` command completed successfully and the package is in `node_modules`. If using a script tag, ensure the path to `drag-helper.min.js` is correct and accessible, and that it's loaded before your script tries to use `DragHelper`. Check for network errors if loading via CDN.

Upgrade

Version history

1.3.6latest on npm

Audit

Dependencies

No dependency data recorded yet.

Agent activity

4 hits · last 30 days

node

Resources

githubhttps://github.com/radubrehar/DragHelper ↗

packagehttps://www.npmjs.com/package/drag-helper ↗