Implementing Command Palettes

Overview

Command palettes (Cmd+K / Ctrl+K) need precise keyboard navigation, scroll behavior, and stable references to avoid re-render loops. This skill covers the mechanical patterns that make command palettes feel responsive.

When to Use

• Building a Cmd+K command palette in React
• Implementing arrow key navigation with visual selection
• Keeping selected items visible during keyboard navigation
• Filtering commands by label text AND keyboard shortcuts
• Experiencing infinite re-renders when commands update

Quick Reference

Feature	Implementation
Arrow navigation	Track selectedIndex, clamp with Math.min/max
Keep in view	scrollIntoView({ block: 'nearest', behavior: 'smooth' })
Shortcut matching	Strip spaces from shortcuts, match against query
Stable icons	Define icon elements outside component
Stable handlers	useCallback + noop constant for disabled states

Keyboard Navigation

Critical: Wrapper Pattern for Conditional Rendering

This is the most common source of bugs. The keyboard effect must ONLY run when the palette is open. Use a wrapper component:

// Wrapper ensures effects only run when open
export function CommandPalette(props: CommandPaletteProps) {
  if (!props.isOpen) return null;
  return <CommandPaletteContent {...props} />;
}

// Content component - effects run on mount/unmount
function CommandPaletteContent({ onClose, ... }: CommandPaletteProps) {
  // Effects here only run when palette is visible
  useEffect(() => {
    const handleKeyDown = (e: KeyboardEvent) => { ... };
    window.addEventListener('keydown', handleKeyDown);
    return () => window.removeEventListener('keydown', handleKeyDown);
  }, [deps]);

  return <div>...</div>;
}

Why this matters:

• If you put if (!isOpen) return null AFTER useEffect hooks, the effects still run when closed
• This causes keyboard listeners to be registered even when palette is invisible
• The wrapper pattern ensures effects only run when the component actually renders

Input Focus + Window Listener Pattern

The input MUST be focused (for typing to work), and keyboard navigation MUST use window.addEventListener. This works because:

• The window listener receives keydown events for ALL keys
• Arrow keys don't insert text into inputs, so e.preventDefault() just stops page scrolling
• Regular character keys still reach the input for typing

// Input with autoFocus - NOT setTimeout focus
<input
  autoFocus
  type="text"
  value={query}
  onChange={e => {
    setQuery(e.target.value);
    setSelectedIndex(0);  // Reset to first item when query changes
  }}
/>

Index Management

const [selectedIndex, setSelectedIndex] = useState(0);

useEffect(() => {
  if (!isOpen) return;

  const handleKeyDown = (e: KeyboardEvent) => {
    switch (e.key) {
      case 'ArrowDown':
        e.preventDefault();
        // Clamp to last item
        setSelectedIndex(prev => Math.min(prev + 1, filteredItems.length - 1));
        break;
      case 'ArrowUp':
        e.preventDefault();
        // Clamp to first item
        setSelectedIndex(prev => Math.max(prev - 1, 0));
        break;
      case 'Enter':
        e.preventDefault();
        if (filteredItems[selectedIndex]) {
          executeCommand(filteredItems[selectedIndex]);
          close();
        }
        break;
      case 'Escape':
        e.preventDefault();
        close();
        break;
    }
  };

  // NO capture phase needed - simple window listener works with focused input
  window.addEventListener('keydown', handleKeyDown);
  return () => window.removeEventListener('keydown', handleKeyDown);
}, [isOpen, filteredItems, selectedIndex, close]);

Key patterns:

• e.preventDefault() stops arrow keys from scrolling the page
• Math.min/max prevents index going out of bounds
• Effect depends on filteredItems so navigation updates when filter changes
• Use autoFocus on input, NOT setTimeout(() => ref.current?.focus(), 0)

Keeping Selected Item in View

Using Refs Array

const itemRefs = useRef<(HTMLButtonElement | null)[]>([]);

// Scroll effect - runs when selection changes
useEffect(() => {
  const selectedItem = itemRefs.current[selectedIndex];
  if (selectedItem) {
    selectedItem.scrollIntoView({
      block: 'nearest',    // Minimal scroll - only scroll if needed
      behavior: 'smooth'   // Smooth animation
    });
  }
}, [selectedIndex]);

// Assign refs in render
{filteredItems.map((item, index) => (
  <button
    key={index}
    ref={el => { itemRefs.current[index] = el; }}
    className={index === selectedIndex ? 'bg-blue-100' : ''}
  >
    {item.label}
  </button>
))}

Alternative: Single Ref for Selected Item

const selectedItemRef = useRef<HTMLButtonElement>(null);

useEffect(() => {
  if (isOpen && selectedItemRef.current) {
    selectedItemRef.current.scrollIntoView({
      block: 'nearest',
      behavior: 'smooth',
    });
  }
}, [isOpen, selectedIndex]);

// Only assign ref to selected item
<button
  ref={index === selectedIndex ? selectedItemRef : null}
>

Why block: 'nearest'?

• 'nearest' only scrolls if the element is outside the visible area
• 'center' would scroll even when item is already visible, causing jarring movement
• 'start' or 'end' would always align to top/bottom

Filtering with Shortcut Matching

const filteredCommands = commands.filter(command => {
  const q = query.toLowerCase().trim();
  if (!q) return true;

  // Standard label matching
  if (command.label.toLowerCase().includes(q)) return true;

  // Shortcut matching: "gd" matches "g d", "gb" matches "g b"
  if (command.shortcut) {
    const shortcutNoSpaces = command.shortcut.toLowerCase().replace(/\s+/g, '');
    if (shortcutNoSpaces.startsWith(q) || shortcutNoSpaces.includes(q)) {
      return true;
    }
  }

  // For numbered items (PRs, issues), match by number
  if (command.type === 'pr') {
    const numberMatch = q.match(/^#?(\d+)$/);
    if (numberMatch) {
      return String(command.pr.number).startsWith(numberMatch[1]);
    }
  }

  return false;
});

Why strip spaces from shortcuts? Users type continuously without spaces. Shortcut "g d" should match when user types "gd".

Preventing Re-Render Loops

Command palettes often suffer from infinite re-renders when command objects are recreated every render.

Problem: Unstable References

// BAD: Icons recreated every render
function usePageCommands() {
  const commands = useMemo(() => [{
    label: 'Sync',
    icon: <RefreshCw size={16} />,  // New element every render!
    action: () => onSync(),          // New function every render!
  }], [onSync]);  // Even with deps, icon is new

  useRegisterCommands(commands);  // Triggers re-registration → re-render loop
}

Solution: Stable References

// GOOD: Icons defined OUTSIDE component
const refreshIcon = <RefreshCw size={16} />;
const refreshSpinIcon = <RefreshCw size={16} className="animate-spin" />;
const noop = () => {};

function usePageCommands({ onSync, isSyncing }: Props) {
  // Memoize handlers
  const handleSync = useCallback(() => onSync?.(), [onSync]);

  const commands = useMemo(() => [{
    label: isSyncing ? 'Syncing...' : 'Sync',
    icon: isSyncing ? refreshSpinIcon : refreshIcon,  // Stable references
    action: isSyncing ? noop : handleSync,             // noop, not undefined
  }], [isSyncing, handleSync]);

  useRegisterCommands(commands);
}

Label-Based Change Detection

Instead of comparing object references, compare by labels:

export function useRegisterCommands(commands: CommandItem[]) {
  const { registerCommands, unregisterCommands } = useCommandPalette();

  // Create stable ID based on LABELS, not object references
  const commandIds = useMemo(
    () => commands.map(c => {
      if (c.type === 'nav') return `nav:${c.path}`;
      return `action:${c.label}`;
    }).sort().join('|'),
    [commands]
  );

  const commandsRef = useRef<CommandItem[]>(commands);
  useEffect(() => { commandsRef.current = commands; });

  const prevIdsRef = useRef<string>('');

  useEffect(() => {
    // Only register if structure actually changed
    if (commandIds !== prevIdsRef.current) {
      registerCommands(commandsRef.current);
      prevIdsRef.current = commandIds;
      return () => unregisterCommands(commandsRef.current);
    }
  }, [commandIds, registerCommands, unregisterCommands]);
}

Command Type Patterns

type CommandItem =
  | { type: 'action'; label: string; icon?: React.ReactNode; action: () => void; shortcut?: string }
  | { type: 'nav'; label: string; icon?: React.ReactNode; path: string; shortcut?: string }
  | { type: 'file'; file: FileType; label: string; icon?: React.ReactNode }
  | { type: 'pr'; pr: PRType; label: string; icon?: React.ReactNode };

// Execute based on type
function executeCommand(command: CommandItem) {
  switch (command.type) {
    case 'action':
      command.action();
      break;
    case 'nav':
      navigate(command.path);
      break;
    case 'file':
      onFileSelect(command.file);
      break;
    case 'pr':
      navigate(`/repos/${command.owner}/${command.repo}/pulls/${command.pr.number}`);
      break;
  }
}

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Why It Fails	Fix
Icons inside useMemo	New icon element every render	Define icons as constants outside component
Not resetting index on filter	Arrow keys start from wrong position	setSelectedIndex(0) in onChange
block: 'center' in scrollIntoView	Jarring scroll when item already visible	Use block: 'nearest'
Missing e.preventDefault()	Arrow keys scroll page AND move selection	Add preventDefault for ArrowUp/Down
Forgetting cleanup in useEffect	Event listeners accumulate	Return cleanup function
undefined for disabled action	Type error or click does nothing	Use noop constant
Using { capture: true } on window listener	Not needed and can cause issues	Use simple addEventListener without options
Focusing a container instead of input	Typing won't work, UX feels broken	Use autoFocus on input, window listener handles arrows
setTimeout for focus	Race conditions, focus may fail	Use autoFocus attribute on input
onKeyDown on input element	Works but less reliable than window	Use window.addEventListener in useEffect
Using refs to avoid re-registering listener	Stale closures, missed updates	Include deps in array, let listener re-register
if (!isOpen) return null after useEffect	Effects run even when closed, listener always active	Use wrapper component pattern (see above)
bg-transparent with conditional bg-accent-light	Tailwind CSS conflict - both set background-color, compiled order wins	Put background classes in conditional: ${selected ? 'bg-accent-light' : 'bg-transparent hover:bg-gray-100'}

Testing Checklist

• [ ] Cmd+K opens palette, Escape closes
• [ ] Arrow Down moves to next item (stops at last)
• [ ] Arrow Up moves to previous item (stops at first)
• [ ] Enter executes selected command and closes palette
• [ ] Selected item scrolls into view when navigating long lists
• [ ] Typing resets selection to first matching item
• [ ] Shortcuts like "gd" match commands with shortcut "g d"
• [ ] No console errors about re-renders or maximum update depth