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Estimate the read time of an article without any library in JavaScript.

Lennox Charles on March 01, 2024

In this article, we'll embark on a journey to craft a JavaScript function to help us estimate the read time of an article. You will dabble with a l...
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Fatemeh Paghar •

aking our read time estimation a step further, let's refine the process to consider not only words but also account for variations in reading speed. Instead of a fixed 200 words per minute assumption, allow users to set their own reading speed preferences. This personalization ensures a more accurate and user-centric estimate, enhancing the overall reading experience. Implement this adaptable approach in your estimation function for a touch of customization! šŸ“šāš™ļøšŸ’”
Here's a simple modification to your existing code that allows users to set their own reading speed:

function estimateReadTime(text, wordsPerMinute = 200) {
  const htmlTagRegExp = /<\/?[^>]+(>|$)/g;
  const textWithoutHtml = text.replace(htmlTagRegExp, '');

  const wordMatchRegExp = /[^\s]+/g;
  const words = textWithoutHtml.matchAll(wordMatchRegExp);

  const wordCount = [...words].length;
  const readTime = Math.round(wordCount / wordsPerMinute);

  return readTime;
}

// Example usage with default speed (200 words per minute)
const defaultReadTime = estimateReadTime("Your article content here...");

// Example usage with custom speed (e.g., 250 words per minute)
const customReadTime = estimateReadTime("Your article content here...", 250);
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Now, users can call the estimateReadTime function with the content of their article and optionally specify their preferred reading speed (words per minute). This customization allows for a more tailored estimate, catering to individual reading habits. Feel free to integrate this enhancement into your project for a personalized touch! šŸŒŸšŸ“–šŸŽØ