# Alpine.js Documentation - Directives

Alpine directives are attributes that you can add to HTML elements to give them special behavior.

## [x-data](/directives/data)

Everything in Alpine starts with the `x-data` directive.

`x-data` defines a chunk of HTML as an Alpine component and provides the reactive data for that component to reference.

Here's an example of a contrived dropdown component:

```
<div x-data="{ open: false }">


n<button @click="open = ! open">Toggle Content</button>


n<div x-show="open">


nContent...


n</div>


n</div>
```

Don't worry about the other directives in this example (`@click` and `x-show`), we'll get to those in a bit. For now, let's focus on `x-data`.

### [Scope](#scope)

Properties defined in an `x-data` directive are available to all element children. Even ones inside other, nested `x-data` components.

For example:

```
<div x-data="{ foo: 'bar' }">


n<span x-text="foo"><!-- Will output: "bar" --></span>


n<div x-data="{ bar: 'baz' }">


n<span x-text="foo"><!-- Will output: "bar" --></span>


n<div x-data="{ foo: 'bob' }">


n<span x-text="foo"><!-- Will output: "bob" --></span>


n</div>


n</div>


n</div>
```

### [Methods](#methods)

Because `x-data` is evaluated as a normal JavaScript object, in addition to state, you can store methods and even getters.

For example, let's extract the "Toggle Content" behavior into a method on `x-data`.

```
<div x-data="{ open: false, toggle() { this.open = ! this.open } }">


n<button @click="toggle()">Toggle Content</button>


n<div x-show="open">


nContent...


n</div>


n</div>
```

Notice the added `toggle() { this.open = ! this.open }` method on `x-data`. This method can now be called from anywhere inside the component.

You'll also notice the usage of `this.` to access state on the object itself. This is because Alpine evaluates this data object like any standard JavaScript object with a `this` context.

If you prefer, you can leave the calling parenthesis off of the `toggle` method completely. For example:

```
<!-- Before -->


n<button @click="toggle()">...</button>


n<!-- After -->


n<button @click="toggle">...</button>
```

### [Getters](#getters)

JavaScript [getters](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Functions/get) are handy when the sole purpose of a method is to return data based on other state.

Think of them like "computed properties" (although, they are not cached like Vue's computed properties).

Let's refactor our component to use a getter called `isOpen` instead of accessing `open` directly.

```
<div x-data="{


nopen: false,


nget isOpen() { return this.open },


ntoggle() { this.open = ! this.open },


n}">


n<button @click="toggle()">Toggle Content</button>


n<div x-show="isOpen">


nContent...


n</div>


n</div>
```

Notice the "Content" now depends on the `isOpen` getter instead of the `open` property directly.

In this case there is no tangible benefit. But in some cases, getters are helpful for providing a more expressive syntax in your components.

### [Data-less components](#data-less-components)

Occasionally, you want to create an Alpine component, but you don't need any data.

In these cases, you can always pass in an empty object.

```
<div x-data="{}">
```

However, if you wish, you can also eliminate the attribute value entirely if it looks better to you.

```
<div x-data>
```

### [Single-element components](#single-element-components)

Sometimes you may only have a single element inside your Alpine component, like the following:

```
<div x-data="{ open: true }">


n<button @click="open = false" x-show="open">Hide Me</button>


n</div>
```

In these cases, you can declare `x-data` directly on that single element:

```
<button x-data="{ open: true }" @click="open = false" x-show="open">


nHide Me


n</button>
```

### [Re-usable Data](#re-usable-data)

If you find yourself duplicating the contents of `x-data`, or you find the inline syntax verbose, you can extract the `x-data` object out to a dedicated component using `Alpine.data`.

Here's a quick example:

```
<div x-data="dropdown">


n<button @click="toggle">Toggle Content</button>


n<div x-show="open">


nContent...


n</div>


n</div>


n<script>


ndocument.addEventListener('alpine:init', () => {


nAlpine.data('dropdown', () => ({


nopen: false,


ntoggle() {


nthis.open = ! this.open


n},


n}))


n})


n</script>
```

[→ Read more about `Alpine.data(...)`](/globals/alpine-data)

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