JavaScript Window outerWidth Property: Window Outer Width

Table of Contents

JavaScript Window `outerWidth` Property: A Comprehensive Guide

The JavaScript window.outerWidth property returns the outer width of the browser window, including all interface elements (like toolbars, scrollbars, and window borders). This property is read-only and provides the total width of the browser window in pixels. Understanding and utilizing outerWidth is crucial for responsive web design, dynamic layout adjustments, and creating browser-specific functionalities.

What is the `window.outerWidth` Property?

The window.outerWidth property gives you the width of the entire browser window, encompassing everything outside the document’s content area. This includes:

Window borders
Scrollbars (if present)
Toolbars
Any other browser UI elements surrounding the webpage

Purpose of the `outerWidth` Property

The primary purpose of the window.outerWidth property is to:

Determine the actual size of the browser window, including UI elements.
Implement responsive design techniques by adjusting content based on the window’s outer dimensions.
Create browser-specific customizations or features.
Calculate available screen space for dynamic layouts.

Syntax

The syntax to access the outerWidth property is straightforward:

let outerWidth = window.outerWidth;

window.outerWidth: Returns a numerical value representing the outer width of the browser window in pixels.

Examples

Let’s explore several examples to demonstrate the usage of the window.outerWidth property.

Basic Example: Displaying the `outerWidth`

This example shows how to retrieve and display the outerWidth of the browser window in an alert box.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>Window outerWidth Example</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <button onclick="displayOuterWidth()">Get Outer Width</button>

    <script>
      function displayOuterWidth() {
        let outerWidthValue = window.outerWidth;
        alert("Outer Width: " + outerWidthValue + "px");
      }
    </script>
  </body>
</html>

Output:

Clicking the “Get Outer Width” button will display an alert box showing the current outer width of the browser window.

Dynamic Adjustment Based on `outerWidth`

This example dynamically changes the content of a <div> based on the outerWidth of the window.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>Dynamic Adjustment Example</title>
    <style>
      #content {
        padding: 20px;
        border: 1px solid #ccc;
      }
    </style>
  </head>
  <body>
    <div id="content">Initial Content</div>

    <script>
      function adjustContent() {
        let outerWidthValue = window.outerWidth;
        let contentDiv = document.getElementById("content");

        if (outerWidthValue < 600) {
          contentDiv.textContent = "Small Screen Content (Outer Width < 600px)";
        } else {
          contentDiv.textContent = "Large Screen Content (Outer Width >= 600px)";
        }
      }

      // Adjust content on load and window resize
      adjustContent();
      window.addEventListener("resize", adjustContent);
    </script>
  </body>
</html>

Output:

The content of the <div> will change based on the browser window’s outer width. If the outerWidth is less than 600px, it displays “Small Screen Content (Outer Width < 600px)"; otherwise, it shows "Large Screen Content (Outer Width >= 600px)”.

Using `outerWidth` with Canvas

This example demonstrates how to create a canvas that dynamically adjusts its size based on the outerWidth of the browser window.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>Canvas outerWidth Example</title>
    <style>
      #myCanvas_width {
        border: 1px solid black;
      }
    </style>
  </head>
  <body>
    <canvas id="myCanvas_width"></canvas>

    <script>
      const canvasWidth = document.getElementById("myCanvas_width");
      const ctxWidth = canvasWidth.getContext("2d");

      function resizeCanvas() {
        canvasWidth.width = window.outerWidth - 20; // Adjust as needed
        canvasWidth.height = 200;

        // Draw something on the canvas
        ctxWidth.fillStyle = "lightblue";
        ctxWidth.fillRect(10, 10, 100, 100);
      }

      // Initial resize and on window resize
      resizeCanvas();
      window.addEventListener("resize", resizeCanvas);
    </script>
  </body>
</html>

The canvas size dynamically changes based on the window’s outer width. 🎉

Combining `outerWidth` and `outerHeight` for Dynamic Layouts

This example demonstrates how to utilize both outerWidth and outerHeight to create a responsive square layout within a <div>.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>Dynamic Square Layout</title>
    <style>
      #square {
        border: 1px solid black;
        background-color: lightgreen;
      }
    </style>
  </head>
  <body>
    <div id="square"></div>

    <script>
      function adjustSquare() {
        let outerWidthValue = window.outerWidth;
        let outerHeightValue = window.outerHeight;
        let squareDiv = document.getElementById("square");

        // Use the smaller of outerWidth and outerHeight for the square's size
        let size = Math.min(outerWidthValue, outerHeightValue) - 50; // Adjust as needed

        squareDiv.style.width = size + "px";
        squareDiv.style.height = size + "px";
      }

      // Adjust square on load and window resize
      adjustSquare();
      window.addEventListener("resize", adjustSquare);
    </script>
  </body>
</html>

Output:

The <div> element with the ID “square” will adjust its dimensions to form a square, using the smaller of the window’s outerWidth and outerHeight as its size.

Practical Use Case: Adaptive Game Canvas

Create an adaptive game canvas that adjusts its size based on the outerWidth of the browser window, ensuring the game fits the screen.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>Adaptive Game Canvas</title>
    <style>
      body {
        margin: 0;
        overflow: hidden; /* Prevent scrollbars */
      }
      #gameCanvas {
        border: 1px solid black;
      }
    </style>
  </head>
  <body>
    <canvas id="gameCanvas"></canvas>

    <script>
      const gameCanvas = document.getElementById("gameCanvas");
      const gameCtx = gameCanvas.getContext("2d");

      function resizeGameCanvas() {
        gameCanvas.width = window.outerWidth;
        gameCanvas.height = window.outerHeight;

        // Example: Draw a background
        gameCtx.fillStyle = "skyblue";
        gameCtx.fillRect(0, 0, gameCanvas.width, gameCanvas.height);

        // Example: Draw some text
        gameCtx.fillStyle = "white";
        gameCtx.font = "24px Arial";
        gameCtx.fillText(
          "Adaptive Game Canvas",
          gameCanvas.width / 2 - 120,
          50
        );
      }

      // Initial resize and on window resize
      resizeGameCanvas();
      window.addEventListener("resize", resizeGameCanvas);
    </script>
  </body>
</html>

Output:

A canvas element adapts to fill the entire browser window, displaying a sky-blue background and white text. The canvas resizes dynamically whenever the browser window is resized.

Notes

The window.outerWidth property is read-only; you cannot set its value directly.
Ensure that you handle window resize events properly to keep your layout responsive. 💻
The returned value is in pixels.
When designing for mobile devices, consider the impact of virtual keyboards and toolbars on the available screen space.

Browser Support

The window.outerWidth property is supported by all major browsers, including:

Chrome
Firefox
Safari
Edge
Opera

Conclusion

The window.outerWidth property is a valuable tool for web developers aiming to create responsive and adaptive web applications. By understanding and utilizing this property, you can design layouts that dynamically adjust to the browser window’s dimensions, providing a seamless user experience across various devices and screen sizes. 🌐