Hello.

I am Paul Kinlan.

A Developer Advocate for Chrome and the Open Web at Google.

I love the web. The web should allow anyone to access any experience that they need without the need for native install or content walled garden.

Custom Elements: an ecosystem still being worked out

Paul Kinlan

Web Components, specifically Custom Elements, offer exciting possibilities for web development. However, the current ecosystem is still evolving and has potential downsides. The practice of namespacing custom elements (e.g., <amp-*>, <iron-*>) creates "walled gardens" that can lock developers into specific frameworks. While understandable in the early stages, this approach hinders interoperability and leads to duplicated functionality. Ideally, we should move towards a shared vocabulary of elements (like <aspect-image>) where developers choose the implementation, not the vendor-specific element name. This requires a standardized process for defining element names, interfaces, and functionality. Imagine a world where component creators define the contract (e.g., class ShareButton extends HTMLElement { ... }) and users choose their preferred implementation. This model puts developers in control and fosters a more open and interoperable web. Furthermore, meta platforms (like Facebook or WeChat) could play a role by intercepting customElements.define calls and replacing JavaScript elements with native implementations when possible. This approach requires careful consideration, but it could lead to a more streamlined and integrated user experience.

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