Building frontends

Reading data from models

Gadget provides the @gadgetinc/react library of React hooks for reading and writing data from your Gadget models. The useFindOne, useFindMany, useFindBy, and useGet hooks read data from your backend models and render UI with React.

Each of these hooks returns an object with the requested data, the fetching state, and an error if one was encountered, as well as a refetch function for refreshing the data if need be.

For example, if you have a model named post, we can fetch post records in a variety of ways:

React

1// fetch one post by id
2const [{ data, fetching, error }, refetch] = useFindOne(api.post, "10");
3
4// fetch the first 10 posts
5const [{ data, fetching, error }, refetch] = useFindMany(api.post, { first: 10 });
6
7// fetch the first post with the slug field equal to "example-slug", throw if it isn't found
8const [{ data, fetching, error }, refetch] = useFindFirst(api.post, { where: { slug: "example-slug" } });
9
10// fetch the first post with the slug field equal to "example-slug", return null if it isn't found
11const [{ data, fetching, error }, refetch] = useMaybeFindFirst(api.post, { where: { slug: "example-slug" } });
12
13// fetch a realtime-updated view of the first 10 posts from the backend
14const [{ data, fetching, error }, refetch] = useFindMany(api.post, { live: true, first: 10 });
15
16// fetch the user's current session
17const [{ data, fetching, error }, refetch] = useGet(api.currentSession);

1// fetch one post by id
2const [{ data, fetching, error }, refetch] = useFindOne(api.post, "10");
3
4// fetch the first 10 posts
5const [{ data, fetching, error }, refetch] = useFindMany(api.post, { first: 10 });
6
7// fetch the first post with the slug field equal to "example-slug", throw if it isn't found
8const [{ data, fetching, error }, refetch] = useFindFirst(api.post, { where: { slug: "example-slug" } });
9
10// fetch the first post with the slug field equal to "example-slug", return null if it isn't found
11const [{ data, fetching, error }, refetch] = useMaybeFindFirst(api.post, { where: { slug: "example-slug" } });
12
13// fetch a realtime-updated view of the first 10 posts from the backend
14const [{ data, fetching, error }, refetch] = useFindMany(api.post, { live: true, first: 10 });
15
16// fetch the user's current session
17const [{ data, fetching, error }, refetch] = useGet(api.currentSession);

Each of these hooks must be wrapped in a React component to render. For example, we can use useFindMany to display a list of posts in a component:

Sort on a publishedAt Date/Time field for a Post model

React

1import { useFindMany } from "@gadgetinc/react";
2import { ReactNode } from "react";
3import { api } from "../api";
4
5export const PostsList = (props: {children: ReactNode}) => {
6  const [{ data, fetching, error }, _refetch] = useFindMany(api.post, { first: 10 });
7
8  if (fetching) {
9    return <div>Loading...</div>;
10  }
11
12  if (error) {
13    return <div>Error: {error.message}</div>;
14  }
15
16  return (
17    <ul>
18      {data.map((post) => (
19        <li key={post.id}>{post.title}</li>
20      ))}
21    </ul>
22  );
23};

1import { useFindMany } from "@gadgetinc/react";
2import { ReactNode } from "react";
3import { api } from "../api";
4
5export const PostsList = (props: {children: ReactNode}) => {
6  const [{ data, fetching, error }, _refetch] = useFindMany(api.post, { first: 10 });
7
8  if (fetching) {
9    return <div>Loading...</div>;
10  }
11
12  if (error) {
13    return <div>Error: {error.message}</div>;
14  }
15
16  return (
17    <ul>
18      {data.map((post) => (
19        <li key={post.id}>{post.title}</li>
20      ))}
21    </ul>
22  );
23};

For more documentation on the @gadgetinc/react hooks library, see the React reference.

Writing data to models

The @gadgetinc/react React hooks library includes the useActionForm hook and the useAction hook for writing data to models by running Actions. useActionForm is suitable for building forms that give users inputs to control the input data, and useAction is a lower level hook for calling actions directly.

Building forms

With the useActionForm hook, you can manage form state and call actions easily. For example, we can build a form for a post model with useActionForm:


JavaScript
1import { useActionForm } from "@gadgetinc/react";
2import { api } from "../api";
3
4const PostForm = () => {
5  const { register, submit } = useActionForm(api.post.create);
6
7  return (
8    <form onSubmit={submit}>
9      <label htmlFor="title">Title</label>
10      <input id="title" type="text" {...register("post.title")} />
11
12      <label htmlFor="content">Content</label>
13      <textarea id="content" {...register("post.content")} />
14      <input type="submit" />
15    </form>
16  );
17};

See the Forms guide for comprehensive docs on building forms with useActionForm.

Calling Actions directly

If you aren't building a form, or if you need lower-level control, the useAction hook can be used to call actions directly. useAction returns two values: a result object with the data from running, the fetching state, and the error if one was encountered, as well as an act function to run the backend action.

For example, with a post model on the backend, we can create a new post record by calling the act function returned by the useAction hook:


React
const [{ data, fetching, error }, act] = useAction(api.post.create);
// when ready, run the `act` function to trigger the action
act({ title: "Example Post", body: "some post content" });

The same approach is used for updating data with useAction(api.post.update), but you must pass the id of the record you want to update:


React
const [{ data, fetching, error }, act] = useAction(api.post.update);
// when ready, run the `act` function to trigger the action
act({ id: "123", title: "Example Post", body: "some new post content" });

For more details on the useAction hook, see the @gadgetinc/react reference.

Calling global actions

The @gadgetinc/react React hooks library includes support for building forms for global actions with the useActionForm hook, or calling global actions directly with the useGlobalAction hook.

useGlobalAction returns two values: a result object with the data from running, the fetching state, and the error if one was encountered, as well as an act function to run the backend global action.

For example, if you have a Global Action named syncData, we can run this action by calling the act function returned by the useGlobalAction hook:


React
const [{ data, fetching, error }, act] = useGlobalAction(api.syncData);
// when ready, run the `act` function to trigger the action
act({
  // any params the global action might expect
});

We can use the useGlobalAction hook in a React component that calls the action when a button is clicked:


React
1import { useState } from "react";
2import { useGlobalAction } from "@gadgetinc/react";
3import { api } from "../api";
4
5export const CreatePostForm = (props) => {
6  const [title, setTitle] = useState("");
7  const [body, setBody] = useState("");
8
9  const [{ data, fetching, error }, act] = useGlobalAction(api.syncData);
10
11  return;
12  <>
13    <button disabled={fetching} onClick={() => void act()}>
14      Sync Data
15    </button>
16    {error && <div>Error: {error.message}</div>}
17  </>;
18};

For more details on the useGlobalAction hook, see the @gadgetinc/react reference.

Calling HTTP routes

Backend HTTP Routes are available for calling from your frontend codebase. Calling these routes can be done with any HTTP client, but within the frontend, Gadget recommends using the useFetch hook. useFetch provides a pleasant React wrapper around the built-in browser fetch function, and includes automatic authentication support.

In a frontend React component, useFetch will make a request to a backend HTTP route. For example, if we have a routes/GET-hello.js file that sends a JSON reply in our backend like this:

routes/GET-example.js
JavaScript
export default async function (request, reply) {
  reply.send({ message: "Hello from the backend!" });
}

We can call this route in a frontend React component:


JavaScript
1import { useFetch } from "@gadgetinc/react";
2
3const Component = () => {
4  const [{ data, fetching, error }, send] = useFetch("/hello", { json: true });
5
6  console.log(data); // will start out null, then when the data arrives, { message: "Hello from the backend!" }
7};

Calling fetches imperatively

If you aren't using React, or would like to await a request like you might with the built-in browser fetch function, you can use the api.fetch function:

For example, we can call the /hello route from above like this:


JavaScript
const result = await api.fetch("/hello").json();
console.log(result); // { message: "Hello from the backend!" }

api.fetch is appropriate for use in an imperative context, like a server-side script, or other places where you don't need to give the user feedback about what's happening. useFetch is appropriate when you need to show the user feedback as the fetching or error state changes.

Maintaining session state when calling HTTP routes

Different apps use different mechanisms to authenticate requests from the client to your Gadget backend. When making raw HTTP calls to your backend, you need to ensure that the correct authentication headers are passed to your backend. The api client object provided by Gadget sends these headers automatically for GraphQL requests and requests made by the React hooks.

The useFetch hook and api.fetch function implements this same automatic authentication header setting but for any HTTP request to the backend. useFetch and api.fetch wrap the browser built-in fetch, but add the headers required to implement whichever authentication mode is active for your app.

The different authentication modes are documented in your API reference.

`useFetch(path: string, options: RequestInit = {})`

useFetch is a low-level hook for making an HTTP request to your Gadget backend's HTTP routes. useFetch preserves client-side authentication information by using api.fetch under the hood, which means fetches will use the same request identity as other GraphQL API calls using the other hooks.

useFetch accepts the following arguments:

path: the server-side URL to fetch from. Corresponds to an HTTP route defined on in your backend Gadget app's routes folder
options: options configuring the fetch call, corresponding exactly to those you might send with a normal fetch.
- method: the request method, like "GET", "POST", etc. Defaults to "GET"
- headers: the request headers, like { "content-type": "application/json" }
- body: the request body to send to the server, like "hello" or JSON.stringify({foo: "bar"})
- json: If true, expects the response to be returned as JSON, and parses it for convenience
- stream:
  - If true, response will be a ReadableStream object, allowing you to work with the response as it arrives
  - If "string", will decode the response as a string and update data as the response arrives; this is useful when streaming responses from LLMs
- onStreamComplete: a callback function that will be called with the final content when the streaming response is complete; this is only available when the stream: "string" option is set
- sendImmediately: If true, sends the first fetch on component mount. If false, waits for the send function to be called to send a request. Defaults to true for GET requests and false for any other HTTP verbs.
- See all the fetch options on MDN

useFetch returns a tuple with the current state of the request and a function to send or re-send the request. The state is an object with the following fields:

data: the response data, if the request was successful
fetching: a boolean describing if the fetch request is currently in progress
streaming: a boolean describing if the fetch request is currently streaming. This is only set when the option { stream: "string" } is set
error: an error object if the request failed in any way

The second return value is a function for sending or resending the fetch request.

Here's an example user component that uses useFetch to make a request to a routes/users/GET-me.js backend Gadget route:


React
1export function UserByEmail(props) {
2  const [{ data, fetching, error }, refresh] = useFetch("/users/me", {
3    method: "GET",
4    json: true,
5  });
6
7  if (error) return <>Error: {error.toString()}</>;
8  if (fetching && !data) return <>Fetching...</>;
9  if (!data) return <>No user found with id={props.id}</>;
10
11  return <div>{data.name}</div>;
12}

Request method

By default, GET requests are sent as soon as the hook executes. GET requests can also be refreshed by calling the second return value to re-send the fetch request and fetch fresh data.


JavaScript
1// GET request will be sent immediately, can be refreshed by calling `refresh()` again
2const [{ data, fetching, error }, refresh] = useFetch("/some/route", {
3  method: "GET",
4});
5// ... sometime later
6data; // => will be populated

Other request methods like POST, DELETE, etc will not be sent automatically. The request will only be sent when the send functions is called explicitly, often in a click handler or similar.


JavaScript
// POST request will not be sent immediately, will only be sent the first time when `send()` is called
const [{ data, fetching, error }, send] = useFetch("/some/route", { method: "GET" });

Retrieving JSON

useFetch has a handy json: true option for automatically parsing a JSON response from the server. If you know your route will return JSON, you can set this option to true and the response will be parsed and returned as an object.


React
1export function User(props) {
2  const [{ data, fetching, error }, refresh] = useFetch("/users/me", {
3    method: "GET",
4    json: true,
5  });
6
7  if (error) return <>Error: {error.toString()}</>;
8  if (fetching && !data) return <>Fetching...</>;
9
10  // no need to JSON.parse the result
11  return <div>{data.name}</div>;
12}

The json: true option does not affect what is sent with your request, and only affects how the response is processed.

Sending JSON

To send a JSON formatted request with the useFetch hook, JSON.stringify your request body and set the content-type: application/json header:


React
1export function UpdateUser(props) {
2  const [{ data, fetching, error }, send] = useFetch("/users/update", {
3    method: "POST",
4    headers: {
5      "content-type": "application/json",
6    },
7  });
8
9  // sometime later in an event handler
10  return (
11    <button
12      onClick={() => {
13        void send({ body: JSON.stringify({ name: "some name" }) });
14      }}
15    >
16      Send
17    </button>
18  );
19}

Fetching with other React hooks

The @gadgetinc/react hooks library includes a useFetch hook, but if you'd like to use your preferred HTTP hook library, you can! By wrapping api.fetch with one of the great existing React libraries for making HTTP calls, like use-http, swr or react-query, you can continue passing the same authentication state and headers to your backend.

For example, we call a /example route in the backend with the swr library. First, create the route by adding the routes/GET-example.js file:

routes/GET-example.js
JavaScript
module.exports = async (request, reply) => {
  reply.send({ message: "Hello from the backend!" });
};

Next, install swr into your application by adding the following to package.json and clicking the Run Yarn button:

package.json
json
{
  "swr": "^2.0.4"
}

Then, in your React component, import the useSWR hook from swr and the api.fetch function from your Gadget API client:


React
1import useSWR from "swr";
2import { api } from "../api";
3
4const fetcher = (...args) => api.fetch(...args).then((res) => res.json());
5
6function Profile() {
7  const { data, error } = useSWR("/example", fetcher);
8
9  if (error) return <div>failed to load</div>;
10  if (!data) return <div>loading...</div>;
11  return <div>Backend message: {data.message}!</div>;
12}

Static asset handling

Gadget's frontend hosting supports serving static assets in a robust, CDN-friendly way using Vite. You can add static assets anywhere within your frontend directory, and then import them into your code. For example, if you add an image at frontend/images/hero.png, you can import it in your frontend code like this:


React
import imgUrl from "./images/hero.png";

export const Hero = () => {
  return <img src={imgUrl} alt="a hero image" />;
};

If you import from a static asset in your frontend code, Vite will take over serving this file with a robust production cache expiry mechanism, which will change the URL used to access that file in production.

Production asset links

When building assets for production, Vite will transform imported filenames to add a caching-friendly hash, and Gadget will upload these renamed files to Gadget's CDN for optimal serving. Your production Gadget app will make use of the hash generated by Vite to perform cache busting and will save and load assets to and from the disk cache between browser sessions. If you change these assets, Vite will generate a new hash and the updated asset will be loaded from Gadget's CDN on the next page render.

Non-transformed public assets

Gadget's frontend can host assets that aren't transformed by Vite, like your app's favicon or a robots.txt file. Instead of being minified and cached by vite, these files will be served as-is from your app's filesystem.

You can store these assets in a public folder at the root level of your Gadget project.

For example, if you have a public folder in your application like this:


public/
  favicon.ico
  robots.txt
  foo/
    bar.txt

You can access your robots.txt file by making a request to https://example-app--development.gadget.app/robots.txt.

The public folder also supports sub-folders. You can access the public/foo/bar.txt file by making a request to https://example-app--development.gadget.app/foo/bar.txt.

Vite configuration

Gadget exposes the vite.config.js file that powers the Vite integration hosting your frontend. In vite.config.js, you can adjust the set of Vite plugins that power your application.

For example, we can add [MDX] support to a Gadget frontend with the @mdx-js/rollup plugin. First, install the plugin by adding the following to package.json and clicking the Run Yarn button:

package.json
json
{
  "@mdx-js/rollup": "^2.3.0"
}

Then, in our vite.config.js, we can add the plugin to the list of plugins:

frontend/vite.config.js

JavaScript

1import react from "@vitejs/plugin-react";
2import mdx from "@mdx-js/rollup";
3import { defineConfig } from "vite";
4
5export default defineConfig({
6  plugins: [
7
8    // newly added mdx plugin, configured as MDX recommends in their docs: https://mdxjs.com/docs/getting-started/#vite
9    { enforce: "pre", ...mdx() },
10    // leave the existing react plugin in place
11    react(),
12  ],
13  base: "/",
14});

More Vite plugins can be found in awesome-vite.