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Navigationv0.1.0

Dock

Icons magnify based on cursor distance, with tooltips.

Installation

CLI

npx shadcn@latest add https://hantui-theta.vercel.app/r/dock.json

Manual

  1. Install the dependencies

    npm install clsx motion tailwind-merge
  2. Add the shared helpers

    Components use cn() from lib/utils.ts and the motion tokens below. See Installation if you have not set them up yet.

    lib/motion.ts
    import type { Transition, Variants } from "motion/react";
    
    /** Durations in seconds. */
    export const duration = {
      instant: 0.1,
      quick: 0.18,
      base: 0.28,
      slow: 0.45,
    } as const;
    
    /** Cubic-bezier curves. */
    export const ease = {
      /** Entering, UI response. */
      out: [0.22, 1, 0.36, 1],
      /** Moving on screen. */
      inOut: [0.65, 0, 0.35, 1],
      /** Sheets and the mobile menu. */
      drawer: [0.32, 0.72, 0, 1],
    } as const;
    
    /** Everyday UI: presses, icon swaps, popovers and modals. Exits run at `exitFactor` of the enter. */
    export const ui = {
      press: { scale: 0.96, duration: 0.12 },
      icon: { type: "spring", duration: 0.3, bounce: 0 },
      popover: { duration: 0.18, ease: ease.out },
      modal: { duration: 0.24, ease: ease.out },
      exitFactor: 0.6,
    } as const;
    
    /** Once-per-visit motion on the landing page: hero letters, the reel and the afterimage. */
    export const kinetic = {
      heroLetter: { duration: 0.6, ease: ease.out },
      /** Delay per letter, eased so the wave slows toward the end. */
      heroStep: 0.035,
      reelSwap: { type: "spring", duration: 0.5, bounce: 0.1 },
      /** Two afterimages: lag in seconds and opacity of each. */
      ghost: { lag: [0.04, 0.09], opacity: [0.14, 0.06] },
    } as const;
    
    /** Spring presets. */
    export const spring = {
      snappy: { type: "spring", stiffness: 500, damping: 30 },
      smooth: { type: "spring", stiffness: 260, damping: 26 },
      bouncy: { type: "spring", stiffness: 300, damping: 15 },
    } as const satisfies Record<string, Transition>;
    
    /** Stagger between siblings, in seconds (0.03–0.06). */
    export const stagger = {
      tight: 0.03,
      base: 0.045,
      loose: 0.06,
    } as const;
    
    /** Blur + fade + y-offset. Falls back to a plain fade under reduced motion. */
    export function enterVariants(reduceMotion?: boolean | null, y = 8): Variants {
      if (reduceMotion) {
        return {
          hidden: { opacity: 0 },
          visible: { opacity: 1, transition: { duration: duration.base } },
          exit: { opacity: 0, transition: { duration: duration.quick } },
        };
      }
      return {
        hidden: { opacity: 0, y, filter: "blur(4px)" },
        visible: {
          opacity: 1,
          y: 0,
          filter: "blur(0px)",
          transition: { duration: duration.base, ease: ease.out },
        },
        exit: {
          opacity: 0,
          y: -y / 2,
          filter: "blur(4px)",
          transition: { duration: duration.quick, ease: ease.out },
        },
      };
    }
    
    /** Scale 0.96 → 1 for popovers, menus and dialogs. */
    export function overlayVariants(reduceMotion?: boolean | null): Variants {
      if (reduceMotion) {
        return {
          hidden: { opacity: 0 },
          visible: { opacity: 1, transition: { duration: duration.quick } },
          exit: { opacity: 0, transition: { duration: duration.instant } },
        };
      }
      return {
        hidden: { opacity: 0, scale: 0.96, filter: "blur(2px)" },
        visible: {
          opacity: 1,
          scale: 1,
          filter: "blur(0px)",
          transition: { duration: duration.quick, ease: ease.out },
        },
        exit: {
          opacity: 0,
          scale: 0.96,
          filter: "blur(2px)",
          transition: { duration: duration.instant + 0.02, ease: ease.out },
        },
      };
    }
    
    /** Parent variants that stagger their children in. */
    export function staggerVariants(gap: number = stagger.base, delayChildren = 0): Variants {
      return {
        hidden: {},
        visible: { transition: { staggerChildren: gap, delayChildren } },
        exit: { transition: { staggerChildren: gap / 2, staggerDirection: -1 } },
      };
    }
  3. Copy the source

    components/ui/dock/dock.tsx
    "use client";
    
    import { useEffect, useRef, useState, type ComponentProps, type KeyboardEvent, type ReactNode, type RefObject } from "react";
    import {
      AnimatePresence,
      motion,
      useAnimate,
      useMotionValue,
      useReducedMotion,
      useSpring,
      useTransform,
      type MotionValue,
    } from "motion/react";
    import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
    import { duration, ease } from "@/lib/motion";
    
    export interface DockItem {
      /** Unique id. */
      id: string;
      /** Tooltip text and accessible name. */
      label: string;
      /** Icon content, usually a lucide icon. */
      icon: ReactNode;
      /** Classes for the icon tile, e.g. a gradient background. */
      className?: string;
      /** Renders the item as a link. */
      href?: string;
      /** Click handler for button items. */
      onClick?: () => void;
      /** Shows a running indicator under the icon. */
      active?: boolean;
    }
    
    export interface DockProps
      extends Omit<ComponentProps<"div">, "children" | "onAnimationStart" | "onDrag" | "onDragStart" | "onDragEnd"> {
      /** The dock items, in order. */
      items: DockItem[];
      /** Resting icon size in px. @default 48 */
      iconSize?: number;
      /** Scale of the icon right under the cursor. @default 1.7 */
      magnification?: number;
      /** Distance in px over which neighbours also grow. @default 140 */
      distance?: number;
    }
    
    const GAP = 8;
    const HOVER_SPRING = { stiffness: 320, damping: 30, mass: 0.6 };
    
    /** Smooth bell curve: 1 under the cursor, 0 at `distance` and beyond. */
    function influence(offset: number, distance: number) {
      const t = Math.min(Math.abs(offset) / distance, 1);
      return 0.5 + 0.5 * Math.cos(Math.PI * t);
    }
    
    interface DockState {
      pointerX: MotionValue<number>;
      hover: MotionValue<number>;
      centers: RefObject<number[]>;
      iconSize: number;
      magnification: number;
      distance: number;
    }
    
    function scaleOf(state: DockState, center: number, x: number, h: number) {
      return 1 + (state.magnification - 1) * influence(x - center, state.distance) * h;
    }
    
    /** How far item `index` shifts so magnified neighbours never overlap and the row stays centered. */
    function offsetOf(state: DockState, index: number, x: number, h: number) {
      const centers = state.centers.current;
      let before = 0;
      let total = 0;
      for (let j = 0; j < centers.length; j++) {
        const extra = state.iconSize * (scaleOf(state, centers[j], x, h) - 1);
        total += extra;
        if (j < index) before += extra;
        if (j === index) before += extra / 2;
      }
      return before - total / 2;
    }
    
    function DockIcon({
      item,
      index,
      state,
      focusable,
      onFocusItem,
      onBlurItem,
      itemRef,
    }: {
      item: DockItem;
      index: number;
      state: DockState;
      focusable: boolean;
      onFocusItem: (index: number) => void;
      onBlurItem: () => void;
      itemRef: (node: HTMLElement | null) => void;
    }) {
      const reduceMotion = useReducedMotion();
      const [hovered, setHovered] = useState(false);
      const [focused, setFocused] = useState(false);
      const [bounce, animateBounce] = useAnimate<HTMLSpanElement>();
      const scale = useTransform([state.pointerX, state.hover], ([x, h]: number[]) =>
        reduceMotion ? 1 : scaleOf(state, state.centers.current[index] ?? 0, x, h),
      );
      const x = useTransform([state.pointerX, state.hover], ([px, h]: number[]) => (reduceMotion ? 0 : offsetOf(state, index, px, h)));
      const tooltipY = useTransform(scale, (s) => -(s - 1) * state.iconSize);
    
      const Tag = item.href ? "a" : "button";
      const showLabel = hovered || focused;
    
      return (
        <motion.div style={{ x, width: state.iconSize, height: state.iconSize }} className="relative shrink-0">
          <AnimatePresence>
            {showLabel ? (
              <motion.span
                aria-hidden="true"
                style={{ y: tooltipY }}
                className="pointer-events-none absolute bottom-full left-1/2 z-10 mb-3 -translate-x-1/2"
              >
                <motion.span
                  initial={{ opacity: 0, y: reduceMotion ? 0 : 4 }}
                  animate={{ opacity: 1, y: 0 }}
                  exit={{ opacity: 0, transition: { duration: duration.instant } }}
                  transition={{ duration: duration.quick, ease: ease.out }}
                  className="block rounded-md bg-foreground px-2 py-1 text-xs font-medium whitespace-nowrap text-background shadow-md"
                >
                  {item.label}
                </motion.span>
              </motion.span>
            ) : null}
          </AnimatePresence>
          <Tag
            ref={itemRef as never}
            href={item.href}
            type={item.href ? undefined : "button"}
            aria-label={item.label}
            tabIndex={focusable ? 0 : -1}
            onClick={() => {
              item.onClick?.();
              // A small launch bounce, like a dock icon opening its app.
              if (!reduceMotion && bounce.current) animateBounce(bounce.current, { y: [0, -16, 0, -6, 0] }, { duration: 0.6, ease: "easeOut" });
            }}
            onPointerEnter={() => setHovered(true)}
            onPointerLeave={() => setHovered(false)}
            onFocus={() => {
              setFocused(true);
              onFocusItem(index);
            }}
            onBlur={() => {
              setFocused(false);
              onBlurItem();
            }}
            className="group block size-full rounded-[22%] outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:ring-offset-2 focus-visible:ring-offset-background"
          >
            <span ref={bounce} className="block size-full">
              <motion.span
                style={{ scale, originY: 1 }}
                className={cn(
                  "flex size-full items-center justify-center rounded-[22%] border border-border bg-background text-foreground shadow-sm [&_svg]:size-[45%]",
                  item.className,
                )}
              >
                {item.icon}
              </motion.span>
            </span>
          </Tag>
          {item.active ? (
            <span aria-hidden="true" className="absolute -bottom-2 left-1/2 size-1 -translate-x-1/2 rounded-full bg-foreground/70" />
          ) : null}
        </motion.div>
      );
    }
    
    export function Dock({
      items,
      iconSize = 48,
      magnification = 1.7,
      distance = 140,
      className,
      "aria-label": ariaLabel = "Dock",
      ...props
    }: DockProps) {
      const listRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
      const itemRefs = useRef<(HTMLElement | null)[]>([]);
      const centers = useRef<number[]>([]);
      const pointerX = useMotionValue(0);
      const hoverTarget = useMotionValue(0);
      const hover = useSpring(hoverTarget, HOVER_SPRING);
      const [focusIndex, setFocusIndex] = useState(0);
      const reduceMotion = useReducedMotion();
      const state: DockState = { pointerX, hover, centers, iconSize, magnification, distance };
    
      // Item centers in the list's own coordinates. Transforms don't change layout, so these stay valid.
      useEffect(() => {
        const list = listRef.current;
        if (!list) return;
        const measure = () => {
          centers.current = Array.from(list.children as HTMLCollectionOf<HTMLElement>).map((el) => el.offsetLeft + el.offsetWidth / 2);
        };
        measure();
        const observer = new ResizeObserver(measure);
        observer.observe(list);
        return () => observer.disconnect();
      }, [items.length, iconSize]);
    
      // The background widens with the magnified icons by clipping a wider layer.
      const pad = iconSize * (magnification - 1) * 1.6;
      const inset = useTransform([pointerX, hover], ([x, h]: number[]) => {
        if (reduceMotion) return pad;
        let total = 0;
        for (const c of centers.current) total += iconSize * (scaleOf(state, c, x, h) - 1);
        return Math.max(0, pad - total / 2);
      });
      // clip-path cuts away borders and box-shadows, so the 1px border is a second clipped layer
      // peeking out around the fill, and the shadow is a drop-shadow on their shared wrapper.
      const borderClip = useTransform(inset, (i) => `inset(0px ${i}px round 18px)`);
      const fillClip = useTransform(inset, (i) => `inset(1px ${i + 1}px round 17px)`);
    
      function onKeyDown(event: KeyboardEvent<HTMLDivElement>) {
        const moves: Record<string, number> = {
          ArrowRight: (focusIndex + 1) % items.length,
          ArrowLeft: (focusIndex - 1 + items.length) % items.length,
          Home: 0,
          End: items.length - 1,
        };
        if (!(event.key in moves)) return;
        event.preventDefault();
        itemRefs.current[moves[event.key]]?.focus();
      }
    
      return (
        <div className={cn("relative inline-flex", className)} {...props}>
          <div
            aria-hidden="true"
            className="pointer-events-none absolute inset-y-0"
            style={{ left: -pad, right: -pad, filter: "drop-shadow(0 10px 24px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.08)) drop-shadow(0 2px 6px rgb(0 0 0 / 0.05))" }}
          >
            <motion.div className="absolute inset-0 bg-border" style={{ clipPath: borderClip }} />
            <motion.div className="absolute inset-0 bg-background" style={{ clipPath: fillClip }} />
          </div>
          {/* A toolbar of buttons (not a list: the toolbar role would leave list items orphaned). */}
          <div
            ref={listRef}
            role="toolbar"
            aria-label={ariaLabel}
            aria-orientation="horizontal"
            onKeyDown={onKeyDown}
            onPointerMove={(event) => {
              const list = listRef.current;
              if (event.pointerType !== "mouse" || !list) return;
              // Centers are layout px; divide out any ancestor scale so the two agree.
              const rect = list.getBoundingClientRect();
              pointerX.set(((event.clientX - rect.left) * list.offsetWidth) / (rect.width || 1));
              hoverTarget.set(1);
            }}
            onPointerLeave={() => hoverTarget.set(0)}
            className="relative flex items-end px-2.5 pt-2.5 pb-2.5"
            style={{ gap: GAP }}
          >
            {items.map((item, index) => (
              <DockIcon
                key={item.id}
                item={item}
                index={index}
                state={state}
                focusable={index === focusIndex}
                itemRef={(node) => {
                  itemRefs.current[index] = node;
                }}
                onFocusItem={(i) => {
                  setFocusIndex(i);
                  // Keyboard focus magnifies the focused icon as if the cursor were over it.
                  pointerX.set(centers.current[i] ?? 0);
                  hoverTarget.set(1);
                }}
                onBlurItem={() => {
                  if (!listRef.current?.matches(":hover")) hoverTarget.set(0);
                }}
              />
            ))}
          </div>
        </div>
      );
    }

Usage

import { Dock } from "@/components/ui/dock/dock";

export function AppDock() {
  return (
    <Dock
      items={[
        { id: "files", label: "Files", icon: <FolderIcon />, href: "/files" },
        { id: "mail", label: "Mail", icon: <MailIcon />, onClick: openMail, active: true },
      ]}
    />
  );
}

API reference

PropTypeDefaultDescription
items*DockItem[]–The dock items, in order.
iconSizenumber48Resting icon size in px.
magnificationnumber1.7Scale of the icon right under the cursor.
distancenumber140Distance in px over which neighbours also grow.

Also accepts every native <div> attribute, including ref and className.

  • Magnification is transform-only: icons scale from the bottom, and neighbours get computed x offsets so they spread apart without animating width.
  • The background widens by animating clip-path on a wider layer, so its rounded corners never stretch.
  • Give the dock room above it; magnified icons and tooltips extend upward.

Accessibility

  • The dock is a toolbar with one tab stop; arrow keys, Home and End move between items, and each item is a labelled button or link.
  • Keyboard focus magnifies the focused icon and shows its tooltip, just as hovering does.
  • Magnification only follows a mouse; touch and pen users get a regular row of buttons.
  • With reduced motion enabled, icons stay their resting size and the launch bounce is off; tooltips still appear.