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How TO - The To Do List


Learn how to create a "to-do list" with CSS and JavaScript.


The To Do List

Use CSS and JavaScript to create a "to-do list" to organize and prioritize your tasks.


Create The To Do List

Step 1) Add HTML:

Example

<div id="myDIV" class="header">
  <h2>My To Do List</h2>
  <input type="text" id="myInput" placeholder="Title...">
  <span onclick="newElement()" class="addBtn">Add</span>
</div>

<ul id="myUL">
  <li>Hit the gym</li>
  <li class="checked">Pay bills</li>
  <li>Meet George</li>
  <li>Buy eggs</li>
  <li>Read a book</li>
  <li>Organize office</li>
</ul>

Step 2) Add CSS:

Style the header and the list:

Example

/* Include the padding and border in an element's total width and height */
* {
    box-sizing: border-box;
}

/* Remove margins and padding from the list */
ul {
    margin: 0;
    padding: 0;
}

/* Style the list items */
ul li {
    cursor: pointer;
    position: relative;
    padding: 12px 8px 12px 40px;
    background: #eee;
    font-size: 18px;
    transition: 0.2s;

    /* make the list items unselectable */
    -webkit-user-select: none;
    -moz-user-select: none;
    -ms-user-select: none;
    user-select: none;
}

/* Set all odd list items to a different color (zebra-stripes) */
ul li:nth-child(odd) {
    background: #f9f9f9;
}

/* Darker background-color on hover */
ul li:hover {
    background: #ddd;
}

/* When clicked on, add a background color and strike out text */
ul li.checked {
    background: #888;
    color: #fff;
    text-decoration: line-through;
}

/* Add a "checked" mark when clicked on */
ul li.checked::before {
    content: '';
    position: absolute;
    border-color: #fff;
    border-style: solid;
    border-width: 0 2px 2px 0;
    top: 10px;
    left: 16px;
    transform: rotate(45deg);
    height: 15px;
    width: 7px;
}

/* Style the close button */
.close {
    position: absolute;
    right: 0;
    top: 0;
    padding: 12px 16px 12px 16px;
}

.close:hover {
    background-color: #f44336;
    color: white;
}

/* Style the header */
.header {
    background-color: #f44336;
    padding: 30px 40px;
    color: white;
    text-align: center;
}

/* Clear floats after the header */
.header:after {
    content: "";
    display: table;
    clear: both;
}

/* Style the input */
input {
    border: none;
    width: 75%;
    padding: 10px;
    float: left;
    font-size: 16px;
}

/* Style the "Add" button */
.addBtn {
    padding: 10px;
    width: 25%;
    background: #d9d9d9;
    color: #555;
    float: left;
    text-align: center;
    font-size: 16px;
    cursor: pointer;
    transition: 0.3s;
}

.addBtn:hover {
    background-color: #bbb;
}

Step 3) Add JavaScript:

Example

// Create a "close" button and append it to each list item
var myNodelist = document.getElementsByTagName("LI");
var i;
for (i = 0; i < myNodelist.length; i++) {
  var span = document.createElement("SPAN");
  var txt = document.createTextNode("\u00D7");
  span.className = "close";
  span.appendChild(txt);
  myNodelist[i].appendChild(span);
}

// Click on a close button to hide the current list item
var close = document.getElementsByClassName("close");
var i;
for (i = 0; i < close.length; i++) {
  close[i].onclick = function() {
    var div = this.parentElement;
    div.style.display = "none";
  }
}

// Add a "checked" symbol when clicking on a list item
var list = document.querySelector('ul');
list.addEventListener('click', function(ev) {
  if (ev.target.tagName === 'LI') {
    ev.target.classList.toggle('checked');
  }
}, false);

// Create a new list item when clicking on the "Add" button
function newElement() {
  var li = document.createElement("li");
  var inputValue = document.getElementById("myInput").value;
  var t = document.createTextNode(inputValue);
  li.appendChild(t);
  if (inputValue === '') {
    alert("You must write something!");
  } else {
    document.getElementById("myUL").appendChild(li);
  }
  document.getElementById("myInput").value = "";

  var span = document.createElement("SPAN");
  var txt = document.createTextNode("\u00D7");
  span.className = "close";
  span.appendChild(txt);
  li.appendChild(span);

  for (i = 0; i < close.length; i++) {
    close[i].onclick = function() {
      var div = this.parentElement;
      div.style.display = "none";
    }
  }
}
Try it Yourself »