A context menu that unfolds like a pocket knife — items swing out from a hinged spine as slim blades, staggered from folded to open, with a hairline edge highlight while swinging; submenus unfold as a second, smaller knife from a blade's tip.
npx shadcn add https://design.helpmarq.com /r/context-menu-unfold.jsonregistry/core/context-menu-unfold/component.tsx"use client";
import {
useCallback,
useEffect,
useId,
useMemo,
useRef,
useState,
type KeyboardEvent as ReactKeyboardEvent,
type MouseEvent as ReactMouseEvent,
type ReactNode,
} from "react";
// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
// JackKnife — a context menu that unfolds like a pocket knife. A spine
// anchors at the trigger point (the pointer for a right-click, or the
// trigger button's own position for the accessible trigger); menu items are
// slim "blades" hinged at the spine edge, each swinging in with a staggered
// rotation from folded (~80deg, tucked flat against the spine) to open
// (0deg). Every swing is a one-shot ref-driven CSS transition (transform +
// a border-color pulse for the hairline edge highlight) — timed with a
// per-item delay for the stagger — not a continuous rAF loop. A submenu is
// the same component recursively, anchored at the parent blade's tip.
// Distinct from menu-nested-trays (telescoping trays) and dropdown-drape (cloth
// dropdown): this is a radial-fold context-menu primitive.
// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
export interface JackKnifeItem {
id: string;
label: string;
shortcut?: string;
disabled?: boolean;
submenu?: JackKnifeItem[];
}
export interface JackKnifeProps {
items: JackKnifeItem[];
onSelect?: (id: string) => void;
/** region that opens the menu on right-click; the trigger button always works too */
children?: ReactNode;
/** accessible name for the trigger button and the menu itself */
label?: string;
className?: string;
}
type Anchor = { x: number; y: number; side: "left" | "right" };
const OPEN_MS = 260;
const OPEN_STAGGER_MS = 38;
const CLOSE_MS = 150;
const CLOSE_STAGGER_MS = 22;
const HAIRLINE_HOLD_MS = 120;
const TYPEAHEAD_RESET_MS = 700;
const ITEM_W = 200;
const EDGE_MARGIN = 10;
function computeAnchor(x: number, y: number): Anchor {
const side: Anchor["side"] = x + ITEM_W + EDGE_MARGIN > window.innerWidth ? "left" : "right";
return { x, y, side };
}
function clampTop(y: number, height: number) {
return Math.min(Math.max(EDGE_MARGIN, y), Math.max(EDGE_MARGIN, window.innerHeight - height - EDGE_MARGIN));
}
function foldItem(
el: HTMLElement | null,
index: number,
opening: boolean,
side: "left" | "right",
reduced: boolean
) {
if (!el) return;
const sign = side === "right" ? -1 : 1;
if (reduced) {
el.style.transition = "none";
el.style.transform = "rotate(0deg)";
el.style.opacity = opening ? "1" : "0";
el.style.borderColor = "var(--border)";
return;
}
if (opening) {
el.style.transition = "none";
el.style.transform = `rotate(${sign * 80}deg)`;
el.style.opacity = "0";
el.style.borderColor = "var(--border)";
el.getBoundingClientRect(); // force reflow before animating in
const delay = index * OPEN_STAGGER_MS;
el.style.transition = `transform ${OPEN_MS}ms cubic-bezier(0.16,1,0.3,1) ${delay}ms, opacity ${OPEN_MS * 0.7}ms linear ${delay}ms, border-color ${OPEN_MS}ms linear ${delay}ms`;
el.style.transform = "rotate(0deg)";
el.style.opacity = "1";
el.style.borderColor = "var(--foreground)";
window.setTimeout(() => {
el.style.transition = `border-color ${HAIRLINE_HOLD_MS}ms linear`;
el.style.borderColor = "var(--border)";
}, delay + OPEN_MS);
} else {
const delay = index * CLOSE_STAGGER_MS;
el.style.transition = `transform ${CLOSE_MS}ms cubic-bezier(0.6,0,0.84,0) ${delay}ms, opacity ${CLOSE_MS}ms linear ${delay}ms`;
el.style.transform = `rotate(${sign * 80}deg)`;
el.style.opacity = "0";
}
}
interface BladesProps {
items: JackKnifeItem[];
anchor: Anchor;
label: string;
onSelect: (id: string) => void;
onClose: (focusTrigger: boolean) => void;
menuId: string;
}
function Blades({ items, anchor, label, onSelect, onClose, menuId }: BladesProps) {
const panelRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement | null>(null);
const itemRefs = useRef<(HTMLButtonElement | null)[]>([]);
const reducedRef = useRef(false);
const [reduced, setReduced] = useState(false);
const [submenuIndex, setSubmenuIndex] = useState<number | null>(null);
const [submenuAnchor, setSubmenuAnchor] = useState<Anchor | null>(null);
const typeaheadRef = useRef({ buffer: "", at: 0 });
const closableItems = useMemo(() => items.filter((it) => !it.disabled), [items]);
useEffect(() => {
const mq = window.matchMedia("(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)");
reducedRef.current = mq.matches;
setReduced(mq.matches);
const onChange = () => {
reducedRef.current = mq.matches;
setReduced(mq.matches);
};
mq.addEventListener("change", onChange);
return () => mq.removeEventListener("change", onChange);
}, []);
useEffect(() => {
items.forEach((_, i) => foldItem(itemRefs.current[i] ?? null, i, true, anchor.side, reducedRef.current));
const first = itemRefs.current.find((el, i) => el && !items[i]?.disabled);
first?.focus({ preventScroll: true });
// eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
}, []);
const closeSelf = useCallback(
(focusTrigger: boolean) => {
items.forEach((_, i) => foldItem(itemRefs.current[i] ?? null, i, false, anchor.side, reducedRef.current));
const total = reducedRef.current ? 0 : items.length * CLOSE_STAGGER_MS + CLOSE_MS;
window.setTimeout(() => onClose(focusTrigger), total);
},
[items, anchor.side, onClose]
);
const openSubmenu = (index: number) => {
const el = itemRefs.current[index];
if (!el) return;
const rect = el.getBoundingClientRect();
const x = anchor.side === "right" ? rect.right - 8 : rect.left + 8;
setSubmenuAnchor(computeAnchor(x, rect.top));
setSubmenuIndex(index);
};
const closeSubmenu = () => {
setSubmenuIndex(null);
setSubmenuAnchor(null);
};
const focusByIndex = (i: number) => {
const el = itemRefs.current[i];
el?.focus({ preventScroll: true });
};
const onKeyDown = (e: ReactKeyboardEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
if (submenuIndex !== null) {
// let the submenu's own handler deal with everything except closing it back here
if (e.key === "Escape") return; // bubbles from submenu, harmless
return;
}
const enabled = itemRefs.current
.map((el, i) => ({ el, i }))
.filter(({ el, i }) => el && !items[i]?.disabled);
const currentIdx = enabled.findIndex(({ el }) => el === document.activeElement);
if (e.key === "Escape") {
e.preventDefault();
closeSelf(true);
return;
}
if (e.key === "Tab") {
closeSelf(false);
return;
}
if (e.key === "ArrowDown") {
e.preventDefault();
const next = enabled[(currentIdx + 1) % enabled.length];
if (next) focusByIndex(next.i);
return;
}
if (e.key === "ArrowUp") {
e.preventDefault();
const next = enabled[currentIdx < 0 ? enabled.length - 1 : (currentIdx - 1 + enabled.length) % enabled.length];
if (next) focusByIndex(next.i);
return;
}
if (e.key === "Home") {
e.preventDefault();
const first = enabled[0];
if (first) focusByIndex(first.i);
return;
}
if (e.key === "End") {
e.preventDefault();
const last = enabled[enabled.length - 1];
if (last) focusByIndex(last.i);
return;
}
if (e.key === "ArrowRight" || e.key === "Enter" || e.key === " ") {
const active = items[currentIdx >= 0 ? enabled[currentIdx]!.i : -1];
if (active?.submenu?.length) {
e.preventDefault();
openSubmenu(enabled[currentIdx]!.i);
} else if (e.key !== "ArrowRight" && active && !active.disabled) {
e.preventDefault();
onSelect(active.id);
}
return;
}
if (e.key === "ArrowLeft") {
return; // top level has nowhere to go left to; submenu instance handles its own close
}
if (e.key.length === 1 && !e.metaKey && !e.ctrlKey && !e.altKey) {
const now = Date.now();
const ta = typeaheadRef.current;
ta.buffer = now - ta.at < TYPEAHEAD_RESET_MS ? ta.buffer + e.key : e.key;
ta.at = now;
const match = closableItems.find((it) => it.label.toLowerCase().startsWith(ta.buffer.toLowerCase()));
if (match) {
const idx = items.indexOf(match);
focusByIndex(idx);
}
}
};
const panelTop = clampTop(anchor.y, items.length * 38 + 16);
const panelLeft = anchor.side === "right" ? anchor.x : anchor.x - ITEM_W;
return (
<div
ref={panelRef}
role="menu"
aria-label={label}
id={menuId}
onKeyDown={onKeyDown}
className="fixed z-[950] flex flex-col gap-0.5 rounded-[10px] border border-border bg-background p-1.5 shadow-lg"
style={{ left: panelLeft, top: panelTop, width: ITEM_W }}
>
{items.map((item, i) => (
<button
key={item.id}
ref={(el) => {
itemRefs.current[i] = el;
}}
type="button"
role="menuitem"
disabled={item.disabled}
aria-disabled={item.disabled}
aria-haspopup={item.submenu ? "menu" : undefined}
aria-expanded={item.submenu ? submenuIndex === i : undefined}
tabIndex={-1}
onMouseEnter={(e: ReactMouseEvent<HTMLButtonElement>) => {
if (item.submenu?.length) openSubmenu(i);
else closeSubmenu();
e.currentTarget.focus({ preventScroll: true });
}}
onClick={() => {
if (item.disabled) return;
if (item.submenu?.length) openSubmenu(i);
else onSelect(item.id);
}}
className="ns-jk-blade flex origin-left items-center justify-between gap-3 rounded-[6px] border border-transparent px-2.5 py-1.5 text-left text-xs text-foreground outline-none transition-colors hover:bg-border/40 focus-visible:bg-border/40 disabled:pointer-events-none disabled:opacity-40"
>
<span className="truncate">{item.label}</span>
{item.shortcut && <span className="shrink-0 font-mono text-[10px] text-muted">{item.shortcut}</span>}
{item.submenu && !item.shortcut && <span className="shrink-0 text-[10px] text-muted">{"›"}</span>}
</button>
))}
{submenuIndex !== null && submenuAnchor && items[submenuIndex]?.submenu && (
<Blades
items={items[submenuIndex]!.submenu!}
anchor={submenuAnchor}
label={`${items[submenuIndex]!.label} submenu`}
onSelect={onSelect}
onClose={(focusTrigger) => {
closeSubmenu();
if (focusTrigger) focusByIndex(submenuIndex);
}}
menuId={`${menuId}-sub`}
/>
)}
{!reduced && <style>{`.ns-jk-blade{transform-box:fill-box;}`}</style>}
</div>
);
}
export function JackKnife({ items, onSelect, children, label = "Actions", className = "" }: JackKnifeProps) {
const autoId = useId();
const menuId = `jk-menu-${autoId.replace(/:/g, "")}`;
const triggerRef = useRef<HTMLButtonElement | null>(null);
const [anchor, setAnchor] = useState<Anchor | null>(null);
const [open, setOpen] = useState(false);
const openAt = (x: number, y: number) => setAnchor(computeAnchor(x, y));
useEffect(() => {
setOpen(anchor !== null);
}, [anchor]);
useEffect(() => {
if (!open) return;
const onPointerDown = (e: PointerEvent) => {
// scoped to this instance's own menu id (and its `-sub` descendants at
// any depth) — a bare `[role="menu"]` query would match a SECOND
// JackKnife instance's panel elsewhere on the page and incorrectly
// treat a click inside THAT menu as "inside this one"
const panels = document.querySelectorAll(`[id^="${menuId}"]`);
const target = e.target as Node;
const inside = Array.from(panels).some((p) => p.contains(target));
if (!inside) setAnchor(null);
};
document.addEventListener("pointerdown", onPointerDown, true);
return () => document.removeEventListener("pointerdown", onPointerDown, true);
}, [open, menuId]);
const handleSelect = (id: string) => {
onSelect?.(id);
setAnchor(null);
triggerRef.current?.focus();
};
const handleClose = (focusTrigger: boolean) => {
setAnchor(null);
if (focusTrigger) triggerRef.current?.focus();
};
return (
<div className={`relative inline-block ${className}`}>
{children && (
<div
onContextMenu={(e: ReactMouseEvent) => {
e.preventDefault();
openAt(e.clientX, e.clientY);
}}
>
{children}
</div>
)}
<button
ref={triggerRef}
type="button"
data-context-menu-unfold-trigger=""
aria-haspopup="menu"
aria-expanded={open}
aria-controls={open ? menuId : undefined}
onClick={(e: ReactMouseEvent<HTMLButtonElement>) => {
const rect = e.currentTarget.getBoundingClientRect();
openAt(rect.left, rect.bottom + 6);
}}
className="mt-3 rounded-[6px] border border-border px-2.5 py-1.5 text-xs text-foreground transition-colors hover:border-foreground focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-offset-2 focus-visible:outline-accent"
>
{label}
</button>
{open && anchor && (
<Blades
items={items}
anchor={anchor}
label={label}
onSelect={handleSelect}
onClose={handleClose}
menuId={menuId}
/>
)}
</div>
);
}
Build a context menu whose open/close animation reads as a pocket knife unfolding, usable both via right-click on a wrapped region and via a visible, accessible trigger button (both open the identical menu — the button exists because a right-click affordance alone is unreachable by keyboard, and it is also what any automated or assistive-tech interaction should use). On open, compute an anchor point (the pointer's clientX/clientY for a right-click, or the trigger button's own bounding rect for a button click) and decide a fold 'side' (right or left) by checking whether the menu's fixed width would overflow the right edge of the viewport from that anchor — if it would, anchor the panel so its right edge sits at the pointer instead of its left edge, and mirror the fold direction. The menu panel itself is position:fixed, its top clamped so it never overflows the bottom of the viewport either. Each menu item is a real <button role="menuitem"> (transform-box: fill-box; transform-origin: left) that starts, on mount, folded flat (`rotate(80deg)` or `rotate(-80deg)` depending on fold side, so it always rotates 'away from' the anchor edge like a real blade tucked behind the spine) and opacity 0. Immediately after mount (post-reflow, so the folded starting pose actually commits as a distinct frame), transition every item to `rotate(0deg)` / opacity 1 over ~260ms with an ease-out-expo curve, but stagger each item's transition-delay by its index × ~38ms so they swing open one after another rather than all at once — a real fan-of-blades opening. Simultaneously transition the item's border-color from --border to --foreground over the same timing (the 'hairline edge highlight while swinging'), then — once that item's own swing finishes — transition the border back down to --border over a short ~120ms settle, so the highlight is specifically tied to motion, not a resting state. Closing reverses this: stagger from the LAST item to the first (reverse order reads as 'folding back up'), shorter duration (~150ms) and tighter stagger (~22ms), transform back to the folded rotation and opacity 0 — actually unmount the panel only after the full staggered close duration elapses, never abruptly. All of this is one-shot ref-driven inline style writes per open/close event (computed once, CSS interpolates) — never a continuous rAF loop, since nothing here needs per-frame updates. A submenu (items with a `submenu` array) is the exact same component rendered recursively: hovering or pressing ArrowRight/Enter on an item that has one computes an anchor at that blade's own tip (its bounding rect) and mounts a second, smaller-feeling knife there with the identical fold-in/fold-out mechanic — closing it (Escape, ArrowLeft context, or selecting one of its items) returns focus to the parent blade that opened it. Full menu keyboard semantics on the top-level panel (role=menu, aria-label): ArrowDown/ArrowUp move a roving focus among enabled (non-disabled) items only, wrapping at both ends; Home/End jump to the first/last enabled item; typeahead buffers printable keystrokes (reset after ~700ms of inactivity) and jumps focus to the first item whose label starts with the buffered string, case-insensitively; Escape folds the whole menu closed and returns focus to whatever opened it (the right-click surface conceptually, or literally the trigger button); Tab also closes the menu (without stealing focus) since a menu should never trap Tab out of the document flow. A pointerdown anywhere outside any open menu panel (top-level or submenu) closes the whole stack. Hovering an item (mouse only) slides it 2px further out along its own resting angle (0deg, so a plain translateX, signed by fold side) as a lightweight 'lean into it' cue, separate from the open/close swing. prefers-reduced-motion: items appear directly in their open pose (opacity 1, rotate(0deg)) with no folded starting frame, no stagger, no swing — closing likewise just disappears, both still fully functional and instant rather than absent. Distinct from menu-nested-trays (telescoping horizontal trays) and dropdown-drape (a cloth/verlet-simulated dropdown panel): this is a radial-fold context-menu primitive, not a scrollable tray or a physics panel. Zero dependencies, no canvas.