Knockout (web framework)
Knockout is a standalone JavaScript library that implements the Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) architectural pattern for creating rich, responsive web applications. It was created and is maintained by Steve Sanderson. Knockout simplifies dynamic JavaScript UIs by providing a clean and maintainable way to bind data to the UI.
Knockout is based on four key features:
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Declarative Bindings: Knockout uses a declarative syntax to connect parts of the UI to data model properties. This simplifies the markup and improves readability. The declarative bindings use HTML attributes, binding specific UI elements to JavaScript data models.
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Automatic UI Refresh: When the underlying data changes, Knockout automatically updates the relevant parts of the UI. This is achieved through a dependency tracking system, ensuring that only the necessary updates are performed, optimizing performance.
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Dependency Tracking: Knockout automatically tracks which UI elements depend on which data properties. This allows for efficient and automatic updates when data changes. It eliminates the need to manually manage the UI updates.
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Templating: Knockout supports templating, which allows developers to easily create complex UIs from reusable templates. Templates enable the separation of presentation logic from the underlying data.
Knockout is notable for its small size, its browser compatibility (including older browsers), and its lack of external dependencies. It is often used in conjunction with other JavaScript libraries and frameworks, providing the data binding layer for larger applications. Its focus is primarily on the View Model aspect of the MVVM pattern.
Knockout is open-source software, released under the MIT License.