# phoenix_components
[![Build Status](https://travis-ci.org/mvdwg/phoenix_components.svg?branch=master)](https://travis-ci.org/mvdwg/phoenix_components)
This library helps you write encapsulated bits of HTML into a single unit called component in your server rendered Phoenix web site. Similar to how react/ember/web components do.
## Table of content
* [Synopsis](#synopsis)
* [Installation](#installation)
* [Quick start](#quickstart)
* [Configuration](#configuration)
* [License](#license)
## Synopsis
You can generate a new component with the built-in generator
```
$ mix phoenix.gen.component button
* creating web/components/button/view.ex
* creating web/components/button/template.html.eex
* creating test/components/button_test.exs
```
Then you can use the new component in a template
```ex
# /web/views/page_view.ex
defmodule MyApp.PageView do
use MyApp.Web, :view
use PhoenixComponents.View
import_components [:button]
end
```
```eex
# /web/templates/page/show.html.eex
<%= button type: :primary do %>
My cool button!
<% end %>
```
With the corresponding component definition
```ex
# /web/components/button/view.ex
defmodule MyApp.Components.ButtonView do
use PhoenixComponents.Component
def class_for_type(type) do
"btn btn--" <> to_string(type)
end
end
```
```eex
# /web/components/button/template.html.eex
<button class="<%= class_for_type @attrs.type %>">
<%= @content %>
</button>
```
## Installation
Add `phoenix_components` to your `mix.exs` deps:
```elixir
def deps do
[{:phoenix_components, "~> 1.0.0"}]
end
```
and then you have to add one config to your config file
```elixir
config :phoenix_components, app_name: MyApp
```
where `MyApp` is the module that represents your phoenix app.
### Extra step for Elixir 1.3 and lower
If you're running Elixir 1.3 or lower, don't forget to add it under you applications list in mix.exs
```ex
def application do
[applications: [:phoenix_components]]
end
```
## Quick start
This is a quick overview of how to create and use a component in your application.
### 1. Importing PhoenixComponents.View in all application views
After installing the dependency you need to configure your application.
You can do this by adding this line to your `web/web.ex` file
Look for the line `def view do` and update it to include this line
```ex
def view do
quote do
use Phoenix.View, root: "web/templates"
use PhoenixComponents.View # Add this line
...
```
### 2. Creating a `button` component
Phoenix components are defined by two different parts, a view and a template. The view contains helper functions and the template contains the HTML.
To create a button component you need to create the view file `web/components/button/view.ex` with the following content
```ex
defmodule MyApp.Components.Button do
use PhoenixComponents.Component
def classes do
"btn btn-default"
end
end
```
Then create the template file `web/components/button/template.html.eex` with the following content
```eex
<button class="<%= classes %>">
<%= @content %>
</button>
```
Note that `@content` variable will contain the content defined inside the button block. Next section shows this in more detail.
### 3. Using the component
You can use the component from any template by using the helper function `component`.
In any template, e.g. `web/templates/pages/show.html.eex` add the button component.
```eex
<%= component :button do %>
My cool button!
<% end %>
```
The content inside the component block is passed to the component as the `@content` variable.
### 4. Importing components into views
You can import the components in any view by using the `import_components` function. This allows you to avoid having to call `component` helper and instead just use the name of the component.
```eex
defmodule MyApp.PageView do
use Phoenix.Web, :view
import_components [:button, :jumbotron]
end
```
Then you can use these helpers from your templates
```eex
<%= button type: :submit do %>
Submit form!
<% end %>
```
### 5. Using attributes inside your components
When calling a component you can pass any attribute you like.
```eex
<%= button type: :submit do %>
Submit form!
<% end %>
```
Inside the component's template these attributes are going to be available in the `@attrs` map.
```eex
<button type="<%= @attrs.type %>">
<%= @content %>
</button>
```
## Configuration
You can configure where to put the components by editing your application
configuration file `config/config.exs`.
```ex
config :phoenix_components, path: "lib/foo/bar"
```
Components are obtained from `web` by default.
## License
phoenix_components is licensed under the MIT license.
See [LICENSE](./LICENSE) for the full license text.