Data Attributes API

Interact with handlers using HTML attributes.

Usage Examples

The data attributes API lets you issue AJAX requests without any JavaScript. In many cases the data attributes API is less verbose than the JavaScript API - you write less code to get the same result. The supported AJAX data attributes are:

data-request Attribute	Description
data-request	specifies the AJAX handler name.
data-request-confirm	specifies a confirmation message. A confirmation dialog is displayed before the request is sent. If the user clicks the Cancel button the request isn't sent.
data-request-redirect	specifies a URL to redirect the browser after the successful AJAX request.
data-request-url	specifies a URL to which the request is sent. default: `window.location.href`
data-request-update	specifies a list of partials and page elements (CSS selectors) to update. The format is as follows: `partial: selector, partial: selector`. Usage of quotes is required in some cases, for example: `'my-partial': '#myelement'`. The selector string should start with a `#` or `.` character, except you may also prepend it with `@` to append contents to the element, `^` to prepend, `!` to replace with and `=` to use any CSS selector.
data-request-data	specifies additional POST parameters to be sent to the server. The format is following: `var: value, var: value`. Use quotes if needed: `var: 'some string'`. The attribute can be used on the triggering element, for example on the button that also has the `data-request` attribute, on the closest element of the triggering element and on the parent form element. The framework merges values of the `data-request-data` attributes. If the attribute on different elements defines parameters with the same name, the framework uses the following priority: the triggering element `data-request-data`, the closer parent elements `data-request-data`, the form input data.
data-request-query	specifies additional GET parameters to be sent to the server and added to the current URL query string.
data-request-before-update	specifies JavaScript code to execute directly before the page contents are updated.
data-request-success	specifies JavaScript code to execute after the request is successfully completed. The `data` variable is available in this function containing the response data.
data-request-error	specifies JavaScript code to execute if the request encounters an error. The `data` variable is available in this function containing the response data.
data-request-complete	specifies JavaScript code to execute if the request is successfully completed or encounters an error. The `data` variable is available in this function containing the response data.
data-request-cancel	specifies JavaScript code to execute if the user aborts the request or cancels it via a confirmation dialog.
data-request-message	displays a progress message with the specified text, shown while the request is running. This option is used by the flash messages features.
data-request-loading	specifies a CSS selector for an element to be displayed while the request runs. You can use this option to show an AJAX loading indicator. The feature uses CSS display `block` and `none` attributes to manage the element visibility.
data-request-progress-bar	enable the progress bar when an AJAX request occurs.
data-request-form	explicitly specify a form element to use for sourcing the form data. If this is unspecified, the closest form to the triggering element is used, including if the element itself is a form.
data-request-flash	when included, instructs the server to clear and send any flash messages with the response. This option is used by the flash messages features.
data-request-files	when specified the request will accept file uploads using the `FormData` interface.
data-request-download	when specified file downloads are accepted with a `Content-Disposition` response. This attribute can be added anonymously or set to the downloaded filename.
data-request-bulk	when specified the request be sent as JSON for bulk data transactions.
data-browser-target	when specified with `data-request-download` the output will target this window, for example `_blank`.
data-browser-validate	when specified browser-based client side validation will run on the request before it submits.
data-auto-submit	automatically triggers an AJAX request on elements that also have the `data-request` attribute. The request submits when the browser window is active using the Page Visibility API (opens new window). The optional attribute value can define the interval, in milliseconds, the framework waits before it sends the request.
data-track-input	can be applied to a text, number, or password input field that also has the `data-request` attribute. When defined, the input field automatically sends an AJAX request when a user types something in the field. The optional attribute value can define the interval, in milliseconds, the framework waits before it sends the requests.

When the data-request attribute is specified for an element, the element triggers an AJAX request when a user interacts with it. Depending on the type of element, the request is triggered on the following events:

Element	Event
Forms	when the form is submitted.
Links, buttons	when the element is clicked.
Text, number, and password fields	when the text is changed and only if the `data-track-input` attribute is presented.
Dropdowns, checkboxes, radios	when the element is selected.

# Usage Examples

Trigger the onCalculate handler when the form is submitted. Update the element with the identifier "result"` with the calcresult partial.

<form data-request="onCalculate" data-request-update="{ calcresult: '#result' }">

Request a confirmation when the Delete button is clicked before the request is sent.

<form ... >
    ...
    <button data-request="onDelete" data-request-confirm="Are you sure?">Delete</button>

Redirect to another page after the successful request.

<form data-request="onLogin" data-request-redirect="/admin">

Show a popup window after the successful request.

<form data-request="onLogin" data-request-success="alert('Yay!')">

Send a POST parameter mode with a value update.

<form data-request="onUpdate" data-request-data="{ mode: 'update' }">

Send a POST parameter id with value 7 across multiple elements.

<div data-request-data="{ id: 7 }">
    <button data-request="onDelete">Delete</button>
    <button data-request="onSave">Update</button>
</div>

Send a GET parameter page with value 6 on the current request.

<button data-request="onSetPage" data-request-query="{ page: 6 }">
    Page 6
</button>

Show a flash message while the request is loading.

<button data-request="onUpdate" data-request-message="Loading...">
    Save Changes
</button>

Including file uploads with a request.

<form data-request="onSubmit" data-request-files>
    <input type="file" name="photo" accept="image/*" />
    <button type="submit">Submit</button>
</form>

Including file downloads with a response.

<button data-request="onDownloadFile" data-request-download>
    Download
</button>

To specify a custom filename and open the download in a new window, such as previewing a PDF.

<button
    data-request="onDownloadFile"
    data-request-download="sample.pdf"
    data-browser-target="_blank">
    Download
</button>

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