Learn ELM-UI with Real Code Examples

Elm UI lets developers describe UIs using Elm code, avoiding manual CSS and HTML.

It uses a box-based layout system inspired by Flexbox but fully typed in Elm.

Provides composable, reusable UI elements with built-in styling support.

Ensures type safety for layout, spacing, and styling decisions.

Widely used in Elm projects for clean, maintainable, and responsive UI design.

Box layout system for alignment and spacing

Styling via Elm functions and records

Composability of UI elements

Type-safe units and dimensions

No need for CSS classes or ids

Box: fundamental building block for layout

Layout: determines positioning and alignment

Element: represents a UI component

Attributes: apply styling in Elm records

Composition: nest boxes to build complex UIs

src/ - Elm modules

Main.elm - entry point

UI modules - reusable components

elm.json - project dependencies

Assets - images or static files

Create Elm project

Import Elm UI

Define layout using Boxes

Add elements like text, buttons, and images

Compose larger UI components from smaller boxes

Beginner: create simple text and button layouts

Intermediate: design forms with input validation

Advanced: responsive dashboards

Expert: complex nested components with dynamic data

Architect: large-scale Elm UI apps with reusable modules

Elm UI vs plain Elm HTML: type-safe layout vs manual CSS

Elm UI vs React: functional layout vs JSX and CSS

Elm UI vs Blazor: Elm-only functional paradigm vs C# and WebAssembly

Elm UI vs Flutter Web: Elm typed layout vs Dart UI framework

Elm UI vs CSS frameworks: typed and composable vs class-based styling

2016 – Elm UI concept introduced

2017 – Early versions of Elm UI released

2018–2020 – Elm UI stabilized and matured

2021–2023 – Elm UI adopted widely in Elm community

2024–2025 – Continuous improvements and ecosystem growth

Box: layout container

Element: UI component

Layout: arrangement of boxes

Spacing: padding/margin

Composable: nestable UI building blocks