HTMX in 2026: The Anti-SPA That's Taking Over

HTMX lets you build interactive web apps using HTML attributes instead of JavaScript frameworks. No build step, no virtual DOM, no npm. Just HTML.

The Core Idea

Every HTMX interaction is an HTTP request that returns HTML:

<!-- This button makes an AJAX GET request and replaces #result with the response -->
<button hx-get="/api/data" hx-target="#result">
  Load Data
</button>
<div id="result"></div>

Your server returns HTML fragments, not JSON. HTMX swaps them into the DOM.

The Four Core Attributes

<!-- hx-get / hx-post / hx-put / hx-delete: HTTP method -->
<form hx-post="/api/users" hx-target="#users-list">

<!-- hx-target: where to put the response -->
<div hx-get="/search" hx-target="#results">

<!-- hx-trigger: what triggers the request -->
<input hx-get="/search" hx-trigger="keyup changed delay:300ms">

<!-- hx-swap: how to insert the response -->
<ul hx-get="/items" hx-swap="beforeend">

Real-World Pattern: Infinite Scroll

<div id="items">
  {% for item in items %}
    <div>{{ item.name }}</div>
  {% endfor %}

  <!-- Last item triggers next page load -->
  <div hx-get="/items?page=2"
       hx-trigger="revealed"
       hx-target="#items"
       hx-swap="beforeend">
    Loading...
  </div>
</div>

No JavaScript. Truly zero.

Click-to-Edit Pattern

<!-- Show mode -->
<div id="username-display">
  John Doe
  <button hx-get="/user/edit" hx-target="#username-display">Edit</button>
</div>

<!-- Server returns this on GET /user/edit -->
<form hx-put="/user" hx-target="#username-display">
  <input name="name" value="John Doe">
  <button type="submit">Save</button>
  <button hx-get="/user/display" hx-target="#username-display">Cancel</button>
</form>

When HTMX Shines

• Admin dashboards with lots of CRUD operations
• Internal tools where a full SPA is overkill
• Existing server-rendered apps (Rails, Django, Laravel) adding interactivity
• Simple landing pages with forms

When HTMX Struggles

• Apps needing complex client-side state
• Real-time collaboration (use WebSockets instead)
• Mobile apps
• When you need fine-grained control over rendering

The Stack

HTMX pairs beautifully with:

• Go + Templ for type-safe HTML templates
• Python + FastAPI/Jinja2 for rapid development
• Rails (the spiritual home of HTMX)

Use the HTML Beautifier to clean up your HTMX templates before committing.

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Full HTMX guide at viadreams.cc/en/blog/htmx-guide-2026