Wix Velo: Adding Custom Code and Functionality to Wix

Wix Velo (formerly Corvid) lets developers add custom code to Wix sites. It bridges the gap between no-code simplicity and custom functionality.

What is Velo?

Velo is Wix's built-in development platform. It allows you to write JavaScript code that interacts with your Wix site's elements, databases, and APIs.

Enabling Velo

In the Wix editor, click "Dev Mode" in the top menu bar to enable Velo. This reveals the code panel, database collections, and backend modules.

Key Features

Page Code

Write JavaScript that runs on specific pages. Access and manipulate page elements, respond to user events, and fetch external data.

Database Collections

Create structured data collections similar to a simple database. Use them for dynamic content like team members, testimonials, or custom listings.

Dynamic Pages

Create template pages that pull content from database collections. One template serves unlimited pages — perfect for blog posts, team profiles, or product catalogs.

Backend Code

Write server-side code for sensitive operations. Create API endpoints, schedule jobs, and handle webhooks securely.

Packages (npm)

Install npm packages to extend functionality. Use popular libraries for date formatting, data processing, or API clients.

Practical Examples

Custom Form Handler

import wixData from 'wix-data';

export function submitButton_click(event) {
  const item = {
    name: $w('#nameInput').value,
    email: $w('#emailInput').value,
    message: $w('#messageInput').value,
  };

  wixData.insert('contactSubmissions', item)
    .then(() => {
      $w('#successMessage').show();
    });
}

Dynamic Content Loading

import wixData from 'wix-data';

$w.onReady(function () {
  wixData.query('teamMembers')
    .ascending('order')
    .find()
    .then((results) => {
      $w('#repeater').data = results.items;
    });
});

External API Integration

import { fetch } from 'wix-fetch';

export async function getWeather(city) {
  const response = await fetch(
    `https://api.openweathermap.org/data/2.5/weather?q=${city}&appid=YOUR_KEY`
  );
  return response.json();
}

Limitations

• Not full Node.js — some packages won't work
• Performance constraints on heavy computation
• Limited debugging tools compared to standard IDEs
• Vendor lock-in — code only works within Wix

When to Use Velo

• Adding custom interactive features
• Integrating with external APIs
• Building dynamic content from databases
• Creating custom business logic
• Adding advanced form handling

When to Consider Custom Development

If your Velo code is becoming complex and hard to maintain, it might be time to consider a custom-built solution with Next.js or another framework that gives you full control.

Velo is a powerful tool that extends Wix's capabilities significantly, making it viable for more complex projects than you might expect.