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ChatInput

Submit an explicit chat message and optionally an attachment to a typed HTMX target.
Import from hedron import ChatInput
Distribution hedron
Backend activity On submit
Normal render mode RenderMode.FRAGMENT

Live demo

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The preview is a local docs simulation (not a running Hedron server). Interactive demos show a “Simulated HTMX” trace when applicable.

Basic use

from hedron import ChatInput

component = ChatInput(action='/chat', target='#transcript', placeholder='Ask the assistant', submit_label='Send')

Compose under Page for full documents, or return from a fragment route for HTMX swaps.

How it works

ChatInput renders a labelled, required textarea and submit button in a POST form. A typed ComponentRef or action supplies the HTMX request, the target selector is validated, and responses normally append to the transcript. The server owns authentication, CSRF, rate limits, attachment validation, persistence, and bounded streaming.

This component can initiate or represent a backend interaction. The live documentation intercepts that interaction with JavaScript and shows the same pending, success, or replacement states without making a real request. In an application, keep the URL, authorization, validation, and returned fragment on the server; JavaScript is only progressive enhancement.

Constructor and parameters

ChatInput(*, ref=None, action=None, target=None, swap='beforeend', placeholder='Message', submit_label='Send', name='message', include_attachments=False)
Parameter Type Meaning
ref ComponentRef | None Preferred typed POST endpoint.
action str | None Fallback HTMX POST URL.
target safe CSS selector | None Transcript receiving the response.
swap str HTMX swap strategy; defaults to beforeend.
placeholder str Textarea hint.
submit_label str Visible send action.
name str Submitted message field name.
include_attachments bool Add a labelled file input.

Composition and backend behavior

Keep ChatInput at the smallest semantic boundary. Fragment routes should return only the replaced region and preserve stable target IDs across success, validation, empty, loading, and error responses.

Mutating flows must use POST, validate CSRF, authorize on the server, re-validate typed input, and return a bounded fragment. GET remains safe and repeatable; native submit should still work without HTMX.

Accessibility

Keep the textarea label available, announce sending and failure states without repeating the transcript, and preserve the draft when a request fails.

Security

Escaping and SafeUrl / TrustedHtml are framework concerns; authorization and data exposure remain application code. Redact secrets before rendering.

Common mistakes

  • Do not enable attachments without server-side filename, MIME, size, malware, authorization, storage, and retention controls.
  • Do not copy docs-preview JavaScript into an application server.

Testing

from hedron import RenderMode, render

result = render(component, mode=RenderMode.FRAGMENT)
assert result.html
assert not result.diagnostics

All component demos · Built-in API · Testing