Calculate text width with JavaScript

Question

I\'d like to use JavaScript to calculate the width of a string. Is this possible without having to use a monospace typeface?

If it\'s not built-in, my only idea is t

Answer 1

Without jQuery:

String.prototype.width = function (fontSize) {
    var el,
        f = fontSize + " px arial" || '12px arial';
    el = document.createElement('div');
    el.style.position = 'absolute';
    el.style.float = "left";
    el.style.whiteSpace = 'nowrap';
    el.style.visibility = 'hidden';
    el.style.font = f;
    el.innerHTML = this;
    el = document.body.appendChild(el);
    w = el.offsetWidth;
    el.parentNode.removeChild(el);
    return w;
}

// Usage
"MyString".width(12);