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@dnd-kit/abstract is the foundational package of dnd-kit that provides a framework-agnostic implementation of drag and drop functionality. It can be used to build drag and drop interfaces in any JavaScript environment.

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Overview

The abstract package provides the core primitives and APIs for:
  • Drag and Drop Management: Centralized orchestration of drag operations
  • Entities: Draggable and Droppable primitives for defining interactive elements
  • Sensors: Pluggable input handlers for mouse, touch, keyboard, and custom interactions
  • Modifiers: Transform drag behavior with constraints, snapping, and custom logic
  • Plugins: Extend functionality with reusable, composable behaviors
  • Collision Detection: Flexible algorithms for determining drop targets
  • Event System: Comprehensive event lifecycle hooks

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Installation

npm install @dnd-kit/abstract

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Core Exports

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Manager

DragDropManager

Central orchestrator for all drag and drop operations

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Entities

Draggable

Entities that can be dragged

Droppable

Entities that can receive draggables

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Extensibility

Sensors

Input handlers for drag interactions

Modifiers

Transform drag behavior

Plugins

Extend drag and drop functionality

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Type Definitions

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UniqueIdentifier

Type representing a unique identifier for entities. 
type UniqueIdentifier = string | number;

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Data

Type representing arbitrary data associated with an entity. 
type Data = Record<string, any>;

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Type

Type representing the type/category of an entity. 
type Type = Symbol | string | number;
Used to categorize entities and implement type-based filtering or matching between draggables and droppables.

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Event System

The abstract package provides a comprehensive event system for monitoring drag and drop operations:

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Event Types

Fired when collisions are detected between draggables and droppables.
type CollisionEvent = Preventable<{
  collisions: Collisions;
}>;

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Using Events

const manager = new DragDropManager();

// Listen to drag start
manager.monitor.addEventListener('dragstart', (event, manager) => {
  console.log('Drag started:', event.operation.source);
});

// Prevent drag move
manager.monitor.addEventListener('dragmove', (event) => {
  if (someCondition) {
    event.preventDefault();
  }
});

// Handle drag end with suspension
manager.monitor.addEventListener('dragend', (event) => {
  if (event.canceled) {
    console.log('Drag was canceled');
  } else {
    // Suspend the operation for async cleanup
    const {resume, abort} = event.suspend();
    
    performAsyncCleanup()
      .then(resume)
      .catch(abort);
  }
});

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Collision Detection

The package provides utilities for collision detection:

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CollisionPriority

Priority levels for collision detection. 
enum CollisionPriority {
  Lowest,
  Low,
  Normal,
  High,
  Highest,
}

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CollisionType

Types of collision detection. 
enum CollisionType {
  Collision,
  ShapeIntersection,
  PointerIntersection,
}

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Collision Interface

interface Collision {
  id: UniqueIdentifier;        // Droppable identifier
  priority: CollisionPriority | number;
  type: CollisionType;
  value: number;                // Collision strength
  data?: Record<string, any>;   // Additional data
}

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CollisionDetector

Function type for custom collision detection. 
type CollisionDetector = <T extends Draggable, U extends Droppable>(
  input: CollisionDetectorInput<T, U>
) => Collision | null;

interface CollisionDetectorInput<T, U> {
  droppable: U;
  dragOperation: DragOperation<T, U>;
}

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sortCollisions

Utility function to sort collisions by priority and value. 
function sortCollisions(collisions: Collisions): Collisions

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Customizable Type

Many configuration options accept a Customizable type that allows either a direct value or a function that receives defaults: 
type Customizable<T> = T | ((defaults: T) => T);

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Examples

// Direct value (replaces defaults)
const manager = new DragDropManager({
  plugins: [MyPlugin]
});

// Function (receives and extends defaults)
const manager = new DragDropManager({
  plugins: (defaults) => [...defaults, MyPlugin]
});

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resolveCustomizable

Utility function to resolve customizable values: 
function resolveCustomizable<T>(
  value: Customizable<T> | undefined,
  defaults: T
): T

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Renderer

Type for handling visual rendering of drag operations. 
type Renderer = {
  rendering: Promise<void>;
};
The renderer’s rendering promise resolves when the current render cycle is complete, allowing for coordination between drag operations and visual updates.

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Architecture

The abstract package follows a plugin-based architecture:

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Next Steps

DragDropManager

Learn about the central manager API

Draggable

Create draggable entities

Droppable

Create droppable entities

Sensors

Implement input handlers

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