Save Time with Reusable Elements in Bubble.io

Hey,

If you’re like most no-code builders, you’re always looking for ways to save time and keep your app clean and organised. This week, we’re diving into one of the most powerful tools Bubble.io offers for efficiency: Reusable Elements.

Reusable Elements are an absolute lifesaver when it comes to managing apps that have repeating components, like headers, footers, or even custom widgets. Let’s explore why you should use them and how to make the most of them.

1. What Are Reusable Elements?

Reusable Elements in Bubble.io are pre-built components you can create once and use across multiple pages. They help you stay consistent, reduce repetitive work, and make updating your app much easier.

Example:
Let’s say you’ve got a navigation bar. Instead of recreating it on every page, build it as a Reusable Element once. Now, when you make a change (like adding a new menu item), you update it in one place, and the changes are applied everywhere.

2. How to Create a Reusable Element

Getting started with Reusable Elements is straightforward:

1. Go to the Elements Tree: Right-click an existing group or component you want to reuse and select Convert to Reusable Element.

2. Name Your Element: Give it a clear, descriptive name like “Header,” “Footer,” or “Profile Card.”

3. Edit Freely: Once it’s reusable, you can still tweak it whenever you need—just double-click it from your elements list.

Pro Tip: Start using Reusable Elements early in your build process to avoid duplicating work later.

3. Where to Use Reusable Elements

Here are some common areas where Reusable Elements can save you tons of time:

1. Headers and Footers:
Navigation menus, logo placements, and footer links can all be managed in one place. Update once, and it reflects across all your pages.

2. User Profile Widgets:
Create a profile card displaying a user’s name, profile picture, and key details. Reuse it wherever you need to show user info—like dashboards, settings pages, or modals.

3. Forms or Input Groups:
Got a login form or a set of custom inputs? Make it reusable and avoid rebuilding the same form every time you need it.

4. Repeating Groups with Special Features:
For sections like product lists or task trackers, create a Reusable Element for the repeating group and include custom workflows inside.

4. How to Handle Workflows in Reusable Elements

One of the best parts about Reusable Elements is that you can attach workflows directly to them. This makes your app cleaner and easier to manage.

How To Do It:

• Add workflows specific to the Reusable Element (like a button that triggers navigation).

• Use Custom States to communicate between the main page and the Reusable Element. For example, you can use a Custom State to pass data into a profile card.

Pro Tip: Keep workflows in your Reusable Elements modular. Avoid referencing elements outside the reusable block, as this can make debugging harder.

5. Managing Updates Across Your App

When you use Reusable Elements, updating your app becomes much simpler. Imagine needing to tweak the design of your header—just make the change once in the Reusable Element editor, and it automatically updates across every page that uses it.

How To Do It:

• Navigate to your Reusable Element in the Elements Tree.

• Edit the design or workflows as needed.

• Save your changes and watch them apply site-wide.

Pro Tip: Use version control in Bubble to test updates before pushing them live. This ensures your changes don’t accidentally disrupt your app’s flow.

6. Reusable Elements vs Groups: When to Use What

While groups are great for organising content on a single page, Reusable Elements shine when you need to repeat components across multiple pages.

Use a Group When:

• The content is unique to one page.

• The element is lightweight and doesn’t need to be reused elsewhere.

Use a Reusable Element When:

• The component appears on multiple pages (e.g., nav bars, forms).

• You want to make global updates easily.

That’s a Wrap! 🎉

Reusable Elements are one of those tools that seem simple but can save you hours (or even days) of work as your app grows. Start identifying areas where you can implement them, and watch how much easier it becomes to manage your Bubble.io projects!

Have you tried Reusable Elements in your apps yet? Hit reply and let me know how you’re using them—or if you’ve got questions, I’m here to help.

Until next week,
Stackless