# Alpine.js Documentation - Directives

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

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

`x-model` allows you to bind the value of an input element to Alpine data.

Here's a simple example of using `x-model` to bind the value of a text field to a piece of data in Alpine.

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


n<input type="text" x-model="message">


n<span x-text="message"></span>


n</div>
```

Now as the user types into the text field, the `message` will be reflected in the `<span>` tag.

`x-model` is two-way bound, meaning it both "sets" and "gets". In addition to changing data, if the data itself changes, the element will reflect the change.

We can use the same example as above but this time, we'll add a button to change the value of the `message` property.

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


n<input type="text" x-model="message">


n<button x-on:click="message = 'changed'">Change Message</button>


n</div>
```

Now when the `<button>` is clicked, the input element's value will instantly be updated to "changed".

`x-model` works with the following input elements:

* `<input type="text">`
* `<textarea>`
* `<input type="checkbox">`
* `<input type="radio">`
* `<select>`
* `<input type="range">`

### [Text inputs](#text-inputs)

```
<input type="text" x-model="message">


n<span x-text="message"></span>
```

> Despite not being included in the above snippet, `x-model` cannot be used if no parent element has `x-data` defined. [→ Read more about `x-data`](/directives/data)

### [Textarea inputs](#textarea-inputs)

```
<textarea x-model="message"></textarea>


n<span x-text="message"></span>
```

### [Checkbox inputs](#checkbox-inputs)

#### [Single checkbox with boolean](#single-checkbox-with-boolean)

```
<input type="checkbox" id="checkbox" x-model="show">


n<label for="checkbox" x-text="show"></label>
```

#### [Multiple checkboxes bound to array](#multiple-checkboxes-bound-to-array)

```
<input type="checkbox" value="red" x-model="colors">


n<input type="checkbox" value="orange" x-model="colors">


n<input type="checkbox" value="yellow" x-model="colors">


nColors: <span x-text="colors"></span>
```

Colors:

### [Radio inputs](#radio-inputs)

```
<input type="radio" value="yes" x-model="answer">


n<input type="radio" value="no" x-model="answer">


nAnswer: <span x-text="answer"></span>
```

Answer:

### [Select inputs](#select-inputs)

#### [Single select](#single-select)

```
<select x-model="color">


n<option>Red</option>


n<option>Orange</option>


n<option>Yellow</option>


n</select>


nColor: <span x-text="color"></span>
```

Color:

#### [Single select with placeholder](#single-select-with-placeholder)

```
<select x-model="color">


n<option value="" disabled>Select A Color</option>


n<option>Red</option>


n<option>Orange</option>


n<option>Yellow</option>


n</select>


nColor: <span x-text="color"></span>
```

Color:

#### [Multiple select](#multiple-select)

```
<select x-model="color" multiple>


n<option>Red</option>


n<option>Orange</option>


n<option>Yellow</option>


n</select>


nColors: <span x-text="color"></span>
```

Color:

#### [Dynamically populated Select Options](#dynamically-populated-select-options)

```
<select x-model="color">


n<template x-for="color in ['Red', 'Orange', 'Yellow']">


n<option x-text="color"></option>


n</template>


n</select>


nColor: <span x-text="color"></span>
```

Color:

### [Range inputs](#range-inputs)

```
<input type="range" x-model="range" min="0" max="1" step="0.1">


n<span x-text="range"></span>
```

### [Modifiers](#modifiers)

#### [`.lazy`](#lazy)

On text inputs, by default, `x-model` updates the property on every keystroke. By adding the `.lazy` modifier, you can force an `x-model` input to only update the property when user focuses away from the input element.

This is handy for things like real-time form-validation where you might not want to show an input validation error until the user "tabs" away from a field.

```
<input type="text" x-model.lazy="username">


n<span x-show="username.length > 20">The username is too long.</span>
```

#### [`.number`](#number)

By default, any data stored in a property via `x-model` is stored as a string. To force Alpine to store the value as a JavaScript number, add the `.number` modifier.

```
<input type="text" x-model.number="age">


n<span x-text="typeof age"></span>
```

#### [`.boolean`](#boolean)

By default, any data stored in a property via `x-model` is stored as a string. To force Alpine to store the value as a JavaScript boolean, add the `.boolean` modifier. Both integers (1/0) and strings (true/false) are valid boolean values.

```
<select x-model.boolean="isActive">


n<option value="true">Yes</option>


n<option value="false">No</option>


n</select>


n<span x-text="typeof isActive"></span>
```

#### [`.debounce`](#debounce)

By adding `.debounce` to `x-model`, you can easily debounce the updating of bound input.

This is useful for things like real-time search inputs that fetch new data from the server every time the search property changes.

```
<input type="text" x-model.