Data Refresh
Control how and when your widget checks for updated data from your data source.
Refresh Modes
There are two data refresh modes, configurable in the Source tab under Data Refresh Mode.
On Widget Load (Default)
Data checks for updates when a visitor first opens the page.
- The cached version loads immediately for fast performance
- A background check runs to see if the data source has changed
- If new data is found, the cache is updated
- The next page load (or refresh) shows the updated data
This mode is best for most use cases — visitors get fast load times and data stays reasonably fresh.
Real-time
In addition to the on-load check, the widget automatically checks for new data every few minutes while visitors have it open.
- Checks happen periodically while the page is visible
- When the browser tab is hidden, checks pause automatically to save resources
- If updated data is found, the widget refreshes without the visitor needing to reload
This mode is useful for dashboards, live status boards, or any widget where visitors may keep the page open for extended periods.
Real-time mode includes everything that “On widget load” does, plus the periodic background checks.
Refresh Frequency
Control how often your widget checks for updated data using the Refresh Frequency dropdown in the Source tab.
| Option | Best for |
|---|---|
| Every minute | Dashboards, live data that changes frequently |
| Every 30 minutes | Moderately active data |
| Every hour | Data that changes a few times per day |
| Every day | Stable data with occasional updates |
| Every week | Rarely changing data (directories, resource libraries) |
| Every month | Near-static content |
| Manual only | Data that only updates when you explicitly publish |
Regardless of which frequency you choose, only one data check runs at a time per widget. If multiple visitors load your widget simultaneously, they share the same refresh — no duplicate requests to your data source.
Choosing a longer refresh interval reduces API calls to your data source, which is helpful if you’re on a free-tier plan with limited API quota (e.g. Airtable).
Forcing a Refresh
Republishing your widget immediately clears the cache. The next visitor will see the latest data from your data source.
Where to Configure
- Open your widget in the editor
- Go to the Source tab
- Find the Data Refresh Mode dropdown
- Select On widget load or Real-time
This page replaces the “How Data Refreshes” sections that previously appeared on individual data source pages. The behaviour described here applies to all data sources.
Related
- Data Sources — Connect to Google Sheets, Airtable, Notion, and more
- Managing Connections — Rename, delete, and view linked widgets for your connections