Selection.rangeCount

This is an experimental technology
Check the Browser compatibility table carefully before using this in production.

The Selection.rangeCount read-only property returns the number of ranges in the selection.

Before the user has clicked a freshly loaded page, the rangeCount is 0. After the user clicks on the page, rangeCount is 1, even if no selection is visible.

A user can normally only select one range at a time, so the rangeCount will usually be 1. Scripting can be used to make the selection contain more than one range.

Gecko browsers allow multiple selections across table cells. Firefox allows to select multiple ranges in the document by using Ctrl+click (unless the click within an element with display: table-cell).

Syntax

value = sel.rangeCount

Example

The following example will show the rangeCount every second. Select text in the browser to see it change.

HTML

<table>
  <tr><td>a.1<td>a.2
  <tr><td>b.1<td>b.2
  <tr><td>c.1<td>c.2

JavaScript

window.setInterval(function () {
  console.log(window.getSelection().rangeCount);
}, 1000);

Result

Open your console to see how many ranges are in the selection. In Gecko browsers, you can select multiple ranges across table cells by holding down Ctrl while dragging with the mouse.

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
Selection API
The definition of 'Selection.rangeCount' in that specification.
Working Draft Current

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
rangeCount
Experimental
Chrome Full support YesEdge Full support 12Firefox Full support YesIE Full support YesOpera Full support YesSafari Full support YesWebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support YesOpera Android Full support YesSafari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support Yes

Legend

Full support
Full support
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.

See also