htmx is a lightweight, dependency-free JavaScript library that allows developers to access AJAX, CSS Transitions, WebSockets, and Server Sent Events directly within HTML using attributes. It extends HTML's capabilities beyond traditional <a> and <form> elements, enabling any element to trigger HTTP requests and update parts of the page without full reloads.
This tool is designed for developers who want to build modern, dynamic user interfaces with the simplicity and power of hypertext, reducing the need for extensive JavaScript frameworks. It aims to complete HTML as a hypertext, offering a more efficient way to create interactive web applications and has been shown to significantly reduce codebase sizes compared to alternatives like React. htmx 2.x drops IE support, while 1.x remains available for legacy projects.