Introduction to Alpine.js in Laravel
Alpine.js is a great way to start adding reactivity to your user interface. I wrote about this minimalist framework if you are not familiar with it yet.
Today, we will learn how to add Alpine.js to an existing Laravel project. Of course, this will even work on new projects. Let’s dive in!
Use Alpine.js via a CDN
Alpine.js is such a simple framework that it can just be dropped on any web page using the CDN of your choice.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
…
<script defer src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/alpinejs@3.x.x/dist/cdn.min.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
…
</body>
</html>
That’s it. And you can even add plugins that way:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<script defer src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/@alpinejs/intersect@3.x.x/dist/cdn.min.js"></script>
<script defer src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/alpinejs@3.x.x/dist/cdn.min.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
…
</body>
</html>
You could already stop reading this article. If you are missing the good old days when everybody used jQuery and build tools were only for hipsters, you should be happy!
Pro tip: the URLs in this example redirect to the last version of the framework and plugin. Replace them with the target URL instead.
Install Alpine.js in Laravel via NPM, Yarn, pnpm, or Bun
If you’d like to control the amount of HTTP requests on your page and don’t fear compilation processes, you might instead bundle the framework into your JavaScript.
Whatever package manager you use (NPM, Yarn, pnpm, or Bun), use the following command.
If you use NPM:
npm install alpinejs
If you use Yarn:
yarn add alpinejs
If you use Bun:
bun add alpinejs
Set up Alpine.js
Now, we must import Alpine and create an instance of the framework.
In resources/js/app.js, make the following modifications:
import Alpine from 'alpinejs'
Alpine.start()
// If you want Alpine's instance to be available everywhere.
window.Alpine = Alpine
That’s it. Simple, right?
Oh, before I forget, here’s how to use plugins. First, install one.
If you use NPM:
npm install @alpinejs/intersect
If you use Yarn:
yarn add @alpinejs/intersect
If you use Bun:
bun add @alpinejs/intersect
Then, tell Alpine to use the Intersect plugin:
import Alpine from 'alpinejs'
import Intersect from '@alpinejs/intersect'
Alpine.plugin(Intersect)
Alpine.start()
window.Alpine = Alpine
Add minimal Alpine.js code
We’re almost there!
Include your JavaScript using the @vite directive and copy and paste this basic component:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
…
@vite(['resources/js/app.js'])
</head>
<body>
<div x-data="{ count: 0 }">
<button @click="count++">Add</button>
<span x-text="count">0</span>
</div>
</body>
</html>
Yes, this is an old-fashioned counter to demonstrate that the framework is working.
I know, very original, right? 😅
Compile your assets and check your browser
If you did everything correctly, Alpine.js should now be up and running. Compile your assets and check your browser!
If you use NPM:
npm run dev
If you use Yarn:
yarn dev
If you use Bun:
bun run dev
Done! Now, go build something amazing!
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