I'd like to set css of a div element dynamically using jQuery css() function instead of using string literals/ string constants for the css() function. Is it possible?

Instead of using the following codes with string literals:

$('#myDiv').css('color', '#00ff00');

I would like to use variables to set css for #myDiv element like

Version 1:

var propertyName = get_propery_name(myVariable1); // function get_propery_name() returns a string like 'background-color'
var value = get_value(myVariable2) ; //  function get_value() returns a string like '#00ff00'
$('#myDiv').css(propertyName, value);

Version 2: (just hard coded to see if they work without calling custom functions like version 1 above):

var propertyName = 'background-color';
var value = '#00ff00';
$('#divLeftReportView').css(propertyName, value);

Both variable versions of codes do not work. Please help. Thanks.

I'd like to set css of a div element dynamically using jQuery css() function instead of using string literals/ string constants for the css() function. Is it possible?

Instead of using the following codes with string literals:

$('#myDiv').css('color', '#00ff00');

I would like to use variables to set css for #myDiv element like

Version 1:

var propertyName = get_propery_name(myVariable1); // function get_propery_name() returns a string like 'background-color'
var value = get_value(myVariable2) ; //  function get_value() returns a string like '#00ff00'
$('#myDiv').css(propertyName, value);

Version 2: (just hard coded to see if they work without calling custom functions like version 1 above):

var propertyName = 'background-color';
var value = '#00ff00';
$('#divLeftReportView').css(propertyName, value);

Both variable versions of codes do not work. Please help. Thanks.

• javascript
• jquery
• css

• 1 There is nothing special in it. Both variants should work well: jsfiddle/UQWyH – VisioN Commented May 16, 2012 at 14:03
• Did this answer your question? Please accept an answer if one of them helped you – Brian Webster Commented Aug 8, 2012 at 20:12

5 Answers 5

Both of your examples will work just fine. I would suggest just a bit cleaner approach (personal syntax preference):

$(document).ready(function () {
    $('#myDiv').css(get_propery_name(myVariable1), get_value(myVariable2));
}

Here's a working fiddle.

If you want to take it a step further, you can return a CSS map instead of strings:

$('#divLeftReportView').css(GetCssMap("foo"));

function GetCssMap(mapIdentifier) {
    return { "background-color" : "#00ff00" }
}

Here's a working fiddle.

The code you posted here should work. I have done both versions of what you are trying to do several times. If it is not working, there is a good chance that something is wrong somewhere else in your javascript OR that you do not have the correct selector/id for the element(s) which you want to change.

Try adding alert("test"); immediately after $('#divLeftReportView').css(propertyName, value);. If you get the popup saying "test" then the problem is with your selector. If not, then the problem is a bug in your javascript.

Also try adding $('#divLeftReportView').css("background-color", "#00ff00"); in the same place. That will confirm whether or not the selector is working.

Seems to work fine at http://jsfiddle/gaby/6wHtW/

Make sure you run your code after the DOM ready event..

$(function(){
    var propertyName = 'background-color';
    var value = '#00ff00';
    $('#divLeftReportView').css(propertyName, value);
});

otherwise your elements might not be present in the DOM..

You can also pass multiple CSS parameters within one variable as an array:

$(function(){
    var divStyle = {'background-color': '#00ff00', 'color': '#000000'}
    $('#divID').css(divStyle);
});

yes, using jQuery attr method you can change css dynamically

var height=$(".sampleClass1").innerHeight();
$('.sammpleClass2').attr('style', 'min-height:'+height+' !important');