What is jquery-mask-plugin?

jQuery Mask Plugin is a small JavaScript library that controls how users type into form fields on a webpage. It applies a "mask," which is a pattern that formats or restricts input as it is typed. Common examples include phone numbers formatted as (555) 123-4567, dates as 31/12/2024, or credit card numbers split into groups of four digits. The mask takes care of inserting the separators automatically, so the user just types the digits and the field arranges them correctly. The library works by attaching to any form input or HTML element through jQuery, a popular JavaScript utility. You specify the pattern you want using a simple format string, and the plugin handles the rest at the browser level, with no server involved. It supports plain numeric masks, alphabetic masks, and mixed patterns. There is also support for reverse masks, which are useful for currency fields where the decimal point stays fixed as the user types from right to left. Beyond basic formatting, the plugin supports optional digits, fallback patterns when a field does not match, and the ability to change or remove a mask after it has been applied. It works with HTML data attributes, so a developer can configure masks directly in the HTML markup without writing additional JavaScript. The library is compatible with React, Angular, Vue, and Zepto in addition to standard jQuery setups. At around 2 kilobytes when compressed, it is designed to add minimal weight to a page. It has been tested across a wide range of browsers including older versions of Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, and Android browsers. Installation is available through npm, Bower, Composer, and Meteor. A CDN link is also available for use without a package manager. Full documentation and live demos are hosted on the project's GitHub Pages site.