Gpui Element

When to Use

Use the low-level Element trait when:

• Need fine-grained control over layout calculation
• Building complex, performance-critical components
• Implementing custom layout algorithms (masonry, circular, etc.)
• High-level Render/RenderOnce APIs are insufficient

Prefer Render/RenderOnce for: Simple components, standard layouts, declarative UI

Quick Start

The Element trait provides direct control over three rendering phases:

impl Element for MyElement {
    type RequestLayoutState = MyLayoutState;  // Data passed to later phases
    type PrepaintState = MyPaintState;        // Data for painting

    fn id(&self) -> Option<ElementId> {
        Some(self.id.clone())
    }

    fn source_location(&self) -> Option<&'static std::panic::Location<'static>> {
        None
    }

    // Phase 1: Calculate sizes and positions
    fn request_layout(&mut self, .., window: &mut Window, cx: &mut App)
        -> (LayoutId, Self::RequestLayoutState)
    {
        let layout_id = window.request_layout(
            Style { size: size(px(200.), px(100.)), ..default() },
            vec![],
            cx
        );
        (layout_id, MyLayoutState { /​* ... */ })
    }

    // Phase 2: Create hitboxes, prepare for painting
    fn prepaint(&mut self, .., bounds: Bounds<Pixels>, layout: &mut Self::RequestLayoutState,
                window: &mut Window, cx: &mut App) -> Self::PrepaintState
    {
        let hitbox = window.insert_hitbox(bounds, HitboxBehavior::Normal);
        MyPaintState { hitbox }
    }

    // Phase 3: Render and handle interactions
    fn paint(&mut self, .., bounds: Bounds<Pixels>, layout: &mut Self::RequestLayoutState,
             paint_state: &mut Self::PrepaintState, window: &mut Window, cx: &mut App)
    {
        window.paint_quad(paint_quad(bounds, Corners::all(px(4.)), cx.theme().background));

        window.on_mouse_event({
            let hitbox = paint_state.hitbox.clone();
            move |event: &MouseDownEvent, phase, window, cx| {
                if hitbox.is_hovered(window) && phase.bubble() {
                    // Handle interaction
                    cx.stop_propagation();
                }
            }
        });
    }
}

// Enable element to be used as child
impl IntoElement for MyElement {
    type Element = Self;
    fn into_element(self) -> Self::Element { self }
}

Core Concepts

Three-Phase Rendering

1. request_layout: Calculate sizes and positions, return layout ID and state
2. prepaint: Create hitboxes, compute final bounds, prepare for painting
3. paint: Render element, set up interactions (mouse events, cursor styles)

State Flow

RequestLayoutState → PrepaintState → paint

State flows in one direction through associated types, passed as mutable references between phases.

Key Operations

• Layout: window.request_layout(style, children, cx) - Create layout node
• Hitboxes: window.insert_hitbox(bounds, behavior) - Create interaction area
• Painting: window.paint_quad(...) - Render visual content
• Events: window.on_mouse_event(handler) - Handle user input

Reference Documentation

Complete API Documentation

• Element Trait API: See api-reference.md
  • Associated types, methods, parameters, return values
  • Hitbox system, event handling, cursor styles

Implementation Guides

• Examples: See examples.md

  • Simple text element with highlighting
  • Interactive element with selection
  • Complex element with child management

• Best Practices: See best-practices.md

  • State management, performance optimization
  • Interaction handling, layout strategies
  • Error handling, testing, common pitfalls

• Common Patterns: See patterns.md

  • Text rendering, container, interactive, composite, scrollable patterns
  • Pattern selection guide

• Advanced Patterns: See advanced-patterns.md

  • Custom layout algorithms (masonry, circular)
  • Element composition with traits
  • Async updates, memoization, virtual lists