Mastering Custom States in Bubble.io: Enhance Your App's Interactivity

By | Last Updated: 18 August 2024

Welcome to the fascinating world of no-code app development using Bubble.io! If you're a Bubble user looking to level up your app-building skills, you're in the right place. If you're not familiar with Bubble, I recommend you getting started by reading our review about Bubble.io. In this article, we're going to explore one of the most powerful and versatile features of Bubble.io—Custom States.

Bubble.io is revolutionizing the world of app development, offering a powerful no-code platform that empowers even beginners to create dynamic, interactive apps. One of the most powerful features of Bubble.io that we're going to delve into today is Custom States.

Custom States are a key component in creating dynamic elements within your app, enhancing the overall user experience by allowing temporary data storage on the client-side. This means you can keep track of changes in your app without having to permanently store them in your database.

In this post, we'll explore what Custom States are, how to create and use them, and some best practices to follow. Whether you're a seasoned Bubble.io user or just starting your no-code journey, this guide will help you leverage Custom States effectively in your app development process.

What are Custom States?

Custom States are a powerful feature in Bubble.io that allows you to store temporary data on the client-side (i.e., in the user's browser) for use within the current page of your app. Think of Custom States as variables that can hold different types of data, such as text, numbers, Booleans (true/false), lists, and more.

Unlike data stored in your app's database, Custom States are not permanent and are not saved between sessions. Instead, they exist only for the duration of the user's session on a specific page, making them ideal for managing dynamic interactions, such as user interface changes, filtering, and toggling between different states of elements.

Think of Custom States as a way to keep track of changes in your app without having to permanently store them in your database. They can be used to control the appearance of elements, manage user interactions, and much more. The versatility of Custom States makes them a powerful tool in the Bubble.io developer's toolkit.

One of the key advantages of using Custom States is that they allow you to create rich and interactive experiences without the need for repetitive workflows or complex logic. You can learn more about workflows here. They provide a simple and efficient way to manage the state of your app's interface and respond to user interactions in real-time.

Whether you're looking to show or hide elements based on user input, create multi-step forms, or build interactive quizzes, Custom States offer a flexible and scalable solution to achieve your desired functionality. In the following sections, we'll explore how to create and use Custom States and take a look at some practical examples of how they can be used to enhance your Bubble app.

How to Create and Use Custom States in Bubble.io

Creating a Custom State in Bubble.io is a straightforward process. Let's walk through the steps on how to create and use a Custom State:

Step 1: Select an Element

To create a Custom State, you'll first need to select the element for which you want to create the state. This can be any element on your page, such as a button, group, or input field.

Step 2: Open the Element Inspector

With the element selected, open the Element Inspector panel on the right side of the Bubble editor. This panel provides you with various options and settings for the selected element.

Step 3: Access the Custom States Section

In the Element Inspector panel, click on the "i" (information) tab to access the element's settings. Scroll down to the "Custom States" section.

Step 4: Create a New Custom State

Click on the "+ Add a new custom state" button to create a new Custom State. You'll be prompted to enter a few details for the new Custom State:

Name: Choose a descriptive name for the Custom State that reflects its purpose. For example, if you're creating a state to toggle the visibility of a menu, you might name it "MenuOpen."
Type: Select the data type for the Custom State. Bubble.io supports various data types, including text, number, date, Boolean (yes/no), and more. You can also choose a custom data type based on your app's data structure.
Default Value: Optionally, you can set a default value for the Custom State. This value will be used when the page loads unless you specify a different value through a workflow.

Step 5: Set the Value of the Custom State

To set or change the value of a Custom State, you'll need to use a workflow.

Navigate to the Workflow tab in the Bubble editor.

Create a new workflow or select an existing one (e.g., when a button is clicked) that will trigger the change in the Custom State's value.

Add a new action to the workflow by clicking on the "+ Add action" button. From the list of actions, choose "Element Actions > Set State."

In the "Set State" action, select the element you created the Custom State for and choose the Custom State you want to modify from the dropdown list.

Set the new value for the Custom State. You can enter a static value or use dynamic data based on user input or other elements on the page.

Step 6: Use the Custom State in Your App

Once you've created and set the value of a Custom State, you can use it throughout your app to create dynamic interactions and behaviors.
For example, you can use a Custom State as a condition to show or hide elements, change the source of a repeating group, switch between different groups or tabs, and much more.
To reference the value of a Custom State, use the expression "Element's Custom State's Value" in the relevant property field or condition.

And that's it! You've now learned how to create and use Custom States in Bubble.io. With a bit of creativity and experimentation, you can leverage Custom States to build interactive and engaging app experiences for your users. In the next section, we'll explore some practical examples of how Custom States can be used in real-world scenarios.

Practical Examples of Custom States in Action

To better illustrate the versatility and value of Custom States, let's explore some practical examples of how they can be used in Bubble.io apps:

Example 1: Toggling the Visibility of a Dropdown Menu

Imagine you have a navigation bar with a button that, when clicked, should display a dropdown menu with additional options.
You could create a Custom State called "MenuOpen" (type: Boolean) for the navigation bar, with a default value of "no" (meaning the menu is closed by default).
In the workflow, when the button is clicked, you can use the "Set State" action to toggle the value of "MenuOpen" between "yes" and "no."
You can then use a conditional statement on the dropdown menu element to show or hide it based on the value of the "MenuOpen" Custom State.

Example 2: Creating a Multi-Step Form

Let's say you're building a multi-step form where users need to fill out different sections before submitting the form.
You could create a Custom State called "Step" (type: number) for the form, with a default value of "1" (indicating the first step).
Create different groups for each step of the form and use conditional statements to show the appropriate group based on the value of the "Step" Custom State.
Use "Next" and "Back" buttons to increment or decrement the value of the "Step" Custom State, allowing users to navigate through the form.

Example 3: Filtering a Repeating Group Based on User Selection

Suppose you have a repeating group that displays a list of products and a dropdown input where users can select a category to filter the products.
You could create a Custom State called "SelectedCategory" (type: text) for the dropdown input.
When a user selects a category from the dropdown, you can set the value of the "SelectedCategory" Custom State using a workflow.
In the data source of the repeating group, you can use the "SelectedCategory" Custom State as a constraint to filter the list of products based on the user's selection. If no category is selected, the repeating group can display all products.

Advanced Tips and Best Practices for Using Custom States

Now that you're familiar with the basics of Custom States and have seen some practical examples in action, let's explore some advanced tips and best practices for using Custom States effectively in your Bubble.io apps:

Tip 1: Use Option Sets for Custom States with Fixed Values

If your Custom State has a fixed set of possible values, consider using an Option Set to define those values. Option Sets provide a clean and organized way to manage predefined options, making it easier to reference them in your Custom States and workflows.

Tip 2: Organize Workflows with Custom Events

When you have multiple workflows that involve setting or changing Custom States, consider using Custom Events to group related actions. Custom Events help you organize and modularize your workflows, making them easier to manage and debug.

Tip 3: Use Custom States for Conditional Formatting

Custom States can be a powerful tool for dynamically changing the appearance and formatting of elements based on user interactions or conditions. For example, you can use a Custom State to change the background color or font style of a button when it's selected.

Tip 4: Keep Custom State Names Descriptive and Consistent

Use descriptive and consistent naming conventions for your Custom States to make it easier to understand their purpose and functionality. Avoid generic names like "State1" and opt for more specific names like "MenuOpen" or "SelectedCategory."

Tip 5: Understand the Scope and Limitations of Custom States

Remember that Custom States are temporary and exist only for the duration of the user's session on a specific page. They are not stored in the database and do not persist across different pages or sessions. For data that needs to be saved permanently or accessed across multiple pages, consider using the database.

Tip 6: Leverage Custom States for User Experience Enhancements

Use Custom States creatively to enhance the user experience of your app. For instance, you can use Custom States to remember user preferences, show tooltips or onboarding guides, or create interactive quizzes and surveys.

Tip 7: Never, ever, store sensitive data in custom states

Custom states store data in the browser. This data can be accessed from the browser's developer tools. This means data stored in the browsers is easily accessible and, therefore not a secure place to store sensitive data like personally identifiable information, tokens, or anything along those lines.

In summary, Custom States is a flexible and powerful feature in Bubble.io that can unlock new levels of interactivity and dynamism in your apps. By following best practices and experimenting with different use cases, you'll be well-equipped to harness the full potential of Custom States in your no-code development journey.

Potential Limitations and Considerations of Custom States

While Custom States offer a wealth of possibilities for enhancing the interactivity of your Bubble.io apps, there are certain limitations and considerations to keep in mind when using them:

Limitation 1: Temporary Nature of Custom States

Custom States are temporary and are only stored on the client-side (i.e., in the user's browser) for the duration of the session on a specific page. This means that any data stored in a Custom State will be lost if the user refreshes the page or navigates away from the page.

Consideration: For data that needs to persist across sessions or be saved permanently, consider using Bubble's database or browser storage (e.g., cookies or local storage).

Limitation 2: Scope Limited to the Current Page

Custom States are scoped to the element and page on which they are created. As a result, the values of Custom States cannot be directly accessed or shared between different pages in your app.

Consideration: If you need to pass data between pages, you can use URL parameters or create custom data types and workflows to store and retrieve data from the database.

Limitation 3: Lack of Automatic Data Validation

Unlike data fields in the database, Custom States do not have built-in data validation rules. This means that you will need to implement your own validation logic if needed.

Consideration: Use conditional statements and workflows to validate user input and ensure that the values being set in Custom States meet the desired criteria or format.

In summary, while Custom States are a versatile and powerful tool for building interactive and dynamic experiences in Bubble.io apps, it's important to be mindful of their limitations and use cases. By understanding these considerations and combining Custom States with other features and capabilities of Bubble, you can create robust and seamless user experiences in your no-code apps.

Conclusion

As we've explored throughout this article, Custom States are an indispensable tool for any Bubble.io app developer seeking to create dynamic and interactive experiences. Whether you're toggling the visibility of elements, building multi-step forms, or filtering content based on user input, Custom States provide a flexible and efficient solution for managing the state of your app's interface.

The temporary nature and page-level scope of Custom States make them ideal for enhancing real-time user interactions without overloading your app's database or affecting performance. And with the ability to store a wide range of data types, the possibilities for creativity and innovation are virtually limitless.

While Custom States have their limitations, understanding these constraints and using best practices will ensure that you harness their full potential effectively. Remember to use descriptive names, organize your workflows with custom events, and be mindful of when to use Custom States versus database storage.

In conclusion, we hope this article has given you a solid understanding of Custom States in Bubble.io and inspired you to explore new ways of using them in your no-code projects. As you experiment and innovate, you'll find that Custom States are a powerful ally in your quest to create engaging and seamless app experiences.

So go ahead, unleash your imagination, and start building the next big thing in the world of no-code development. Happy bubbling!