Explanation of HTMX in 100 seconds
Fireship is a channel that presents web technology news in an incredibly accessible way. In his latest video, the author highlights HTMX, a UI library that can replace traditional JavaScript frameworks with the simplicity of HTML. The author emphasizes that plain HTML is more capable than it seems. Every interaction, such as clicking a link or submitting a form, sends an HTTP request to the server and renders the response in the user interface. But that's not all! HTMX introduces an architectural constraint known as hypermedia, allowing it to handle the complex requirements of modern interfaces.
With HTMX, users can make requests to the server from any element using specific attributes with an HTTP method and the server URL. The server's response can asynchronously replace the element or indicate a target for swapping another element on the page. Additionally, users can customize the events that trigger requests, as well as utilize modifiers such as delay and throttle to control how requests are sent. HTMX keeps track of the loading state, enabling the display of a loading spinner, while also applying CSS transitions for smoother visual shifts.
Fireship also introduces the client called Boost that acts like a frontend router, making traditional web applications feel faster. Moreover, HTMX offers extensions for more advanced features such as WebSockets and integrations with other HTML frameworks like Alpine. To install HTMX, it’s as simple as importing it in a script tag in the head of your HTML document. Once set up, you can use the hx-get attribute to send requests to your endpoint and hx-swap to replace or modify specific elements in the interface based on the server response.
HTMX also includes the hx-target attribute, allowing users to move the UI to a completely different element on the page and provides advanced syntax for easily finding the correct elements. Users may also utilize the HTMX indicator to show a loading spinner and create CSS animations for incoming elements. Furthermore, HTMX includes an extensive event system that can be managed using JavaScript, along with the hx-on attribute that allows binding JavaScript functions to elements.
In conclusion, Fireship surely presented a not-so-complicated yet highly functional library that could revolutionize how we build web applications. As of the time of writing this article, the video has amassed 1,285,459 views and 52,695 likes. Does HTMX excite you, or do you have reservations? Let us know in the comments, and thanks for watching—stay tuned for more content.
Toggle timeline summary
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Introduction to HTMX, a UI library for web.
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HTMX manages HTTP requests using plain HTML.
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Concept of Hypermedia as the engine of application state.
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Attributes to facilitate server requests from HTML elements.
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Asynchronous element replacement with server responses.
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Introduction of Boost, a client-side router.
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Advanced features like WebSockets and HTML framework integration.
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Instructions for installing HTMX.
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Using hx-get and hx-swap attributes for requests.
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hx-target attribute for element selection and manipulation.
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Extensive event system for custom event handling.
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Binding JavaScript functions to HTML elements with hx-on.
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Summary of building a full-stack HTML application.
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Conclusion and call to viewer engagement.
Transcription
HTMX, a UI library for the web that can replace your JavaScript framework with the simplicity of HTML. Plain HTML is more capable than you think. Every time you click on a link or submit a form, it automatically sends an HTTP request to the server and renders the response in the UI. It's so easy, but why stop there? HTMX embraces an architectural constraint known as Hypermedia as the engine of application state by adding new attributes to HTML that can handle the complex requirements of modern UIs. It gives you the ability to make a request to the server from any element by providing an attribute with an HTTP verb and the URL endpoint on the server. It'll take the response from the server and replace this element asynchronously, or it can specify a target to replace a different element on the page. It can also customize the event on which it's triggered, along with modifiers like delay and throttle, to control the way the request is sent. It keeps track of the loading state so you can show a spinner, applies CSS transitions for animation, and builds on the HTML validation API to validate forms. It even has a client-side router called Boost that can make any traditional web application feel like a faster single-page application. And it also includes extensions for more advanced features like WebSockets and integrations with other HTML frameworks like Alpine. To install it, simply import HTMX in a script tag from the head of an HTML document. You just put the hyper back into hypertext. Now all you need is a server in your favorite programming language that returns HTML text as a response. Now we can use the hx-get attribute to make a request to this endpoint, along with hx-swap to replace this element with the HTML in the response. When swapping though, we don't only have the option to replace the outer HTML, but we could also append or prepend the response to the existing UI. Or the hx-target attribute allows us to move the UI to a completely different element. It finds that element with a CSS selector, but has additional syntax like next and closest, allowing you to easily find the proper element without a bunch of custom IDs. We might also use HTMX indicator to show a loading spinner, and write a CSS transition animation for the incoming element. Behind the scenes, HTMX has an extensive event system that you can tap into by listening to custom events with JavaScript. And if you want to run your own client-side JavaScript, the hx-on attribute allows you to bind a JavaScript function to any element. And that's all it takes to build a highly polished full-stack HTML application on the information superhighway. This has been HTMX in 100 seconds. Do you love it or do you hate it? Let me know in the comments. Thanks for watching and I will see you in the next one.