Htmx, not HTML

Htmx is a new technology that is changing the way we build web applications. It allows us to create more interactive and dynamic web pages without the need for JavaScript. This makes it a great choice for building web applications that are lightweight, fast, and accessible.

What is Htmx?

Htmx stands for Hypertext Markup Language eXtensions. It is a set of attributes that can be added to HTML elements to make them more interactive. For example, you can use htmx to make a button that automatically reloads the page with new data, or to make a form that submits data without the need for a page refresh.

Why use Htmx?

There are a number of reasons why you might want to use htmx in your web development projects. Here are a few of the benefits:

• Lightweight: Htmx pages are lightweight and fast because they don’t require JavaScript to function. This makes them a great choice for mobile devices and other devices with limited bandwidth.
• Accessible: Htmx pages are accessible to people with disabilities because they don’t rely on JavaScript. This is important for compliance with accessibility standards.
• Efficient: Htmx pages are efficient because they only load the content that is needed. This can save bandwidth and improve performance.
• Interactive: Htmx pages are interactive because they allow users to interact with the content in a more dynamic way. This can make your web applications more engaging and user-friendly.
• Future-proof: Htmx is built on top of the latest web standards, so it is future-proof. This means that your htmx applications will continue to work even as the web evolves.

How to use Htmx?

Htmx is easy to use. You can add htmx attributes to your HTML elements by adding the hx- prefix to the attribute name. For example, the following code will create a button that automatically reloads the page with new data:

<button hx-post="/data">Reload data</button>

There are a number of other htmx attributes that you can use to create more interactive and dynamic web pages. For more information, you can visit the htmx documentation: https://htmx.org/docs/.

Examples:

Here are a few examples of how you can use htmx to create more interactive and dynamic web pages:

• Reloading data: You can use htmx to reload data on a page without the need for a page refresh. This can be useful for updating live data, such as stock prices or weather reports.
• Submitting forms: You can use htmx to submit forms without the need for a page refresh. This can improve the user experience by making it more responsive.
• AJAX requests: You can use htmx to make AJAX requests without the need for a separate JavaScript library. This can simplify your code and make it easier to maintain.

Code examples

Reloading data

<button hx-post="/data">Reload data</button>

This code will create a button that automatically reloads the page with new data when it is clicked. The hx-post attribute tells the browser to make an AJAX request to the /data endpoint. When the request is successful, the browser will replace the current page with the new data.

Submitting forms

<form hx-post="/submit">
  <input type="text" name="name" />
  <input type="submit" value="Submit" />
</form>

This code will create a form that can be submitted without the need for a page refresh. The hx-post attribute tells the browser to make an AJAX request to the /submit endpoint. When the form is submitted, the browser will send the form data to the endpoint. If the request is successful, the browser will display a success message.

Creating a modal

<button hx-trigger="modal">Open modal</button>

<div hx-modal>
  <h1>This is a modal</h1>
  <p>This is some content that is displayed in the modal.</p>
  <button hx-close>Close</button>
</div>

This code will create a button that opens a modal when it is clicked. The hx-trigger attribute tells the browser to open the modal when the button is clicked. The hx-modal attribute tells the browser to render the content of the modal when it is opened. The hx-close attribute tells the browser to close the modal when the button is clicked.

Conclusion:

Htmx is a powerful new technology that can make your web development projects more lightweight, accessible, efficient, and interactive. If you’re looking for a way to improve the performance and user experience of your web applications, I encourage you to check out htmx.