Why does some custom code in Webflow only work on published sites and not in preview?

Published on

September 22, 2023

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When working with custom code in Webflow, it is important to understand the difference between the preview mode and the published site. The preview mode allows you to see the changes you make in real-time without actually publishing the site. However, there are a few reasons why some custom code may only work on the published site and not in the preview:

External resources: If your custom code relies on external resources such as JavaScript libraries or APIs, it is possible that those resources are only accessible on the live site. This happens because some external resources require a specific domain or server configuration to function properly. In the preview mode, these external resources may be restricted or not accessible, resulting in the code not working as expected.
Dynamic content: If your custom code interacts with dynamic content, such as data from a CMS collection or user-generated content, it may not work properly in the preview mode. This is because the preview does not load or render the dynamic content like the published site does. As a result, the code may not be able to find or manipulate the necessary elements, leading to unexpected behavior.
Timing and event listeners: Custom code often relies on certain events or timing to trigger specific actions. In some cases, the preview mode may not accurately mimic the timing or events of the published site. This can cause the code to fail in the preview, even though it works as intended on the live site.

In conclusion, custom code in Webflow may only work on published sites and not in the preview due to various reasons like external resources, dynamic content, and timing/event listener issues. It is important to thoroughly test your code on the live site to ensure its proper functionality.

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