Alpine.js: jQuery for the Modern Web

By Ajdin Holjan
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Published on
Alpine.js

Alpine.js is like jQuery’s younger, cooler sibling - designed for today’s web. It’s a tiny (~10kb) JavaScript framework that makes it easy to add interactivity to your site without a lot of setup or fuss.

What is Alpine.js?

Think of Alpine.js as a simpler version of Vue or React. You can sprinkle it into your HTML to handle things like state, events, and dynamic behavior. No build tools, no complex setup - just add a tag and go.

Why People Call It "Modern jQuery"

Easy to Use: Like jQuery, it’s beginner-friendly and quick to implement.
Focused: While jQuery helped with DOM manipulation, Alpine focuses on adding behavior to your UI.
No Overhead: Just a small script file - no need for an entire framework ecosystem.

What Can You Do with Alpine.js?

  • Toggle menus:
<div x-data="{ open: false }">
  <button @click="open = !open">Menu</button>
  <div x-show="open">Menu Content</div>
</div>
  • Dropdowns, modals, accordions: Handle show/hide logic easily.
  • Form interactions: Add real-time validations or dynamic fields.
  • Tooltips and popovers: React to hover or click events.

Why Use Alpine?

Alpine is perfect when you want dynamic behavior without the complexity of big frameworks. It’s great for small projects, WordPress sites or static websites. In short, Alpine.js gives you modern tools with jQuery-level simplicity. If you want to keep things light and fast, it’s definitely worth a try.

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