Explain the htmx request lifecycle.

Summary

An event triggers an element; htmx collects values and headers and sends the request; the server returns HTML; htmx swaps it into the target using the swap style; then it settles, processing htmx attributes in the new content. Events fire at each step (htmx:configRequest, beforeRequest, beforeSwap, afterSwap, afterSettle, afterRequest).

Longer Answer

Because new content is processed, the server's HTML can contain more hx- attributes and the interaction continues from there. Hooks at each step let you change parameters and headers (htmx:configRequest), cancel requests (htmx:beforeRequest), change whether or where to swap (htmx:beforeSwap), or initialise widgets (htmx:load).

Key Points

• Trigger → request → response → swap → settle.
• New content is processed for hx- attributes.
• Events at every step.
• Hooks to modify or cancel.

Deep dive: htmx Tutorial: How htmx Works