§ The always Feature

The always feature declares reactive commands that re-run whenever their dependencies change.

For reacting to changes with side effects, see when. For two-way sync, see bind.

§ Syntax

always <command>

always
    {<command>}
end

§ Why Not Just Use on?

For simple cases, on works great:

<button id="inc" _="on click increment $count">+1</button>
<output _="on click from #inc put $count into me">

But what if $count can be changed by multiple buttons, a keyboard shortcut, a timer, or an htmx response? With on, you have to list every source:

<output _="on click from #inc or #dec or #reset put $count into me
           on keyup[key=='ArrowUp'] from window put $count into me
           on htmx:afterSwap from body put $count into me">

With always, you just say what you want and it stays in sync no matter what changes $count:

<output _="always put $count into me">

Add a new source of change tomorrow and the always version just works.

§ Single Statement

<button _="on click increment $count">+1</button>
<button _="on click decrement $count">-1</button>
<button _="on click set $count to 0">Reset</button>
<output _="always put 'Count: ' + $count into me"></output>

Works with any command:

<!-- Derived variable -->
<span _="always set $total to (#price's value * #qty's value)">

<!-- Computed DOM update -->
<span _="always put '$' + $total into me">

<!-- Reactive attribute -->
<div _="always set my @data-theme to $theme">

<!-- Reactive style -->
<div _="always set *opacity to $visible and 1 or 0">

<!-- Conditional class -->
<div _="always if $active add .on to me else remove .on from me end">

§ Block Form

Group multiple reactive commands in a block. All commands run top to bottom as one unit, just like any other block in _hyperscript:

<div _="always
          set $subtotal to (#price's value * #qty's value)
          set $total to ($subtotal + $tax)
          put '$' + $total into me
          if $total > 100 add .expensive to me else remove .expensive from me end
        end">

When any dependency changes ($price, $qty, $tax), the entire block re-runs.

§ Independent Effects

If you want each reactive command to track its own dependencies independently, use separate always statements:

<div _="always set $subtotal to (#price's value * #qty's value) end
        always set $total to ($subtotal + $tax) end
        always put '$' + $total into me end
        always if $total > 100 add .expensive to me else remove .expensive from me end">

§ How It Works

The block runs with automatic dependency tracking. Whatever it reads during execution (variables, properties, attributes) becomes its dependencies. When any dependency changes, the block re-runs.

§ Cleanup

When the element is removed from the DOM, all its always effects are automatically stopped.

§ Choosing Between always, when, and bind

I want to...	Use
Keep the DOM in sync with values	always
React to a change with side effects or chained logic	when
Keep a variable and a form input in sync	bind

For simple cases where you know the exact source of a change, on is still the right tool.