HTMX Tutorial

HTMX is a high-power tool for HTML. The HTMX allows you to use AJAX, CSS Transitions, WebSockets, and Server Sent Events directly from HTML. By using HTMX attributes you can easily build modern websites with the simplicity and power of JavaScript.

This tutorial will guide you and explain each topic of HTMX and how it works under the hood, so you can use it whenever and wherever it can be used.

Why to use HTMX?

It is the most lightweight and efficient tool when there is no need to include advanced features of modern-day frontend frameworks or libraries. The HTMX can be used by backend developers who just want to make an interactive HTML page without writing client-side JavaScript logic. It is possible to migrate from React to HTMX as it can lead to a 67% smaller codebase.

Replacing React with HTMX is recommended when you don't require all those advanced features like advanced state management at all.

Example of HTMX

<script src="https://unpkg.com/htmx.org@2.0.2"></script>
<button hx-post="/clicked" hx-swap="outerHTML">
  Click Me
</button>

Advantage of HTMX over React

If we are looking for modern features then definitely React is much more efficient than HTMX but if you are not gonna use those advanced features then HTMX is a great choice. Below listed few points will catch your attention to give it a try.

Approach

As you can see the comparison between both, is readability, lines of code, and understandable approach.

• HTMX: This extends HTML and allows you to interact with the server directly in markup. It is much more simple, and readable.

<div hx-get="/hello-world">
    Click me!
</div>

React: It is the most demanding library in today's era with lots of advanced features like state management, reusable components, etc.

import React, { useState } from "react"

export default const HelloWorldComponent = () => {
  const [responseData, setResponseData] = useState(null)

  const handleClick = () => {
    fetch("/hello-world")
      .then(response => response.text())
      .then(data => {
        setResponseData(data)
      })
  }

  return (
    <div onClick={handleClick}>
      {responseData ? <>{responseData}</> : "Click me!"}
    </div>
  )
}

Learning Curve

The Learning curve depends on individual capabilities or based on already gained knowledge, if you are not comfortable with any markup language then it may occur to learn HTMX. If you already know the basics of JavaScript then React will be easy for you.

• HTMX: It is very easy to learn as compared to ReactJS. Traditional web developers can master it in a couple of days as it is HTML based syntax and approach.
• React: Having a lot of advanced features makes it a little more difficult or time-consuming to learn.

Getting Started with HTMX

Before diving deep into this tutorial we will recommend you code with each given example and theory from this tutorial to get the best out of it.

FAQs on HTMX

There are some very Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ) about HTMX, this section tries to answer them briefly.

What is possible with HTMX?

HTMX is a library that allows you to access modern browser features directly from HTML, rather than using JavaScript.

What is HTMX good for?

HTMX provides a declarative development style that reduces the requirement for extensive JavaScript code.

What is the difference between HTML and HTMX?

HTMX is an extension to HTML that allows for dynamic updates of the web page.

Which browsers are supported by HTMX?

HTMX is supported by all those browsers that support JavaScript and XMLHttpRequest.