What is this?

The Star Rating Plugin is a plugin for the jQuery Javascript library that creates a non-obstrusive star rating control based on a set of radio input boxes.

What does it do?

  • It turns a collection of radio boxes into a neat star-rating control.
  • It creates the interface based on standard form elements, which means the basic functionality will still be available even if Javascript is disabled.
  • NEW (18-Feb-2013): Compatible with jQuery 1.3+ and the latest 1.9!

How do I use it?

Just add the star class to your radio boxes 

<input name="star1" type="radio" class="star"/>
<input name="star1" type="radio" class="star"/>
<input name="star1" type="radio" class="star"/>
<input name="star1" type="radio" class="star"/>
<input name="star1" type="radio" class="star"/>
 »

Use the checked property to specify the initial/default value of the control 

<input name="star2" type="radio" class="star"/>
<input name="star2" type="radio" class="star"/>
<input name="star2" type="radio" class="star" checked="checked"/>
<input name="star2" type="radio" class="star"/>
<input name="star2" type="radio" class="star"/>
 »

Use the disabled property to use a control for display purposes only 

<input name="star3" type="radio" class="star" disabled="disabled"/>
<input name="star3" type="radio" class="star" disabled="disabled"/>
<input name="star3" type="radio" class="star" disabled="disabled" checked="checked"/>
<input name="star3" type="radio" class="star" disabled="disabled"/>
<input name="star3" type="radio" class="star" disabled="disabled"/>
 »

What about split stars and 'half ratings'???

Use metadata plugin to pass advanced settings to the plugin via the class property. 

<input name="adv1" type="radio" class="star {split:4}"/>
<input name="adv1" type="radio" class="star {split:4}"/>
<input name="adv1" type="radio" class="star {split:4}"/>
<input name="adv1" type="radio" class="star {split:4}"/>
<input name="adv1" type="radio" class="star {split:4}" checked="checked"/>
<input name="adv1" type="radio" class="star {split:4}"/>
<input name="adv1" type="radio" class="star {split:4}"/>
<input name="adv1" type="radio" class="star {split:4}"/>
 »

Use custom selector 

$(function(){ // wait for document to load
 $('input.wow').rating();
});
<input name="adv2" type="radio" class="wow {split:4}"/>
<input name="adv2" type="radio" class="wow {split:4}"/>
<input name="adv2" type="radio" class="wow {split:4}"/>
<input name="adv2" type="radio" class="wow {split:4}"/>
<input name="adv2" type="radio" class="wow {split:4}" checked="checked"/>
<input name="adv2" type="radio" class="wow {split:4}"/>
<input name="adv2" type="radio" class="wow {split:4}"/>
<input name="adv2" type="radio" class="wow {split:4}"/>
 »

Make sure to upload these changes on to your server, this would be a great plugin for your blogs and review sites

Test Suite

 
Test 1 - A blank form
Rating 1: (N/M/Y)

Rating 2: (10 - 50)

Rating 3: (1 - 7)
Rating 4: (1 - 5)

Rating 5: (1 - 5, required)

Rating 6 (readonly): (1 - 5)
    Test results:

Results will be displayed here
 
 
Test 2 - With defaults ('checked')
Rating 1: (N/M/Y, default M)
Rating 2: (10 - 50, default 30)
Rating 3: (1 - 7, default 4)
Rating 4: (1 - 5, default 1)
Rating 5: (1 - 5, default 5, required)
Rating 6 (readonly): (1 - 5, default 3)
    Test results:

Results will be displayed here
 
 
Test 3-A - With callback
Rating 1: (1 - 3, default 2) 
$('.auto-submit-star').rating({
  callback: function(value, link){
    alert(value);
  }
});
     Test results:

Results will be displayed here
 
 
Test 3-B - With hover effects
Rating 1: (1 - 3, default 2)
Hover tips will appear in here 
$('.hover-star').rating({
  focus: function(value, link){
    var tip = $('#hover-test');
    tip[0].data = tip[0].data || tip.html();
    tip.html(link.title || 'value: '+value);
  },
  blur: function(value, link){
    var tip = $('#hover-test');
    $('#hover-test').html(tip[0].data || '');
  }
});
     Test results:

Results will be displayed here
 
 
Test 4 - Half Stars and Split Stars
Rating 1: (N/M/Y/?) 
<input class="star {half:true}"

Rating 2: (10 - 60) 
<input class="star {split:3}"

Rating 3: (0-5.0, default 3.5) 
<input class="star {split:2}"
Rating 4: (1-6, default 5) 
<input class="star {split:2}"

Rating 5: (1-20, default 11, required) 
<input class="star {split:4}"

Rating 6 (readonly): (1-20, default 13) 
<input class="star {split:4}"
    Test results:

Results will be displayed here

API

NEW to v3

API methods can be invoked this this:

$(selector).rating(
 'method', // method name
 [] // method arguments (not required)
);



$().rating('select', index / value)

Use this method to set the value (and display) of the star rating control via javascript. It accepts the index of the star you want to select (0 based) or its value (which must be passed as a string.

Example: (values A/B/C/D/E)


By index: eg.: $('input').rating('select',3)
By value: eg.: $('input').rating('select','C')



$().rating('readOnly', true / false)

Use this method to set the value (and display) of the star rating control via javascript. It accepts the index of the star you want to select (0 based) or its value (which must be passed as a string.

Example: (values 1,2,3...10)


eg.: $('input').rating('readOnly',true)
eg.: $('input').rating('readOnly',false) or simply $('input').rating('readOnly');



$().rating('disable') / $().rating('enable')

These methods bahve almost exactly as the readOnly method, however they also control whether or not the select value is submitted with the form.

Example: (values 1,2,3...10)


eg.: $('input').rating('disable')
eg.: $('input').rating('enable');

Database Integration

I'm sorry to say that for the time being, it is up to you to create the server-side code that will process the form submission, store it somewhere (like a database) and do stuff with it - such as displaying averages and stop users from voting more than once.

However, here are a few alternatives if you don't feel like getting down and dirty with some good old coding:
http://www.yvoschaap.com/index.php/weblog/css_star_rater_ajax_version/

and
part 1: http://www.komodomedia.com/blog/2005/08/creating-a-star-rater-using-css/
part 2: http://slim.climaxdesigns.com/tutorial.php?section=slim&id=2
part 3: http://slim.climaxdesigns.com/tutorial.php?section=slim&id=3
part 4: http://slim.climaxdesigns.com/tutorial.php?section=slim&id=9

Background Information

As far as I know, this is how it goes...

  • It all started with Will Stuckey's jQuery Star Rating Super Interface!
  • The original then became the inspiration for Ritesh Agrawal's Simple Star Rating System, which allows for a GMail like star/un-star toggle.
  • This was followed by several spin-offs... (one of which is the Half-star rating plugin)
  • Then someone at PHPLetter.com modified the plugin to overcome the issues - then plugin was now based on standard form elements, meaning the interface would still work with Javascript disabled making it beautifully downgradable.
  • Then I came along and noticed a fundamental flaw with the latter: there could only be one star rating control per page. The rest of the story is what you will see below...
  • (12-Mar-08): Then Keith Wood added some very nice functionality to the plugin: option to disable the cancel button, option to make the plugin readOnly and ability to accept any value (other than whole numbers)
  • (20-Mar-08): Now supports half-star, third-star, quater-star, etc... Not additional code required. No additional images required.
  • (31-Mar-08): Two new events, hover/blur (arguments: [value, linkElement])
  • NEW (18-Feb-2013): Compatible with jQuery 1.6, 1.7, 1.8 and 1.9!

Download

This project (and all related files) can also be accessed via its Google Code Project Page.

Full Package: v4.11 star-rating.zip
Stay up-to-date! Major updates will be announced on Twitter: @fyneworks
Core Files: These are the individual required files (already included in the zip package above)
jQuery: jquery-1.9.1.min.js (see jQuery.com)

Related Downloads

Related: Metadata plugin - Used to retrieve inline configuration from class variable
Form plugin - Used to submit forms via ajax

SVN Repository

If you're a major geek or if you really really want to stay up-to-date with with future updates of this plugin, go ahead and plug yourself to the SVN Repository on the official Google Code Project Page.

SVN Checkout: SVN Checkout Instructions
Browse Online: Browse Source

Alternative Download - From this website

Just in case it's the end of the world and the Google Code site becomes unavailable, the project files can also be downloaded from this site.
However, please note that this site is updated periodically whereas the Google Code project is kept up-to-date almost instantaneously. If you'd like the very latest version of this plugin you are advised to use the links above and download the files from Google Code - this will ensure the files you download have the very latest features and bug fixes.

Full Package: v4.11 star-rating.zip
Stay up-to-date! Major updates will be announced on Twitter: @fyneworks
Core Files: These are the individual required files (already included in the zip package above)
jQuery: jquery-1.9.1.min.js (see jQuery.com)

Support

Quick Support Links: Help me! | Report a bug | Suggest new feature

Support for this plugin is available through the jQuery Mailing List. This is a very active list to which many jQuery developers and users subscribe.
Access to the jQuery Mailing List is also available through Nabble Forums and the jQuery Google Group.

WARNING: Support will not be provided via the jQuery Plugins website. If you need help, please direct your questions to the jQuery Mailing List or report an issue on the official Google Code Project Page.

Official Links

Credits

If we've missed anyone (anyone!) please contact us (info at fyneworks.com) and we'll make sure to give credit where credit is due.

What's the catch?

There's no catch. Use it, abuse it - even take it apart and modify it if you know what you're doing. You don't have to, but if you're feeling generous you can link back to this website (instructions below).

Attribute this work

Attribution link: © Fyneworks.com
HTML Code:

License Info

Star Rating Plugin by Fyneworks.com is licensed, as jQuery is, under the MIT License. Creative Commons License 
Copyright © 2008 Fyneworks.com
 
 Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person
 obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation
 files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without
 restriction, including without limitation the rights to use,
 copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
 copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the
 Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following
 conditions:
 
 The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be
 included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
 
 THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
 EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES
 OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND
 NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT
 HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY,
 WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
 FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR
 OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

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