Readable stores in Svelte - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Using Readable Stores in Svelte

📖 Scenario: You are building a simple Svelte app that shows the current time updating every second. You want to use a readable store to hold the time so that your components can reactively display it.

🎯 Goal: Create a readable store that updates the current time every second and use it in a Svelte component to display the live time.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a readable store called time that holds the current time as a string.

Set up the store to update every second with the new current time.

Use the time store in a Svelte component to display the live time.

Ensure the store cleans up the timer when no components are subscribed.

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Live clocks and timers are common in dashboards, apps, and websites. Using readable stores helps keep the UI reactive and efficient.

💼 Career

Understanding Svelte stores and accessibility is important for frontend developers building interactive and inclusive web applications.

1

Create the time readable store with initial value

Import readable from 'svelte/store' and create a readable store called time with the initial value set to the current time string using new Date().toLocaleTimeString().

Svelte

import { readable } from 'svelte/store'

// Create the readable store called time with initial current time string
// Your code here

Hint

Use readable(initialValue, startFunction) to create the store. The initial value is the current time string.

2

Add a timer to update the time store every second

Inside the readable store's start function, set up a setInterval that updates the store's value every 1000 milliseconds with the current time string using set(new Date().toLocaleTimeString()). Also, return a cleanup function that clears the interval.

Svelte

import { readable } from 'svelte/store'

export const time = readable(new Date().toLocaleTimeString(), (set) => {
    // Set up interval to update time every second
    // Your code here
});

Hint

Use setInterval to update the store every second and clear it on cleanup.

3

Create a Svelte component that uses the time store

In a Svelte component, import the time store and use the $time syntax to display the current time inside a <main> element with a heading <h1> that says "Current Time:" followed by the live time.

Svelte

import { time } from './path/to/store.js'

// Your code here



    

Hint

Use $time to access the store's current value reactively in the template.

4

Add accessibility and semantic HTML to the component

Ensure the <main> element has an aria-label attribute with the value "Live clock" for accessibility. Also, add a <section> inside <main> wrapping the <h1> with a role="region" and aria-live="polite" to announce time updates to screen readers.

Svelte

import { time } from './path/to/store.js'



    
    

Hint

Use aria-label on main and aria-live="polite" on a section to improve screen reader announcements.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of a readable store in Svelte?

easy

A. To create a store that holds static, non-reactive data

B. To allow components to write and update the store value directly

C. To provide reactive data that cannot be changed from outside the store

D. To replace writable stores for all state management

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand readable store purpose

   A readable store provides reactive data but restricts external modifications.

2. Step 2: Compare with writable stores

   Writable stores allow external updates, readable stores do not.

3. Final Answer:

   To provide reactive data that cannot be changed from outside the store -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Readable store = read-only reactive data [OK]

Hint: Readable stores are read-only from outside [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing readable with writable stores
• Thinking readable stores allow external updates
• Assuming readable stores hold static data only

2. Which of the following is the correct way to create a readable store in Svelte that updates the current time every second?

easy

A. import { readable } from 'svelte/store'; const time = readable(new Date(), set => { const interval = setInterval(() => set(new Date()), 1000); return () => clearInterval(interval); });

B. import { writable } from 'svelte/store'; const time = writable(new Date());

C. import { readable } from 'svelte/store'; const time = readable(new Date());

D. import { readable } from 'svelte/store'; const time = readable(() => new Date());

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall readable store syntax

   Readable stores take an initial value and a start function that sets updates and cleanup.

2. Step 2: Analyze options

   import { readable } from 'svelte/store'; const time = readable(new Date(), set => { const interval = setInterval(() => set(new Date()), 1000); return () => clearInterval(interval); }); correctly uses readable with a start function that updates time every second and cleans up.

3. Final Answer:

   import { readable } from 'svelte/store'; const time = readable(new Date(), set => { const interval = setInterval(() => set(new Date()), 1000); return () => clearInterval(interval); }); -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Readable store needs start function for updates [OK]

Hint: Readable stores need a start function for dynamic updates [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting the start function for dynamic data
• Using writable instead of readable
• Passing a function without calling set inside

3. Given this readable store code, what will be logged to the console after 3 seconds?

import { readable } from 'svelte/store';

const count = readable(0, set => {
  let n = 0;
  const interval = setInterval(() => {
    n += 1;
    set(n);
  }, 1000);
  return () => clearInterval(interval);
});

count.subscribe(value => console.log(value));

medium

A. Only 0

B. 1, 2, 3

C. 0, 1, 2

D. 0, 1, 2, 3

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand initial value and updates

   The readable store starts at 0 and increments n every second, calling set(n).

2. Step 2: Trace values over 3 seconds

   At start: 0 logged immediately. After 1s: 1, after 2s: 2, after 3s: 3 logged.

3. Final Answer:

   0, 1, 2, 3 -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Initial + increments each second = 0,1,2,3 [OK]

Hint: Readable emits initial value immediately on subscribe [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring initial value emission
• Counting only increments without initial
• Assuming subscription logs only after first interval

4. What is wrong with this readable store code?

import { readable } from 'svelte/store';

const data = readable(0, set => {
  const interval = setInterval(() => {
    set(Date.now());
  }, 1000);
  // Missing cleanup function
});

medium

A. The store is missing an initial value

B. The start function does not return a cleanup function

C. You cannot use setInterval inside a readable store

D. The set function should not be called inside the start function

Solution

1. Step 1: Check readable store start function requirements

   The start function must return a cleanup function or undefined for cleanup.

2. Step 2: Analyze given code

   The code creates an interval that calls set every second but does not return any cleanup function.

3. Final Answer:

   The start function does not return a cleanup function -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Start function must return cleanup or undefined [OK]

Hint: Always return cleanup function or undefined in readable start [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring cleanup function requirement
• Thinking setInterval is disallowed in stores
• Believing set cannot be called inside start

5. You want to create a readable store that emits the current window width and updates on resize. Which code snippet correctly implements this behavior?

hard

A. import { readable } from 'svelte/store';

const width = readable(window.innerWidth, set => {
const onResize = () => set(window.innerWidth);
window.addEventListener('resize', onResize);
return () => window.removeEventListener('resize', onResize);
});

B. import { writable } from 'svelte/store';

const width = writable(window.innerWidth);
window.addEventListener('resize', () => width.set(window.innerWidth));

C. import { readable } from 'svelte/store';

const width = readable(() => window.innerWidth);

D. import { readable } from 'svelte/store';

const width = readable(window.innerWidth);
window.addEventListener('resize', () => width.set(window.innerWidth));

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand readable store with event listener

   Readable stores need a start function to set updates and cleanup listeners.

2. Step 2: Check options for correct event handling and cleanup

   import { readable } from 'svelte/store'; const width = readable(window.innerWidth, set => { const onResize = () => set(window.innerWidth); window.addEventListener('resize', onResize); return () => window.removeEventListener('resize', onResize); }); adds resize listener, calls set on resize, and removes listener on cleanup.

3. Final Answer:

   import { readable } from 'svelte/store'; const width = readable(window.innerWidth, set => { const onResize = () => set(window.innerWidth); window.addEventListener('resize', onResize); return () => window.removeEventListener('resize', onResize); }); -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Readable with event listener and cleanup = import { readable } from 'svelte/store'; const width = readable(window.innerWidth, set => { const onResize = () => set(window.innerWidth); window.addEventListener('resize', onResize); return () => window.removeEventListener('resize', onResize); }); [OK]

Hint: Use readable with start function adding/removing event listeners [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using writable store when read-only is needed
• Not removing event listeners on cleanup
• Passing function instead of initial value to readable