In this episode, we go beyond simple text inputs and dive into working with different kinds of form controls: checkboxes, radio buttons, and select dropdowns. We start by exploring how checkboxes behave, both in traditional HTML forms and when used with Alpine's x-model
. You'll notice how Alpine simplifies things by automatically turning checkbox values into booleans, making your code easier to work with.
Next, we tackle multiple checkboxes—a common pattern when you have lists, like users you need to update or delete. We look at how you can bind several checkboxes to an array in Alpine, so you always know which items are selected. This includes seeing how the selected values can be sent to an API, and a practical example using users that you might want to delete in bulk.
From there, we shift focus to select dropdowns. You'll learn how to bind a selection to a piece of state, set up default options, and conditionally display messages when a choice is made. It's a straightforward approach that makes your code readable and maintainable.
Finally, we look at radio buttons—another classic form element. You'll discover how similar they are to dropdowns in terms of data binding, but with the flexibility to style things how you like for better user experience.
By the end of this episode, you'll have a solid understanding of how to use these various input types in your Alpine-powered forms, and you'll be ready to apply them to more complex interactions in your own projects. If you want to know even more, check out Alpine's docs for the full set of input tricks!