• rwhitisissle@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    9 months ago

    A SPA is *generally *“rehydrated” DOM elements from JSON data pulled from an API though. Where as HTMX is more akin to classic AJAX style page dynamism.

    You’ll forgive me if I say this is an instance of splitting hairs and having a particular definition for something that includes extra qualities separate from what those terms are actually describing for most people. Also, things like, I dunno, React, are going to extensively use ajax to accomplish what they do. It’s literally just asynchronous javascript. It’s like someone saying “my vehicle of choice is a motorcycle” and then someone else saying “A motorcycle isn’t really a vehicle. It’s a transportation device with wheels. A car is a vehicle.” They are both vehicles. They both have wheels. The wheels are ajax. A page made with htmx and a page made with React are both SPAs.

    • BedSharkPal@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      9 months ago

      My point is just that I think to most people, HTMX doesn’t create what is classically considered to be a SPA any more than older MPA’s that called utilized AJAX would be. There’s a reason those old-style pages aren’t really considered SPA’s. Is it splitting hairs? Absolutely.

      • rwhitisissle@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        9 months ago

        I think we’re gonna have to agree to disagree on definitions. To me, and I believe, to most people, an SPA refers to a UI/UX design pattern that can be implemented with any number of underlying techniques. I would also say that the Wikipedia page for SPAs (on the assumption that wikipedia is a valid tool for establishing consensus for definitions) supports my definition:

        A single-page application (SPA) is a web application or website that interacts with the user by dynamically rewriting the current web page with new data from the web server, instead of the default method of a web browser loading entire new pages.

        There are various techniques available that enable the browser to retain a single page even when the application requires server communication.

        And it goes on to list frameworks, AJAX, Websockets, etc.