Component Composition

Design Principle

All atoms in Svelte Atoms Core inherit from the base atom.svelte component, making them composable by default. This means you can freely mix and match atoms to create complex interactions without custom integration code.

Composition over inheritance: Rather than extending base classes, you compose multiple atoms together to create the functionality you need.

Basic Composition

Atoms as Building Blocks

Start by combining simple atoms to create more complex components:

<script>
  import { Card } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/card';
  import { Avatar } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/avatar';
  import { Badge } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/badge';
  import { Button } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/button';
</script>

<Card.Root class="max-w-sm">
  <Card.Header class="flex items-center gap-4">
    <Avatar.Root src="/avatar.jpg" alt="User" class="h-12 w-12" />
    <div>
      <h3 class="font-bold">Jane Doe</h3>
      <Badge.Root class="bg-blue-100 text-blue-800">Pro</Badge.Root>
    </div>
  </Card.Header>
  
  <Card.Body>
    <p>Full-stack developer passionate about UI/UX</p>
  </Card.Body>
  
  <Card.Footer class="flex gap-2">
    <Button.Root class="flex-1">Follow</Button.Root>
    <Button.Root class="flex-1">Message</Button.Root>
  </Card.Footer>
</Card.Root>

Composition Patterns

Any atom can serve as a dropdown trigger:

Button Trigger
Avatar Trigger
Badge Trigger

<script>
  import { Dropdown } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/dropdown';
  import { Button } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/button';
</script>

<Dropdown.Root>
  <Dropdown.Trigger>
    <Button.Root>Open Menu</Button.Root>
  </Dropdown.Trigger>
  
  <Dropdown.List>
    <Dropdown.Item value="edit">Edit</Dropdown.Item>
    <Dropdown.Item value="delete">Delete</Dropdown.Item>
  </Dropdown.List>
</Dropdown.Root>

<script>
  import { Dropdown } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/dropdown';
  import { Avatar } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/avatar';
</script>

<Dropdown.Root>
  <Dropdown.Trigger>
    <Avatar.Root src="/user.jpg" alt="User menu" />
  </Dropdown.Trigger>
  
  <Dropdown.List>
    <Dropdown.Item value="profile">Profile</Dropdown.Item>
    <Dropdown.Item value="settings">Settings</Dropdown.Item>
    <Dropdown.Item value="logout">Logout</Dropdown.Item>
  </Dropdown.List>
</Dropdown.Root>

<script>
  import { Dropdown } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/dropdown';
  import { Badge } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/badge';
</script>

<Dropdown.Root>
  <Dropdown.Trigger>
    <Badge.Root class="cursor-pointer">
      Status: Online ▼
    </Badge.Root>
  </Dropdown.Trigger>
  
  <Dropdown.List>
    <Dropdown.Item value="online">Online</Dropdown.Item>
    <Dropdown.Item value="away">Away</Dropdown.Item>
    <Dropdown.Item value="offline">Offline</Dropdown.Item>
  </Dropdown.List>
</Dropdown.Root>

Compose dialogs with any clickable atom:

<script>
  import { Dialog } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/dialog';
  import { Button } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/button';
  import { Link } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/link';
  
  let open = $state(false);
</script>

<!-- Button trigger -->
<Button.Root onclick={() => open = true}>
  Open Settings
</Button.Root>

<!-- Link trigger -->
<Link.Root onclick={() => open = true}>
  Learn more →
</Link.Root>

<Dialog.Root bind:open>
  <Dialog.Content>
    <Dialog.Header>
      <h2>Dialog Title</h2>
    </Dialog.Header>
    <Dialog.Body>
      Content here
    </Dialog.Body>
  </Dialog.Content>
</Dialog.Root>

3. Form Field Composition

Combine atoms to create rich form controls:

<script>
  import { Form } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/form';
  import { Input } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/input';
  import { Label } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/label';
  
  let formData = $state({ email: '', password: '' });
</script>

<Form.Root bind:value={formData}>
  <!-- Input + Label composition -->
  <Form.Field name="email">
    <Form.Field.Label>Email Address</Form.Field.Label>
    <Form.Field.Control>
      <Input.Root 
        type="email" 
        placeholder="[email protected]"
        class="w-full"
      />
    </Form.Field.Control>
    <Form.Field.Description>
      We'll never share your email
    </Form.Field.Description>
    <Form.Field.Errors />
  </Form.Field>
  
  <!-- Input + Icon composition -->
  <Form.Field name="password">
    <Form.Field.Label>Password</Form.Field.Label>
    <Form.Field.Control>
      <div class="relative">
        <Input.Root 
          type="password" 
          placeholder="••••••••"
          class="w-full pr-10"
        />
        <Icon.Root 
          name="lock" 
          class="absolute top-2 right-2"
        />
      </div>
    </Form.Field.Control>
    <Form.Field.Errors />
  </Form.Field>
</Form.Root>

Advanced Composition

Nested Atoms

Create deeply nested compositions:

<script>
  import { Card } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/card';
  import { Tabs } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/tabs';
  import { List } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/list';
  import { Badge } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/badge';
  
  let activeTab = $state('overview');
</script>

<Card.Root class="w-full max-w-4xl">
  <Card.Header>
    <h2 class="text-2xl font-bold">Project Dashboard</h2>
  </Card.Header>
  
  <Card.Body>
    <Tabs.Root bind:value={activeTab}>
      <Tabs.Header class="flex border-b">
        <Tabs.Tab value="overview">
          <Tabs.Tab.Header>Overview</Tabs.Tab.Header>
        </Tabs.Tab>
        <Tabs.Tab value="tasks">
          <Tabs.Tab.Header>Tasks</Tabs.Tab.Header>
        </Tabs.Tab>
      </Tabs.Header>
      
      <Tabs.Body class="p-4">
        <Tabs.Tab value="overview">
          <Tabs.Tab.Body>
            <List.Root>
              <List.Item>
                <div class="flex justify-between">
                  <span>Status</span>
                  <Badge.Root class="bg-green-100">Active</Badge.Root>
                </div>
              </List.Item>
              <List.Item>
                <div class="flex justify-between">
                  <span>Members</span>
                  <Badge.Root>12</Badge.Root>
                </div>
              </List.Item>
            </List.Root>
          </Tabs.Tab.Body>
        </Tabs.Tab>
      </Tabs.Body>
    </Tabs.Root>
  </Card.Body>
</Card.Root>

Dynamic Composition

Compose atoms dynamically based on state:

<script>
  import { HtmlAtom } from '@svelte-atoms/core';
  import { Button } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/button';
  import { Avatar } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/avatar';
  import { Badge } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/badge';
  
  let user = $state({ loggedIn: false, avatar: '', name: '' });
  
  // Dynamic component selection
  const UserElement = $derived(user.loggedIn ? Avatar : Button);
</script>

<HtmlAtom as="nav" class="flex items-center gap-4">
  <HtmlAtom as="div" class="flex-1">
    <h1>My App</h1>
  </HtmlAtom>
  
  {#if user.loggedIn}
    <Badge.Root>{user.name}</Badge.Root>
    <Avatar.Root src={user.avatar} alt={user.name} />
  {:else}
    <Button.Root onclick={() => user.loggedIn = true}>
      Sign In
    </Button.Root>
  {/if}
</HtmlAtom>

Composition with Snippets

Use Svelte 5 snippets to create reusable composition patterns:

<script>
  import { Card } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/card';
  import { Avatar } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/avatar';
  import { Badge } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/badge';
  import { Button } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/button';
  
  let users = $state([
    { id: 1, name: 'Alice', role: 'Admin', avatar: '/alice.jpg' },
    { id: 2, name: 'Bob', role: 'User', avatar: '/bob.jpg' },
  ]);
</script>

{#snippet userCard(user)}
  <Card.Root class="max-w-sm">
    <Card.Header class="flex items-center gap-3">
      <Avatar.Root src={user.avatar} alt={user.name} />
      <div>
        <h3 class="font-bold">{user.name}</h3>
        <Badge.Root>{user.role}</Badge.Root>
      </div>
    </Card.Header>
    <Card.Footer>
      <Button.Root class="w-full">View Profile</Button.Root>
    </Card.Footer>
  </Card.Root>
{/snippet}

<div class="grid gap-4 md:grid-cols-2">
  {#each users as user}
    {@render userCard(user)}
  {/each}
</div>

Base Component Composition

Use the base prop to compose components at a deeper level:

<script>
  import { HtmlAtom } from '@svelte-atoms/core';
  import { Button } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/button';
  
  // Custom wrapper component
  import GlassCard from './GlassCard.svelte';
</script>

<!-- Compose Button with custom base -->
<Button.Root base={GlassCard} class="backdrop-blur">
  Glass Button
</Button.Root>

<!-- Compose HtmlAtom with custom base -->
<HtmlAtom base={GlassCard} as="div">
  <h2>Glass Panel</h2>
  <p>Content with glassmorphism effect</p>
</HtmlAtom>

Real-World Example: Search Bar

Combining multiple atoms to create a functional search component:

<script lang="ts">
  import { Combobox } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/combobox';
  import { Input } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/input';
  import { Badge } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/badge';
  import { Avatar } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/avatar';
  
  let query = $state('');
  let selected = $state<string[]>([]);
  
  const users = [
    { id: '1', name: 'Alice Johnson', role: 'Designer', avatar: '/alice.jpg' },
    { id: '2', name: 'Bob Smith', role: 'Developer', avatar: '/bob.jpg' },
    { id: '3', name: 'Carol White', role: 'Manager', avatar: '/carol.jpg' },
  ];
  
  let filtered = $derived(
    users.filter(u => u.name.toLowerCase().includes(query.toLowerCase()))
  );
</script>

<Combobox.Root bind:value={selected} bind:query multiple>
  <Combobox.Trigger class="relative w-full">
    <Combobox.Input 
      placeholder="Search users..."
      class="w-full rounded-lg border px-4 py-2"
    />
  </Combobox.Trigger>
  
  <Combobox.List class="absolute mt-1 w-full rounded-lg border bg-white shadow-lg">
    {#if filtered.length === 0}
      <div class="p-4 text-gray-500">No users found</div>
    {:else}
      {#each filtered as user}
        <Combobox.Item 
          value={user.id} 
          class="flex items-center gap-3 p-3 hover:bg-blue-50"
        >
          <Avatar.Root 
            src={user.avatar} 
            alt={user.name} 
            class="h-8 w-8"
          />
          <div class="flex-1">
            <div class="font-medium">{user.name}</div>
            <Badge.Root class="text-xs">{user.role}</Badge.Root>
          </div>
        </Combobox.Item>
      {/each}
    {/if}
  </Combobox.List>
</Combobox.Root>

This example composes Combobox, Input, Avatar, and Badge atoms into a rich search interface without any custom integration code.

Composition Best Practices

1. Keep Compositions Focused

<!-- ✅ Good: Clear purpose -->
<Card.Root>
  <Card.Header>
    <h2>User Profile</h2>
  </Card.Header>
  <Card.Body>
    <Avatar.Root src={avatar} />
    <p>{bio}</p>
  </Card.Body>
</Card.Root>

<!-- ❌ Avoid: Too many concerns -->
<Card.Root>
  <Card.Header>
    <h2>Everything</h2>
  </Card.Header>
  <Card.Body>
    <Avatar />
    <Form />
    <DataGrid />
    <Tabs />
  </Card.Body>
</Card.Root>

2. Use Semantic Structure

<!-- ✅ Good: Semantic HTML -->
<HtmlAtom as="nav">
  <HtmlAtom as="ul">
    <HtmlAtom as="li">
      <Link.Root href="/">Home</Link.Root>
    </HtmlAtom>
  </HtmlAtom>
</HtmlAtom>

<!-- ❌ Avoid: Generic divs -->
<HtmlAtom as="div">
  <HtmlAtom as="div">
    <Link.Root href="/">Home</Link.Root>
  </HtmlAtom>
</HtmlAtom>

3. Extract Reusable Compositions

<!-- FormInput.svelte -->
<script lang="ts">
  import { Form } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/form';
  import { Input } from '@svelte-atoms/core/components/input';
  
  let { name, label, type = 'text', ...rest } = $props();
</script>

<Form.Field {name}>
  <Form.Field.Label>{label}</Form.Field.Label>
  <Form.Field.Control>
    <Input.Root {type} {...rest} />
  </Form.Field.Control>
  <Form.Field.Errors />
</Form.Field>

Then use it:

<script>
  import FormInput from './FormInput.svelte';
</script>

<Form.Root>
  <FormInput name="email" label="Email" type="email" />
  <FormInput name="password" label="Password" type="password" />
</Form.Root>

Don’t over-abstract. Create reusable compositions only when you use the same pattern 3+ times.

Benefits of Composition

Flexibility

Mix and match atoms freely to create any UI pattern you need

Maintainability

Changes to base atoms automatically propagate to all compositions

Testability

Test individual atoms and compositions independently

Next Steps

Styling

Learn how to style composed components with TailwindCSS

Accessibility

Ensure your compositions are accessible to all users

Animations

Add animations to your composed components

Components

Browse all available atoms and their APIs

Get Started

Core Concepts

Guides

Design Principle

Basic Composition

Atoms as Building Blocks

Composition Patterns

3. Form Field Composition

Advanced Composition

Nested Atoms

Dynamic Composition

Composition with Snippets

Base Component Composition

Real-World Example: Search Bar

Composition Best Practices

1. Keep Compositions Focused

2. Use Semantic Structure

3. Extract Reusable Compositions

Benefits of Composition

Flexibility

Maintainability

Testability

Next Steps

Styling

Accessibility

Animations

Components

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Get Started

Core Concepts

Guides

​Design Principle

​Basic Composition

​Atoms as Building Blocks

​Composition Patterns

​1. Dropdown Triggers

​2. Modal Triggers

​3. Form Field Composition

​Advanced Composition

​Nested Atoms

​Dynamic Composition

​Composition with Snippets

​Base Component Composition

​Real-World Example: Search Bar

​Composition Best Practices

​1. Keep Compositions Focused

​2. Use Semantic Structure

​3. Extract Reusable Compositions

​Benefits of Composition

Flexibility

Maintainability

Testability

​Next Steps

Styling

Accessibility

Animations

Components

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Design Principle

Basic Composition

Atoms as Building Blocks

Composition Patterns

1. Dropdown Triggers

2. Modal Triggers

3. Form Field Composition

Advanced Composition

Nested Atoms

Dynamic Composition

Composition with Snippets

Base Component Composition

Real-World Example: Search Bar

Composition Best Practices

1. Keep Compositions Focused

2. Use Semantic Structure

3. Extract Reusable Compositions

Benefits of Composition

Next Steps