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---
title: Getting Started with Islands
publishDate: 2026-08-06
---

## Why Islands Matter

Astro ships zero JavaScript by default. Interactivity is opt-in,
component by component.

### A Quick Example

```js
function increment(count) {
  return count + 1;
}
```

### Key Points

- No runtime shipped by default
- Interactivity is opt-in, per component
- Each island hydrates independently

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