SwapSwap.Htmx vs Vanilla HTMX
What does Swap.Htmx add on top of plain HTMX?
HTMX is the underlying JavaScript library that enables HTML-over-the-wire interactions. It's framework-agnostic.
Swap.Htmx is a .NET library that provides a structured, productive way to build HTMX applications with ASP.NET Core.
What Swap.Htmx Adds
🎯
SwapResponse Builder
Fluent API instead of manual HX-* headers
💾
SwapState
Server-side state without JavaScript
⚡
Event System
[SwapHandler] for decoupled updates
🔄
Auto Layout Skip
HTMX requests skip layout automatically
🧭
<swap-nav>
SPA-like navigation with history
⚙️
Source Generators
Type-safe view & element constants
Code Comparison
Vanilla HTMX + ASP.NET
Response.Headers["HX-Trigger"] = "user:deleted";Response.Headers["HX-Retarget"] = "#user-" + id;Response.Headers["HX-Reswap"] = "delete";// How to wire up side effects?Swap.Htmx
return SwapResponse() .Remove($"#user-{id}") .Trigger("user:deleted");[SwapHandler("user:deleted")]public IActionResult RefreshCount() => ...When to Use Vanilla HTMX
- ✓ Very simple apps (1-2 interactions)
- ✓ Learning HTMX fundamentals
- ✓ Non-.NET backends
- ✓ Maximum header control
When to Use Swap.Htmx
- ✓ Production .NET apps
- ✓ Multiple coordinated updates
- ✓ Complex state management
- ✓ Team productivity
- ✓ Real-time features (SSE)