django-htmx

Development

Build and review HTMX interactions in Django server-rendered projects, especially generated django-saas-starter apps. Use when adding hx attributes, partial template responses, request.htmx branching, django-htmx response headers, forms, swaps, triggers, redirects, polling, boosted links or forms, or coordinating HTMX with Alpine.js local state.

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Django HTMX

Use HTMX to keep Django templates, views, forms, permissions, and server-side validation in charge while adding focused partial-page updates. Prefer plain Django first, then add the smallest HTMX behavior that improves the workflow.

In generated django-saas-starter projects:

django-htmx is installed and django_htmx.middleware.HtmxMiddleware adds request.htmx.
htmx.min.js is copied from npm to frontend/static/vendors/js/ and loaded by frontend/templates/base_app.html and frontend/templates/base_landing.html.
The base templates already add X-CSRFToken during htmx:configRequest and set window.htmx.config.historyRestoreAsHxRequest = false. Do not duplicate this setup in feature templates.
Use Alpine.js only for browser-local state such as menus, modals, disclosure state, and lightweight transitions.

Framework-Neutral HTMX Skills

Use these skills for deeper htmx guidance, then translate back to Django forms, views, templates, permissions, and tests:

htmx-endpoint-design for request/response contracts, targets, swaps, out-of-band updates, and events.
htmx-recipes for active search, pagination, infinite scroll, polling, dialogs, click-to-edit, boosted links, and other common patterns.
htmx-security for XSS, sanitization, CSP, CSRF, and htmx history-cache risk.
htmx-realtime for polling, SSE, and WebSocket tradeoffs.
htmx-interactivity for Alpine.js coordination, event boundaries, and local state outside replaceable targets.
htmx-js-api for programmatic requests, htmx.process, and event wiring.

Resource Routing

Load only the files needed for the current task:

Need	Read
Django view branching, response helpers, forms, validation	`references/django-view-patterns.md`
Template targets, swaps, OOB updates, Alpine events, recipe notes	`references/template-interaction-patterns.md`
Security rules, Django tests, response assertions, reference docs	`references/testing-security.md`

Implementation Workflow

Find the server state owner: model, queryset, form, service, permission, or session value.
Choose the smallest URL boundary:
- Reuse an existing view with request.htmx branching when the full page and partial share the same query and permissions.
- Create a dedicated endpoint when the interaction has a narrow component contract or different mutation rules.
Put reusable fragments in partial templates, commonly frontend/templates/<app>/partials/... or the local app template folder.
Render the full page by including the same partial that the HTMX response returns.
Preserve non-HTMX fallback behavior for links and forms whenever practical.
Add tests for both normal and HTMX requests when the view branches on request.htmx.

Django Rules

Branch on request.htmx only after the same auth, permission, and data-loading path has run.
Use @vary_on_headers("HX-Request") on cacheable views that return different full-page and partial content for the same URL.
Prefer django_htmx.http helpers over hand-writing HTMX headers: HttpResponseClientRedirect, HttpResponseClientRefresh, HttpResponseLocation, HttpResponseStopPolling, push_url(), replace_url(), retarget(), reswap(), reselect(), and trigger_client_event().
Keep Django forms as the validation source of truth. Include {% csrf_token %} in forms even when the base HTMX header is configured.
For invalid HTMX form submissions, return a rendered bound form with normal status 200 unless the project explicitly handles 4xx or 422 swaps.
For destructive actions, require POST unless the project has a deliberate method override pattern for DELETE.
Keep the ownership line clear: HTMX owns server trips, fresh HTML, history updates, and cross-component server facts; Alpine owns local-only state, keyboard/menu behavior, temporary UI state, and transitions.
Use hx-push-url="true" only when the new state deserves a real browser URL, and ensure the pushed URL can render a full page on direct load and refresh.

Avoid

Do not return JSON for UI updates unless a non-HTMX API truly needs JSON.
Do not add React, Vue, or a client router for ordinary partial updates.
Do not place business logic in templates or browser event handlers.
Do not create one generic "htmx endpoint" that switches behavior based on arbitrary request parameters. Use explicit URLs and views.
Do not attach hx-trigger="keyup" or polling without debounce, throttle, or a clear stop condition.
Do not use HTMX to bypass Django's normal authentication, authorization, CSRF, form, or message patterns.