DataTransferItemList.length

The read-only DataTransferItemList.length property returns the number of items in the list. If the list has no items, or is disabled (because it has no data store at all), this property returns zero.

Syntax

JavaScript
length = DataTransferItemList.length;

Return value

The number of drag data items in the list, or 0 if the list is empty or has no data store associated with it.

Example

This example shows the use of the length property.

JavaScript
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang=en>
<title>Examples of DataTransferItemList methods and property</title>
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width">
<style>
  div {
    margin: 0em;
    padding: 2em;
  }
  #source {
    color: blue;
    border: 1px solid black;
  }
  #target {
    border: 1px solid black;
  }
</style>
<script>
function dragstart_handler(ev) {
  console.log("dragStart");
  // Add this element's id to the drag payload so the drop handler will
  // know which element to add to its tree
  var dataList = ev.dataTransfer.items;
  dataList.add(ev.target.id, "text/plain");
  // Add some other items to the drag payload 
  dataList.add("<p>... paragraph ...</p>", "text/html");
  dataList.add("http://www.example.org","text/uri-list");
}

function drop_handler(ev) {
  console.log("Drop");
  ev.preventDefault();
  var data = event.dataTransfer.items;
  // Loop through the dropped items and log their data
  for (var i = 0; i < data.length; i++) {
    if ((data[i].kind == 'string') && (data[i].type.match('^text/plain'))) {
      // This item is the target node
      data[i].getAsString(function (s){
        ev.target.appendChild(document.getElementById(s)); 
      });
    } else if ((data[i].kind == 'string') && (data[i].type.match('^text/html'))) {
      // Drag data item is HTML
      data[i].getAsString(function (s){
        console.log("... Drop: HTML = " + s);
      });
    } else if ((data[i].kind == 'string') && (data[i].type.match('^text/uri-list'))) {
      // Drag data item is URI
      data[i].getAsString(function (s){
        console.log("... Drop: URI = " + s);
      });
    }
  }
}

function dragover_handler(ev) {
  console.log("dragOver");
  ev.preventDefault();
  // Set the dropEffect to move
  ev.dataTransfer.dropEffect = "move"
}

function dragend_handler(ev) {
  console.log("dragEnd");
  var dataList = ev.dataTransfer.items;
  for (var i = 0; i < dataList.length; i++) {
    dataList.remove(i);
  }
  // Clear any remaining drag data
  dataList.clear();
}
</script>
<body>
<h1>Example uses of <code>DataTransferItemList</code> methods and property</h1>
 <div>
   <p id="source" ondragstart="dragstart_handler(event);" ondragend="dragend_handler(event);" draggable="true">
     Select this element, drag it to the Drop Zone and then release the selection to move the element.</p>
 </div>
 <div id="target" ondrop="drop_handler(event);" ondragover="dragover_handler(event);">Drop Zone</div>
</body>
</html>

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
WHATWG HTML Living Standard
The definition of 'length' in that specification.
Living Standard  
HTML5.1
The definition of 'length' in that specification.
Working Draft Not included in W3C HTML5 Recommendation

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari (WebKit)
Basic support 4 50 (50) No support 12 No support
Feature Android Android Webview Chrome for Android Firefox Mobile (Gecko) Firefox OS IE Mobile Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support No support No support No support 50.0 (50) No support No support No support No support

License

© 2016 Mozilla Contributors
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-us/docs/web/api/datatransferitemlist/length

API DataTransferItemList drag and drop HTML DOM HTML Drag and Drop API length NeedsLiveSample Property Reference