Creating components

Make No Law · 2026-04-16T01:09:32.000Z

Components are pieces of HTML, CSS, and JS that can be added to posts or other components. They allow for customization by giving users custom fields to input data into. This post will discuss all parts of a component. Title The title is required, and must be 4 to 20 characters long. Description The description is required, and must be 20 to 255 characters. It appears in searches, so it should describe the purpose it serves, and any benefits and limits to using it. For instance, if you were creating a bar graph, it would be useful to mention if it allows for certain customizations such as colors of the bars, and if there is a limit on the number of bars that may be added. Details The details section is optional. It displays after a component has been selected, and above the data that is requested from the user. Relevant info about how the component works, and customization options go here. Continuing with the bar graph example, you could write that if a bar color is not specified, blue is used, and that for customization, the bars have the class 'bar' that may be edited by adding a element to their post. Line breaks are conserved in details, so you can separate topics into different parts. User-Entered Data User-Entered Data is also optional. When used, each field in the row is required. All user-entered data becomes a part of an object for your code. Each component has a unique id, and this id is embedded into the source variable name of this user-entered data object. If the component's id is iOK0H , the source variable for your component is dataiOK0H (will be used as an example throughout this doc). This is still the variable name you should use in your code when accessing component data. Each component also has a config object named dataiOK0H_config . It includes created , previewHtml , componentId , and localId . On the full post page it also includes fragment , which is the current url fragment without the leading # . Store Data We allow saving data per user via the store data field. To update the store data field for a user, see the "Global Functions" -> "Store Data" section. You can edit the rules and keys for a store data field by clicking the "Edit Fields and Rules" button. The data is provided to a component in this format (if component id is iOK0H and property name is pollValues ): dataiOK0H['pollValues'] = { "userInput": { "poll_question": [null,1], "poll_user_count": 1 }, "userInputMeta": { "created": "2026-07-07 05:52:00", "modified":"2026-07-07 05:52:00" }, "aggregateValues": { "poll_question": [null,1], "poll_user_count": 1 } }; userInputMeta 's date and time properties are when the userInput values were saved for this user. They are in UTC. If no values have been supplied for this user, it will look like: dataiOK0H['pollValues'] = { "userInput": { "poll_question": [], "poll_user_count": null }, "userInputMeta": { created: null, modified: null }, "aggregateValues": { "poll_question": [], "poll_user_count": null } }; Component Collisions To allow for multiple instances of your component to be added to one post, every instance of dataiOK0H is still rewritten before your code runs so that each instance gets its own runtime variable. Use dataiOK0H in your source code so the system can rewrite it correctly. When a component is added to a post, it is given a localId (starts at 0 and auto-increments). This localId is visible in the code editor, so the user can use it if necessary (described later). If your component is the third added, it will have a localId of 2. Before your code is run, instances of dataiOK0H are rewritten to a runtime-specific variable that includes the localId, and it may also include an added random string. Because of that, do not depend on the final rewritten variable name being stable across renders. If you need stable values for ids, class names, fragment targets, or other generated markup, use dataiOK0H_config.componentId and dataiOK0H_config.localId . Style customization of components You can let users custom style your components by mentioning class names and ids in the Detail section of the component page. If you want those selectors to stay stable, build them from dataiOK0H_config.componentId and dataiOK0H_config.localId instead of depending on the final rewritten runtime variable name. So if your class is based on those stable config values, users can target it reliably without worrying about runtime rewriting. Config Values When a component is rendered, the site also exposes a runtime config object. This gives your component a few useful values about the current render context, like the component instance id and the current max render height. Example: window.dataAB12_config = { created: 1713990000000, previewHtml: " Example post content ", fragment: "", maxHeight: 300, componentId: "AB12", localId: "0", }; Global Functions Store Data If you choose the Store Data field type, that field must be at the top level. Store Data lets a component load saved values for the current user and aggregate values returned by the backend. The configured keys for that field become data properties, and those keys may only contain letters, numbers, and underscores. At runtime, call window.fgStoreData . It return a Promise. On success, the requested property on your component data object is updated with an object containing userInput and aggregateValues . In this case, scores is the "Data Property Name" value for this Store Data field in the User-Entered Data . window.fgStoreData('load', 'dataiOK0H', 'scores').then(function () { console.log(dataiOK0H.scores.userInput); console.log(dataiOK0H.scores.aggregateValues); }); To save data, call window.fgStoreData with an additional parameter, which must be an object with a userInput property. The properties allowed on the userInput are set for the field by clicking the "Edit Fields and Rules" button, and adding to the Fields section. The Key for each field make up the exact properties we will allow. window.fgStoreData('save', 'dataiOK0H', 'scores', { userInput: { score: 7 } }).then(function () { console.log(dataiOK0H.scores.userInput); }); Saving requires the user to be logged in. In previews, Store Data uses the configured test payload until the component is attached to a post. window.fgStoreData returns a Promise and may reject if the request fails, the field cannot be identified, the supplied data is invalid, or a save is attempted while logged out. Components should handle these errors. window.fgStoreData('save', 'dataiOK0H', 'scores', { userInput: { score: 7 } }).then(function () { console.log(dataiOK0H.scores.userInput); }).catch(function (error) { console.error(error.message); }); When a logged-out user attempts to save, the signup flow is opened and the Promise rejects. Loading does not require the user to be logged in. Force Signup Flow window.fgRequireSignup This function triggers the signup modal flow. Use it when interacting with buttons that will later require data to be saved Add Component to New Post window.fgAddComponentToPost This function opens the new post page and opens the Add Component modal with the calling component selected. Pass the component's config object so the correct component can be identified. window.fgAddComponentToPost(dataiOK0H_config); You may also pass the component id directly: window.fgAddComponentToPost(dataiOK0H_config.componentId); The function returns true Approval of components Unlike posts, components cannot be used or seen in search results until they are approved. This is to prevent malicious code from becoming widespread before being deleted, and potentially diminishing the UX for users visiting posts that had a component deleted retroactively. To ensure your component is approved, refrain from using external JS files that could be changed maliciously in the future. Only repositories on unpkg.com - like jQuery, React, and other npm packages - will be allowed. Aside from common social media, all other script urls are blocked by our Content-Security-Policy. If you have another site you'd like to include scripts from, please submit feedback (in the dropdown menu in the upper right hand corner when you log in). Add the following to enable react: When testing, use the following: Versioning When a new version of a component is approved, changes will not automatically propagate to posts using that component. Posts will have to be updated individually. This was done because updated components may no longer fit in as well with the post, and can change user-entered data formatting. Coding details Use dataiOK0H for your component's actual data. Use dataiOK0H_config.componentId and dataiOK0H_config.localId when you need stable html ids, class names, or fragment targets. const sectionId = `${dataiOK0H_config.componentId}-${dataiOK0H_config.localId}-results`; On the full post page, dataiOK0H_config.fragment contains the current url fragment without the leading # . This can be used if your component needs to react to a specific fragment when the post is opened. Linking to fragments in posts If you want a button or link inside a rendered component to open the full post and jump to a specific element, add data-click-bridge-fragment to the clicked element. The value should match the target element's id, with or without the leading # . View Results View Results The target element should use a stable id, ideally one built from dataiOK0H_config.componentId and dataiOK0H_config.localId . If you only want to open the post without adding a hash, use data-click-bridge-navigate . Caveats Single Page App with Server Side Rendering Because pages are loaded two different ways, you must plan accordingly. If you need to wait for the page to load to examine or manipulate elements, you will have to check to see if the document has loaded already before adding a window load event listener: // when using React componentDidMount() { if (document.readyState !== 'complete') { this.listenerSet = true; window.addEventListener('load', this.loadData); } else { this.listenerSet = false; this.loadData(); } } For removing the listener in React: componentWillUnmount() { if (this.listenerSet) { window.removeEventListener('load', this.loadData); } } Without React: if (document.readyState !== 'complete') { window.addEventListener('beforeunload', function (event) { window.removeEventListener('load', this.loadData); }); } Interactive Authoring Components Enabling interactive authoring allows a component to replace the normal Add Component data form with a full-width interactive preview. The component can provide its own controls for updating User-Entered Data. The optional Add Component Preview Code is appended to the component only while it is displayed in the Add Component preview. It can be used for controls and behavior needed during authoring but should not appear in the published component. The interactive-authoring functions below return Promises. Although the global function names may exist in other render contexts, requests will reject unless interactive authoring is enabled and the component is currently running in an interactive Add Component preview. Update User-Entered Data window.fgUpdateUserData updates a User-Entered Data field. The resolved value is the value accepted after validation and sanitization. window.fgUpdateUserData( 'dataiOK0H', 'heading', 'New heading' ).then(function (result) { console.log(result.value); }).catch(function (error) { console.error(error.message); }); For a field inside a repeating collection, pass its collection index as the fourth argument. window.fgUpdateUserData( 'dataiOK0H', 'heading', 'Second heading', 1 ); Pick an Image window.fgPickUserDataImage opens the image picker for an image field. Image uploads require the user to be logged in. A collection index may be supplied as the third argument. window.fgPickUserDataImage( 'dataiOK0H', 'image' ).then(function (result) { console.log(result.value); }).catch(function (error) { console.error(error.message); }); Change Collection Items These functions add, remove, or reorder repetitions of a Collection field. Collection minimum and maximum limits are enforced. The data property must belong to the parent Collection field rather than one of its child fields. window.fgAddCollectionItem('dataiOK0H', 'rows'); window.fgRemoveCollectionItem( 'dataiOK0H', 'rows', 1 ); window.fgReorderCollectionItem( 'dataiOK0H', 'rows', 0, 2 ); Each collection function returns a Promise and rejects if the collection, index, or requested operation is invalid. Displaying Component Results in Comments Components with a top-level Store Data field can let users include their current saved result with a comment. The user must explicitly enable this when creating or editing the comment. Results use the user’s current live Store Data rather than a snapshot. Comment result label is required and should be a short noun or phrase, such as vote , score , or submission . It appears in text such as Include your vote with this comment and @username's vote . Comment result renderer is optional HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for displaying a compact, read-only version of the result. If it is empty, the full component is rendered instead. The renderer receives the normal component data object, including the comment author’s disclosed Store Data, and the normal config object. For component iOK0H , use dataiOK0H and dataiOK0H_config . In comment results, dataiOK0H_config.renderContext is comment-display . var selection = dataiOK0H.pollSelection.userInput.poll_question; var selectedIndex = selection.indexOf(1); var selectedOption = dataiOK0H.options[selectedIndex]; Comment results are sandboxed and read-only. Store Data save, set, and update operations are blocked. Keep the renderer compact and exclude editing controls or unrelated component details. Use Update preview in the component editor to refresh the comment renderer preview after changing its HTML or test data. Only one component result can be included with a comment. The pinned Store Data component is preferred; otherwise the post must contain exactly one Store Data component. Default Image Screenshots A component can supply a post's thumbnail by screenshot. Enable Use a component screenshot as the post default image on the component. If the component has a Store Data field, you can also choose when the screenshot runs: when the post is created or edited, or periodically after store data changes. When a screenshot is taken, the component is rendered alone, and the renderContext is default-image-screenshot . Put an attribute data-fg-screenshot-content on exactly one element. This is what the screenshot will capture. More than one of those attributes will fail the capture. After all asynchronous rendering is finished (loaded store data, charts, canvases, late layout), call window.fgScreenshotReady() . The capture waits for this signal. If you never call it, the screenshot fails. if (dataiOK0H_config.renderContext === 'default-image-screenshot') { window.fgStoreData('load', 'dataiOK0H', 'scores').then(function () { drawChart(); window.fgScreenshotReady(); }).catch(function () { window.fgScreenshotReady(); }); } Calling it more than once is safe. Images and fonts in the component are waited for after this call, so you only need to signal when your own JS rendering is done. Keep the screenshot target compact. Hide editing controls and other chrome when renderContext is default-image-screenshot .

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