# nwsapi
**Repository Path**: mirrors_addons/nwsapi
## Basic Information
- **Project Name**: nwsapi
- **Description**: Fast CSS Selectors API Engine
- **Primary Language**: Unknown
- **License**: MIT
- **Default Branch**: master
- **Homepage**: None
- **GVP Project**: No
## Statistics
- **Stars**: 0
- **Forks**: 0
- **Created**: 2020-05-03
- **Last Updated**: 2026-09-05
## Categories & Tags
**Categories**: Uncategorized
**Tags**: None
## README
# [NWSAPI](http://dperini.github.io/nwsapi/)
Fast CSS Selectors API Engine
   
NWSAPI is the development progress of [NWMATCHER](https://github.com/dperini/nwmatcher) aiming at [Selectors Level 4](https://www.w3.org/TR/selectors-4/) conformance. It has been completely reworked to be easily extended and maintained. It is a right-to-left selector parser and compiler written in pure Javascript with no external dependencies. It was initially thought as a cross browser library to improve event delegation and web page scraping in various frameworks but it has become a popular replacement of the native CSS selection and matching functionality in newer browsers and headless environments.
It uses [regular expressions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regular_expression) to parse CSS selector strings and [metaprogramming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaprogramming) to transforms these selector strings into Javascript function resolvers. This process is executed only once for each selector string allowing memoization of the function resolvers and achieving unmatched performances.
## Installation
To include NWSAPI in a standard web page:
```html
```
To include NWSAPI in a standard web page and automatically replace the native QSA:
```html
```
To use NWSAPI with Node.js:
```
$ npm install nwsapi
```
NWSAPI currently supports browsers (as a global, `NW.Dom`) and headless environments (as a CommonJS module).
## Supported Selectors
Here is a list of all the CSS2/CSS3/CSS4 [Supported selectors](https://github.com/dperini/nwsapi/wiki/CSS-supported-selectors).
## Features and Compliance
You can read more about NWSAPI [features and compliance](https://github.com/dperini/nwsapi/wiki/Features-and-compliance) on the wiki.
## API
### DOM Selection
#### `ancestor( selector, context, callback )`
Returns a reference to the nearest ancestor element matching `selector`, starting at `context`. Returns `null` if no element is found. If `callback` is provided, it is invoked for the matched element.
#### `first( selector, context, callback )`
Returns a reference to the first element matching `selector`, starting at `context`. Returns `null` if no element matches. If `callback` is provided, it is invoked for the matched element.
#### `match( selector, element, callback )`
Returns `true` if `element` matches `selector`, starting at `context`; returns `false` otherwise. If `callback` is provided, it is invoked for the matched element.
#### `select( selector, context, callback )`
Returns an array of all the elements matching `selector`, starting at `context`; returns empty `Array` otherwise. If `callback` is provided, it is invoked for each matching element.
### DOM Helpers
#### `byId( id, from )`
Returns a reference to the first element with ID `id`, optionally filtered to descendants of the element `from`.
#### `byTag( tag, from )`
Returns an array of elements having the specified tag name `tag`, optionally filtered to descendants of the element `from`.
#### `byClass( class, from )`
Returns an array of elements having the specified class name `class`, optionally filtered to descendants of the element `from`.
### Engine Configuration
#### `configure( options )`
The following is the list of currently available configuration options, their default values and descriptions, they are boolean flags that can be set to `true` or `false`:
* `IDS_DUPES`: true - true to allow using multiple elements having the same id, false to disallow
* `LIVECACHE`: true - true for caching both results and resolvers, false for caching only resolvers
* `MIXEDCASE`: true - true to match tag names case insensitive, false to match using case sensitive
* `LOGERRORS`: true - true to print errors and warnings to the console, false to mute both of them
### Examples on extending the basic functionalities
#### `configure( { : [ true | false ] } )`
Disable logging errors/warnings to console, disallow duplicate ids. Example:
```js
NW.Dom.configure( { LOGERRORS: false, IDS_DUPES: false } );
```
NOTE: NW.Dom.configure() without parameters return the current configuration.
#### `registerCombinator( symbol, resolver )`
Registers a new symbol and its matching resolver in the combinators table. Example:
```js
NW.Dom.registerCombinator( '^', 'e.parentElement' );
```
#### `registerOperator( symbol, resolver )`
Registers a new symbol and its matching resolver in the attribute operators table. Example:
```js
NW.Dom.registerOperator( '!=', { p1: '^', p2: '$', p3: 'false' } );
```
#### `registerSelector( name, rexp, func )`
Registers a new selector, the matching RE and the resolver function, in the selectors table. Example:
```js
NW.Dom.registerSelector('Controls', /^\:(control)(.*)/i,
(function(global) {
return function(match, source, mode, callback) {
var status = true;
source = 'if(/^(button|input|select|textarea)/i.test(e.nodeName)){' + source + '}';
return { 'source': source, 'status': status };
};
})(this));
```
## 💖 Support & Sponsoring
**NWSAPI** powers millions of builds, web scrapers, and testing suites every single day—including key infrastructure like [jsdom](https://github.com/jsdom/jsdom).
Maintaining a zero-dependency, ultra-fast CSS engine that strictly adheres to evolving W3C Selectors specifications takes significant time, research, and testing. If NWSAPI helps your company save time, build features, or run reliable tests, **please consider supporting its ongoing maintenance!**
### Why Sponsor?
* **For Developers:** Keep the project actively maintained, bug-free, and ahead of new browser standard updates.
* **For Businesses:** Ensure the stability and long-term security of a critical dependency in your toolchain.
### 💳 Ways to Contribute
Choose the platform that works best for you or your organization:
* **[GitHub Sponsors](https://github.com/sponsors/dperini):** Monthly tier-based sponsorship directly on GitHub.
* **[Open Collective](https://opencollective.com/nwsapi):** Transparent funding for open-source projects, ideal for corporate backing.
* **[Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/dperini):** Recurring monthly support with backer rewards.
* **[Ko-fi](https://ko-fi.com/dperini):** Fast one-time tips or recurring micro-donations.
* **[Buy Me a Coffee](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dperini):** Quick, casual one-time donations.
* **[Liberapay](https://liberapay.com/dperini):** Recurrent, zero-fee open-source support.
* **[IssueHunt](https://issuehunt.io/r/dperini/nwsapi):** Fund specific features or bug bounties.
---
*Custom licensing, dedicated support, or priority bug fixes are also available for corporate sponsors. Feel free to reach out!*