The Most Versatile JavaScript Animated Typing Utility on the Planet
TypeIt is the most versatile JavaScript typewriter effect utility on the planet. With simple, straightforward configuration, it allows you to type single or multiple strings that break lines, delete & replace each other, and it even handles strings that contain HTML.
For more advanced, controlled typing effects, TypeIt comes with companion functions that can be chained to control your typing down to a single character, enabling you to type an dynamic narrative, with complete reign over speed changes, line breaks, deletions, and pauses.
See some more examples and try out the sandbox here.
Using TypeIt for an open source or personal project is completely free. To use it in a commercial project, purchase a single license, or an unlimited license that'll never expire, no matter how many times you use it.
npm install typeit or yarn add typeit and import into your project with import TypeIt from 'typeit'./dist directory.Either load it via script tag, or import.
<script src="typeit.min.js"></script>
or
import TypeIt from 'typeit';
If you want a fallback for users without JavaScript, you can put a string or strings right into this element. For more on that, see the Defining Strings section.
<span class="type-it"></span>
Out of the box, a fresh instance of TypeIt accepts three arguments:
.init() method is called on it later. More on autoInit here.Create a new TypeIt instance, pass a reference to element, and define your options.
// The simplest example
new TypeIt('.type-it', {
strings: 'This is my string!'
});
The most common way to define strings to type is to pass them via the option object's string property, either as a string or array of strings.
As a fallback for users without JavaScript, you can define strings in your HTML element.
<span class="type-it">Here is a string.</span>
Or, you can create a base instance, and define your strings using the type() method. See more on that in the Companion Functions section.
To define multiple strings, either use <br> tag to separate them in your target element, or pass an array into the instance you create.
<span class="type-it">Here is a string. <br>And here is another!</span>
new TypeIt('.type-it', {
strings: ['Enter your string here!', 'Another string!']
});
By default, multiple strings will break lines (breakLines: true). However, you can also set them to delete and replace each other.
new TypeIt('.type-it', {
strings: ['Enter your string here!', 'Another string!'],
breakLines: false
});
TypeIt is fully prepared to handle HTML in your strings, so it's easy to style a portion of what you type, or just do something like bold a couple of words.
Tags must be one level deep and be inline elements.
new TypeIt('.typeit-box', {
strings: '<h1 class="your-class">This is a string!</h1>',
});
ASCII HTML entities must begin with & and end with ;
new TypeIt('.typeit-box', {
strings: '<h1 class="your-class">I really ♥ Life cereal.<h1>',
});
To control a typewriter effect to the smallest character, pause, speed, or more, there companion functions available. Simply chain them together on an instance of TypeIt, and your chain will execute. You'll be able to create a dynamic, realistic narrative with just a few lines of code that looks something like this:
new TypeIt('#element', {
speed: 50
}).type('I want to type this.').pause(500).type('And type some more!');
| Function | Arguments | Description |
|---|---|---|
| type() | (string) Characters (including those wrapped in HTML) to be typed. | Will type the characters. If instance has already begun, will add the typing action to the end of the queue. |
| delete() | (number) Number of characters to be deleted from what's already been typed. | Will delete the specified number of characters. If left empty, will delete all of what's been typed. |
| empty() | (none) | Will instantly delete everything that has already been typed. |
| pause() | (number) Number of milliseconds to pause before continuing. | Will pause the specified number of milliseconds. |
| break() | (none) | Will break the typing to a new line. |
| options() | (JSON) Options you'd like to update | Will redefine your options on the fly. This will only work for updating the speed, lifeLike, and html options. |
| freeze() | none | Will pause/freeze an instance. |
| unfreeze() | none | Will resume an instance. |
| reset() | none | Will reset an instance back to its starting position, as if nothing ever happened. This method is not chainable. |
| destroy() | (bool) Whether you want to remove the cursor after destroying. Default is true. | Destroys the instance on whatever elements to which it's attached. Destroying an instance will not remove the text itself -- it'll just kill the activity of the instance. This method is not chainable. |
You may use these functions to generate a queue of typing events immediately upon creating the instance. This is probably the more common way of using these methods.
new TypeIt('.type-it', {
speed: 900,
lifeLike: false,
autoStart: false
})
.type('I am typing slowly,')
.options({speed: 100})
.type('but now I am typing pretty fasst')
.delete(2)
.type('t!');
Additionally, you may use these functions to manipulate an instance after it's been created. A common use case for this is pausing and resuming an instance.
var instance = new TypeIt('#element', {
strings: "This is what I'm choosing to type right now."
});
//-- Pause after one second.
setTimeout(() => {
instance.freeze();
}, 1000);
//-- Resume after three seconds.
setTimeout(() => {
instance.unfreeze();
}, 3000);
This is also helpful if you want your typing to respond to user action of any sort.
var instance = new TypeIt('#element');
document.querySelector('button').addEventListener('click', (event) => {
instance.type('You just clicked a button!');
});
You can also use the type() function to add more strings onto the queue at a later time. If the instance has already finished, the string will be added to the queue and typed when it's time.
var instance = new TypeIt('#element', {
strings: "What I'm first going to type."
});
instance.type("I just decided to add this on too, but it won't be typed until the active queue has finished.");
Sometimes, you might want to create an instance, but not trigger it until a later time. To this, set autoInit to false by passing it as the third argument of your TypeIt instance.
var myInstance = new TypeIt('#element', {
strings: "This won't start typing automatically."
}, false);
myInstance.init(); //-- Now it's initialized!
There are several properties attached to each instance of TypeIt that reveal current states.
Use the isComplete property:
var instance = new TypeIt('#element', { /* options... */ });
if(instance.isComplete) {
//-- Do something.
}
Use the hasBeenDestroyed property:
var instance = new TypeIt('#element', { /* options... */ });
if(instance.hasBeenDestroyed) {
//-- Do something.
}
Use the isFrozen property:
var instance = new TypeIt('#element', { /* options... */ });
if(instance.isFrozen) {
//-- Do something.
}
Use the hasStarted property.
var instance = new TypeIt('#element', { /* options... */ }, false);
if(!instance.hasStarted) {
//-- Do something.
}
You can modify the options for the plugin by passing in JSON upon instantiation. It'll look something like this:
new TypeIt('#element', {
strings: "Your default string.", // or, ["String #1", "String #2"]
speed: 100
})
| Option | Description | Default Value |
|---|---|---|
| strings | (string or array) The string(s) to be typed. | 'Your default string.' |
| speed | (number in millseconds) The typing speed. | 100 |
| deleteSpeed | (number in millseconds) The deletion speed. If left null, will be 1/3 of the type speed. | null |
| lifeLike | (boolean) Will make the typing pace irregular, as if a real person is doing it. | true |
| cursor | (boolean) Show a blinking cursor at the end of the string(s). | true |
| cursorSpeed | (number in milliseconds) The blinking speed of the cursor. | 1000 |
| cursorChar | (string) The character used for the cursor. HTML works too! | pipe |
| breakLines | (boolean) Choose whether you want multiple strings to be printed on top of each other (breakLines: true), or if you want each string to be deleted and replaced by the next one (breakLines: false). | true |
| nextStringDelay | (number in milliseconds or array) The amount of time (milliseconds) between typing strings when multiple are defined. You may either pass a number in milliseconds, or an array of values. The first value will be used as the delay before a new string starts, and the second value will be used as the delay after a string has just ended. For example, passing [1000, 2000] will tell TypeIt to pause 1000ms before typing a new string, and wait 2000ms after a string has just completed. This would be equivalent to instance.type('String 1').pause(2000).delete().pause(1000).type('String 2'). If a number is passed, that value will be halved. | 750 |
| autoStart | (boolean) Determines if the instance will typing automatically on page load, or only when the target element becomes visible in the viewport. If you don't want instances far down on the page to begin until they're visible, set this option to false. | true |
| startDelete | (boolean) Whether to begin instance by deleting strings inside element, and then typing what strings are defined via JSON or companion functions. | false |
| startDelay | (number in milliseconds) The amount of time before the plugin begins typing after initalizing. | 250 |
| loop | (boolean) Have your string or strings continuously loop after completing. | false |
| loopDelay | (number in milliseconds or array) The amount of time between looping over a string or set of strings again. This option behaves identically to nextStringDelay. If an array is passed, the first value will be the time before typing begins again (after the set of strings has been deleted), and the second value will be the time immediately after the set of strings has finished typing, before they're deleted to restart. If left undefined, the nextStringDelay option will be used. | false |
| html | (boolean) Handle strings as HTML, which will process tags and HTML entities. If 'false,' strings will be typed literally. | true |
If you're creating several instances of TypeIt on a page, and don't wish to repeatedly set an option of the same value for each of them, you can redefine the default options beforehand. Change the default value(s) before creating any instances, and you'll be set.
window.TypeItDefaults.speed = 50;
//-- This and all following instances will now have a default speed of 50.
new TypeIt('#id', {
strings: 'A string!'
});
Along all of these options, there are several callback method options you may use to trigger JavaScript at different points in time.
new TypeIt('#id', {
strings: 'A string!'
afterString: function(step, queue, instance) {
//-- Execute your code here.
}
});
Most callback methods will be passed the following arguments.
| Argument | Description |
|---|---|
| step | Each character, deletion, pause, line break, etc. are "steps" in a queue of actions that are run with each instance. Each step is an array with the method that's called, an argument for the method, and a tag if it's the first or last character in a string that's been queued to be typed. So, a typical step will look something like this: [Function type, 'm']. |
| queue | This is the rest of the queue that is yet to be typed. Each step in the queue is yet to be typed. Any steps that have already been typed will have been removed at this point. |
| instance | The instance of TypeIt itself. |
Remember, each of these methods is passed as an option into your instance when you create it:
new TypeIt('#id', {
afterString: function (step, queue, instance) {},
afterComplete: function (instance) {}
});
| Method | Description | Included Arguments |
|---|---|---|
| beforeString() | Before a new string is about to be typed. For example, if you pass two strings in an array when you set up TypeIt, this callback method will execute twice. | step, queue, instance |
| beforeStep() | Before each step in the queue is executed (including individual pauses, deletions, and new characters). | step, queue, instance |
| afterString() | After a string is typed. | step, queue, instance |
| afterStep() | After each step in the queue is executed. | step, queue, instance |
| afterComplete() | After the entire instance is complete. This runs when all of the steps in the queue have been executed. So, technically, if you let the instance run out of steps and then add new steps later, this method could run more than once. | instance |
I have a few CodePen examples that illustrate how to do some interesting things with TypeIt.
Please do! The code is available on Github. Check out the CONTRIBUTING.md file to see how to get started.
If you're working with a custom implementation of TypeIt and would like some help, I'm available for hire. Get in touch!
GPL-2.0 © Alex MacArthur
FAQs
The most versatile animated typing utility on the planet.
The npm package typeit receives a total of 7,722 weekly downloads. As such, typeit popularity was classified as popular.
We found that typeit demonstrated a healthy version release cadence and project activity because the last version was released less than a year ago. It has 0 open source maintainers collaborating on the project.
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