Focusing On Nested Contenteditable Element

So, I have two contenteditable divs nested inside of another:

This

Solution 1:

The way [contenteditable] elements are handled by browser made any nested [contenteditable] not handling any event, the editing host is the former editable parent. See spec:

If an element is editable and its parent element is not, or if an element is editable and it has no parent element, then the element is an editing host. Editable elements can be nested. User agents must make editing hosts focusable (which typically means they enter the tab order). An editing host can contain non-editable sections, these are handled as described below. An editing host can contain non-editable sections that contain further editing hosts.

Now as a workaround, you could make focused nested editable element the hosting host by setting any of its editable parent temporaly not editable. See e.g:

$('div.top [contenteditable]').on('focusin focusout', function(e) {
    $(this).parents('[contenteditable]').prop('contenteditable', e.type === "focusout");
});

-updated jsFiddle-

Solution 2:

Give tabindex=-1 to the nested div, than can be focused:

.nested {
  display: inline;
  background-color: #eef;
}

<divclass="top"contenteditable="true">
    Editable div <divclass="nested"tabindex=-1>Nested div</div></div>

Notes:

• contenteditable is inherited, so there is no need to specify it again.
• it only works with mouse focus. Moving the caret (cursor left/right) over the nested div, will not focus the nested div. Similarily, leaving a focused nested div with the caret, will not does not give the focus back to the parent div. Handling might need work arounds with keydown listener, range and selection.

Share