ltk/docs/widgets.md

# ltk widget catalogue

A flat reference of every widget and layout exported at the crate root.
Each entry has the same four sections: **what it is**, **when to use it**,
**minimal example**, **see also**. The full builder API and per-method
docs live on `cargo doc`; this file is the at-a-glance index.

For mental model and architecture, read [`docs/onboarding.md`](./onboarding.md)
and [`docs/architecture.md`](./architecture.md) first. For copy-pasteable
patterns built from these widgets, see [`docs/cookbook.md`](./cookbook.md).

## Table of contents

- [Buttons and activations](#buttons-and-activations)
  - [`button`](#button) · [`icon_button`](#icon_button) · [`pressable`](#pressable) · [`window_button`](#window_button) · [`list_item`](#list_item)
- [Stateful binary controls](#stateful-binary-controls)
  - [`toggle`](#toggle) · [`checkbox`](#checkbox) · [`radio`](#radio)
- [Continuous controls](#continuous-controls)
  - [`slider`](#slider) · [`vslider`](#vslider) · [`progress_bar`](#progress_bar)
- [Text input and display](#text-input-and-display)
  - [`text`](#text) · [`text_edit`](#text_edit) · [`rich_text`](#rich_text)
- [Decoration and chrome](#decoration-and-chrome)
  - [`container`](#container) · [`separator`](#separator) · [`img_widget`](#img_widget) · [`external`](#external)
- [Clipping wrappers](#clipping-wrappers)
  - [`scroll`](#scroll) · [`viewport`](#viewport) · [`flex`](#flex) · [`carousel`](#carousel)
- [Overlays and feedback](#overlays-and-feedback)
  - [`spinner`](#spinner) · [`toast`](#toast) · [`tooltip`](#tooltip) · [`combo`](#combo) · [`tabs`](#tabs) · [`notebook`](#notebook) · [`dialog`](#dialog)
- [Pickers](#pickers)
  - [`date_picker`](#date_picker) · [`time_picker`](#time_picker) · [`color_picker`](#color_picker)
- [Layouts](#layouts)
  - [`column`](#column) · [`row`](#row) · [`stack`](#stack) · [`grid`](#grid) · [`spacer`](#spacer)

---

## Buttons and activations

### `button`

A standard text button. Activates on tap, Enter, or Space when focused.
`font_size`, `height` and `width` all take an `impl Into<Length>`, so the
box can scale with the surface (e.g. a full-width form button) instead of
sizing to its label.

**When**: any place a normal app would have a "Save" / "Cancel" / "Send"
control.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ button, Element, Length };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg { Save }
# fn _ex() -> Element<Msg> {
button( "Save" )
    .height( Length::vmin( 9.0 ).clamp( 44.0, 72.0 ) )
    .width( Length::orient( 95.0, 25.0 ) )
    .on_press( Msg::Save )
.into()
# }
```

**See also**: [`pressable`](#pressable) for activation on a richer
custom-shaped surface, [`icon_button`](#icon_button) for image-only
buttons.

### `icon_button`

A button whose visual is an RGBA bitmap instead of text. Same dispatch
shape as [`button`](#button).

**When**: toolbar icons, system tray glyphs, anywhere the visual is
icon-first.

```rust,no_run
# use std::sync::Arc;
# use ltk::{ icon_button, Element };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg { OpenSearch }
# fn _ex( rgba_bytes: Arc<Vec<u8>>, w: u32, h: u32 ) -> Element<Msg> {
icon_button( rgba_bytes, w, h ).on_press( Msg::OpenSearch )
.into()
# }
```

**See also**: [`button`](#button), [`window_button`](#window_button)
(specialised icon button for window decorations).

### `pressable`

Wraps any [`Element`](../src/widget/mod.rs) so it dispatches a press
message. Invisible to drawing — the wrapped child paints itself.

**When**: a card, a custom-styled list row, or any non-trivial visual
that should behave like a button. Inner widgets that are themselves
interactive (a button nested inside) keep priority.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ column, container, pressable, row, Element, Pressable };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg { OpenWifiPicker }
# fn _ex(
#     icon:     Element<Msg>,
#     title:    Element<Msg>,
#     subtitle: Element<Msg>,
# ) -> Pressable<Msg> {
pressable(
    container( row()
        .push( icon )
        .push( column().push( title ).push( subtitle ) ) )
    .surface( "surface-card" )
)
.on_press( Msg::OpenWifiPicker )
# }
```

**See also**: [`button`](#button) when a plain text button is enough,
[`list_item`](#list_item) for the standard "label + subtitle + trailing"
pattern.

### `window_button`

A title-bar control button (minimize / maximize / restore / close).
Comes with a special hover-tint for `Close`.

**When**: building custom server-side window decorations.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ window_button, window_controls, Element, WindowButton, WindowButtonKind };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg { CloseWindow, Minimize, Maximize, Close }
# fn _ex() -> ( WindowButton<Msg>, Element<Msg> ) {
let close = window_button( WindowButtonKind::Close ).on_press( Msg::CloseWindow );

// Or the full standard set:
let bar = window_controls(
    Some( Msg::Minimize ),
    WindowButtonKind::Maximize,
    Some( Msg::Maximize ),
    Some( Msg::Close ),
);
# ( close, bar.into() )
# }
```

`focusable( true )` opts the button into the Tab cycle (off by default
to match desktop convention).

**See also**: `theme_window_controls` for the colour tokens each mode
supplies.

### `list_item`

A row with a primary label, optional subtitle, optional leading icon,
optional right-aligned trailing text and/or trailing icon, and a
tappable surface.

**When**: settings menus, navigation lists, contact rows. Grows taller when a subtitle is set.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ list_item, ListItem };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg { OpenWifi }
# fn _ex() -> ListItem<Msg> {
let mut it = list_item( "Wi-Fi" )
    .subtitle( "Eduroam" )
    .on_press( Msg::OpenWifi );
// Disclosure arrow from the active theme, tinted to match the
// trailing-text colour.
if let Some( ( rgba, w, h ) ) = ltk::theme_icon_rgba( "general/right", 21 )
{
    let tinted = std::sync::Arc::new( ltk::tint_symbolic( &rgba, ltk::theme_palette().text_secondary ) );
    it = it.trailing_icon( tinted, w, h );
}
it
# }
```

`trailing( text )` right-aligns a text value (current setting, badge
count); `trailing_icon( rgba, w, h )` draws an icon at the right edge.
When both are set the text sits to the left of the icon.
`pad_h( px )` overrides the horizontal inset between the row edge and
its content (theme default 16 px) — lower it when the enclosing view's
own padding already provides the margin.

**See also**: [`pressable`](#pressable) for free-form tappable rows,
[`scroll`](#scroll) to wrap a list of items in a scrollable container.

---

## Stateful binary controls

### `toggle`

A two-state on / off switch. Renders as a horizontal pill with a sliding
thumb.

**When**: prominent settings toggles ("Wi-Fi", "Do not disturb").

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ toggle, Toggle };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg { ToggleWifi }
# struct App { wifi_enabled: bool }
# impl App { fn _ex( &self ) -> Toggle<Msg> {
toggle( self.wifi_enabled )
    .label( "Wi-Fi" )
    .on_toggle( Msg::ToggleWifi )
# }}
```

**See also**: [`checkbox`](#checkbox) for less prominent opt-ins,
[`radio`](#radio) for mutually-exclusive groups.

### `checkbox`

A two-state opt-in with a square box and a check glyph.

**When**: form fields, terms acceptance, multi-select lists.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ checkbox, Checkbox };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg { ToggleTerms }
# struct App { accept_terms: bool }
# impl App { fn _ex( &self ) -> Checkbox<Msg> {
checkbox( self.accept_terms )
    .label( "I accept the terms" )
    .on_toggle( Msg::ToggleTerms )
# }}
```

**See also**: [`toggle`](#toggle), [`radio`](#radio).

### `radio`

A single option inside a mutually-exclusive group. Build one per
variant; the application owns "which is selected".

**When**: priority pickers, layout choices, anywhere exactly one of N
is selected.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ column, radio, Element };
# #[ derive( Clone, PartialEq ) ] enum Priority { Low, Medium, High }
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg { SetPriority( Priority ) }
# struct App { priority: Priority }
# impl App { fn _ex( &self ) -> Element<Msg> {
column()
    .push( radio( self.priority == Priority::Low    ).label( "Low"    ).on_select( Msg::SetPriority( Priority::Low    ) ) )
    .push( radio( self.priority == Priority::Medium ).label( "Medium" ).on_select( Msg::SetPriority( Priority::Medium ) ) )
    .push( radio( self.priority == Priority::High   ).label( "High"   ).on_select( Msg::SetPriority( Priority::High   ) ) )
.into()
# }}
```

**See also**: [`checkbox`](#checkbox), [`toggle`](#toggle).

---

## Continuous controls

### `slider`

A horizontal slider for selecting a value in `[0.0, 1.0]`.

**When**: brightness / volume / scrub bars. Drag the thumb or tap a
position; the change message fires continuously during drag.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ slider, Slider };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg { SetBrightness( f32 ) }
# struct App { brightness: f32 }
# impl App { fn _ex( &self ) -> Slider<Msg> {
slider( self.brightness )
    .on_change( |v| Msg::SetBrightness( v ) )
# }}
```

`accent_thumb( true )` swaps the default thumb for the two-circle
brand-coloured variant. `track_surface( id )` and `fill_surface( id )`
override the default theme slots.

**See also**: [`vslider`](#vslider) for the vertical axis,
[`progress_bar`](#progress_bar) for read-only progress display.

### `vslider`

A vertical slider. Same value model as [`slider`](#slider) — `0.0` at
the bottom, `1.0` at the top.

**When**: column-shaped equalisers, compact volume / brightness picks
inside narrow side panels.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ vslider, VSlider };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg { SetVolume( f32 ) }
# struct App { volume: f32 }
# impl App { fn _ex( &self ) -> VSlider<Msg> {
vslider( self.volume ).on_change( |v| Msg::SetVolume( v ) )
# }}
```

**See also**: [`slider`](#slider).

### `progress_bar`

A read-only linear progress indicator.

**When**: determinate operations with a known fraction
(downloads, file copies, install steps).

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ progress_bar, ProgressBar };
# struct App { download_fraction: f32 }
# impl App { fn _ex( &self ) -> ProgressBar {
progress_bar( self.download_fraction )
# }}
```

**See also**: [`spinner`](#spinner) for indeterminate operations
without a known fraction.

---

## Text input and display

### `text`

A text label. By default it stays on one line and truncates with an
ellipsis when wider than its rect; `wrap( true )` instead word-wraps to
the layout width, and `line_height( mult )` scales the gap between the
wrapped lines (`1.0` = the font's natural leading).

**When**: titles, captions, multi-line hints, anything non-interactive.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ text, Color, Element };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg {}
# fn _ex() -> ( Element<Msg>, Element<Msg>, Element<Msg> ) {
let title    = text( "Title" ).size( 24.0 ).color( Color::WHITE );
let centred  = text( "Centred" ).align_center();
let hint     = text( "Swipe up or press Enter to unlock" )
    .align_center()
    .wrap( true )
    .line_height( 1.4 );
# ( title.into(), centred.into(), hint.into() )
# }
```

**See also**: [`text_edit`](#text_edit) for editable text.

### `text_edit`

A text input with cursor, Backspace, Enter / Submit, clipboard
support, a `secure( true )` password mode that masks the visible
characters and zeroizes the buffer on drop, and a
`password_toggle( visible, on_toggle )` builder that pins a show /
hide-password eye icon to the right edge of the field. Single-line by default; `multiline( true )` switches to a multi-row editor whose visible height follows `rows( n )`.

**When**: login fields, chat inputs, search boxes.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ text_edit, Element };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg {
#     UsernameChanged( String ), PasswordChanged( String ),
#     TogglePassword, Submit,
# }
# struct App { username: String, password: String, show_password: bool }
# impl App { fn _ex( &self ) -> ( Element<Msg>, Element<Msg> ) {
let user = text_edit( "Username", &self.username )
    .on_change( |s| Msg::UsernameChanged( s ) )
    .on_submit( Msg::Submit );

// Password field with the built-in show / hide eye. The widget
// owns the icon hit-testing — taps inside the eye zone fire
// `TogglePassword` instead of moving the caret. Flip the bool in
// your `update`; the widget reads it back on the next render.
let pw = text_edit( "Password", &self.password )
    .on_change( |s| Msg::PasswordChanged( s ) )
    .password_toggle( self.show_password, Msg::TogglePassword );
# ( user.into(), pw.into() )
# }}
```

`password_toggle` keeps the wipe-on-drop and IME-bypass guarantees
of `secure( true )` regardless of the current visibility, so
flipping the eye does not weaken the field's threat model at
runtime — only what the user sees on screen changes.

**See also**: the password recipe in
[`docs/cookbook.md`](./cookbook.md#password-field-with-pam-submit).

### `rich_text`

A wrapped paragraph that carries a `Msg` per clickable link range — the
ltk counterpart of an Android `Spanned` with `URLSpan` / `ClickableSpan`.
Unlike `text`, the layout pass emits one hit rect per link *line*, so a
link that wraps across lines is hit-tested on each of its lines and taps
land on the link rather than on the whole paragraph.

**When**: body copy with inline links — a terms-and-conditions blurb, a
chat message with a URL, an "about" screen crediting a project.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ rich_text, Element };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg { OpenTerms, OpenPrivacy }
# fn _ex() -> Element<Msg> {
let body = "By continuing you accept the Terms and the Privacy Policy.";
rich_text( body )
	.size( 14.0 )
	.link( 30, 35, Msg::OpenTerms )      // byte range of "Terms"
	.link( 44, 58, Msg::OpenPrivacy )    // byte range of "Privacy Policy"
	.into()
# }
```

Link ranges are **byte** offsets into the content `[start, end)`, drawn
underlined in `link_color`. `color` sets the non-link text colour, `size`
the font size (any `Length`), and `font( family, weight, style )` the
typeface resolved through the active theme on draw.

---

## Decoration and chrome

### `container`

A wrapper that adds padding, a background colour or themed surface, a
border radius, and (via theme slots) shadows / inset shadows / backdrop
blur.

**When**: cards, panels, callouts, anywhere a child needs a backdrop or
elevation.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ column, container, Element };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg {}
# fn _ex( title: Element<Msg>, subtitle: Element<Msg> ) -> Element<Msg> {
container( column().push( title ).push( subtitle ) )
    .surface( "surface-card" )
    .padding( 16.0 )
    .radius( 24.0 )
.into()
# }
```

Per-edge padding is available with `padding_top` / `padding_right` /
`padding_bottom` / `padding_left`. Per-corner radius takes a `Corners`
struct or a tuple.

`max_width(px)` caps the container's outer width — when the parent
offers a wider rect, the container reports `min( offered, px )` as its
preferred width instead of stretching to fill. Note the semantics differ from [`column`](#column)'s `max_width`, which caps the *content* width while the column still claims the full available rect ([`row`](#row) has no such flag); the container cap shrinks the widget itself, so a single decorated child gets a real width cap without extra wrapping.

**See also**: [`pressable`](#pressable) wrapping a `container` makes a
card interactive.

### `separator`

A horizontal divider line with a theme-default colour and a mode-scaled
thickness / vertical padding. `thickness` and `pad_v` take an `impl
Into<Length>`; both default to the process widget-scaling mode, and
passing `pad_v( 0.0 )` gives a flush, padding-less divider (distinct from
the mode default).

**When**: visual breaks between settings groups, list categories,
content blocks.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ column, separator, text, Element };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg {}
# fn _ex() -> Element<Msg> {
column()
    .push( text( "General" ) )
    .push( separator() )
    .push( text( "Network" ) )
.into()
# }
```

### `img_widget`

A static image rendered from RGBA pixel data shared via `Arc`.

**When**: wallpapers, icons, illustrations. The shared `Arc` makes
re-using the same buffer across frames a pointer copy.

```rust,no_run
# use std::sync::Arc;
# use ltk::{ img_widget, Element };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg {}
# fn _ex( rgba_bytes: Arc<Vec<u8>>, width: u32, height: u32 ) -> Element<Msg> {
img_widget( rgba_bytes, width, height )
    .opacity( 0.8 )
.into()
# }
```

`cover()` scales to fill the rect preserving aspect; `size( w, h )` sets
explicit display dimensions.

**See also**: [`Image::from_path`](../src/widget/image.rs) helper for
disk-loaded files (PNG, JPEG via the `image` crate).

### `external`

An escape hatch that reserves layout space and defers its pixels to a
caller-provided producer, composited in-line with the rest of the tree.
Two sources:

- `External::cpu( w, h, |canvas, rect| … )` — an immediate-mode CPU
  drawing closure invoked once per frame with the `Canvas` and the
  widget's laid-out `rect` (physical pixels). Works on **both** backends
  and is the way to host a custom `onDraw`-style routine — paths, clips,
  text — straight onto the canvas with no GL round-trip.
- `External::new( w, h, ExternalSource::Texture( … ) )` — samples a
  caller-owned GL texture each frame (a web engine, a video decoder).
  **GLES only**; the producer keeps the texture and ltk only composites.

**When**: a `VectorDrawable` / Lottie frame, a custom-painted gauge, or
embedding another renderer's output.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ External, Element };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg {}
# fn _ex() -> Element<Msg> {
External::cpu( 120.0, 120.0, |canvas, rect|
{
	canvas.fill_rect( rect, ltk::Color::rgb( 0.1, 0.1, 0.12 ), 8.0 );
	// any Canvas primitive: fill_path, set_clip_path, draw_text, …
} ).into()
# }
```

**See also**: the CPU-drawing and path-clip recipe in
[`docs/cookbook.md`](./cookbook.md#custom-cpu-drawing-and-path-clipping).

---

## Clipping wrappers

### `scroll`

A scrollable viewport — vertical by default, with `.horizontal()` and `.both()` builders switching the axis (`ScrollAxis::{ Vertical, Horizontal, Both }`). Drag the content to scroll; clipping is automatic.

**When**: lists or grids that may overflow the available height.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ column, list_item, scroll, Element };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg {}
# fn _ex() -> Element<Msg> {
scroll(
    column()
        .push( list_item::<Msg>( "Item 1" ) )
        .push( list_item( "Item 2" ) )
        .push( list_item( "Item 3" ) )
)
.into()
# }
```

The scroll widget owns its own gesture handling — drags inside it do
not trigger the app-level `on_swipe_*` callbacks.

**See also**: [`viewport`](#viewport) for passive clipping without
gestures, [`grid`](#grid) inside a `scroll` for app drawers.

### `viewport`

A passive clipping wrapper. Clips its child to the assigned rect; no
scrolling, no gesture handling.

**When**: panels that animate in via a parent translation, fade-in
content, anywhere you want a hard clip without scrolling. The
`fade_bottom( px )` builder feathers the bottom edge to transparent
during slide-in animations (GLES backend; software backend renders a
hard edge).

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ viewport, Element };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg {}
# fn _ex( panel_view: Element<Msg>, panel_height: f32 ) -> Element<Msg> {
viewport( panel_view )
    .height( panel_height )
    .fade_bottom( 16.0 )
.into()
# }
```

**See also**: the slide-in panel recipe in
[`docs/cookbook.md`](./cookbook.md#slide-in-panel).

### `flex`

A row-only filler wrapper. Treats its non-spacer child like a
[`spacer`](#spacer) for leftover-width distribution but draws the child
inside the allocated rect.

**When**: a row where one non-trivial child should fill the remaining
width (a card next to a fixed-size icon).

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ column, flex, row, Element };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg {}
# fn _ex(
#     icon:     Element<Msg>,
#     title:    Element<Msg>,
#     subtitle: Element<Msg>,
# ) -> Element<Msg> {
row()
    .push( icon )
    .push( flex( column().push( title ).push( subtitle ) ) )
.into()
# }
```

`weight( n )` sets the relative share when there are several flex /
spacer siblings.

**See also**: [`spacer`](#spacer) for invisible fillers,
[`column`](#column) and [`row`](#row).

### `carousel`

Horizontal carousel: the focused child sits centred in the viewport at
`focused_width_frac` of the viewport width and its neighbours peek out
on the left / right at `gap` separation. The widget is a pure layout
primitive — the `offset` (positive shifts content right) is owned by
the caller, so drag / inertia / snap-ease live in the host (compositor,
gesture recogniser, etc.).

**When**: mobile-style app switchers, image / story strips, any
single-focus horizontal navigation where neighbours hint at the next /
previous tile.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ button, carousel, container, Element, Color, Corners };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg { Open( usize ) }
# fn _ex( offset: f32 ) -> Element<Msg> {
carousel()
    .focused_width_frac( 0.8 )
    .gap( 16.0 )
    .offset( offset )
    .push( container( button::<Msg>( "Tile 1" ).on_press( Msg::Open( 0 ) ) )
        .background( Color::rgb( 0.95, 0.4, 0.4 ) )
        .radius( Corners::all( 12.0 ) ) )
    .push( container( button::<Msg>( "Tile 2" ).on_press( Msg::Open( 1 ) ) )
        .background( Color::rgb( 0.95, 0.85, 0.3 ) )
        .radius( Corners::all( 12.0 ) ) )
.into()
# }
```

Helpers on the widget translate between offsets and indices:
`snap_offset( viewport_w, idx )` returns the offset that centres tile
`idx`; `focused_index( viewport_w )` rounds the current offset to the
nearest tile. The runnable demo at
[`examples/carousel.rs`](../examples/carousel.rs) shows Prev / Next
buttons and arrow-key navigation against an external `offset` state.

**See also**: [`scroll`](#scroll) for free vertical / horizontal panning
of arbitrary content; [`tabs`](#tabs) for a non-touch alternative.

---

## Overlays and feedback

### `spinner`

Indeterminate progress indicator. The widget is stateless: the application owns the rotation phase and advances it each frame — any monotonically increasing value works, only the fractional part is used. Pair with `App::is_animating` so the run loop keeps requesting redraws while the spinner is on screen.

**When**: long-running operations with no known fraction
(network calls, indexing, "waiting for compositor").

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ spinner, Spinner };
# struct App { spinner_phase: f32 }
# impl App { fn _ex( &self ) -> Spinner {
spinner().phase( self.spinner_phase ).size( 24.0 )
# }}
```

**See also**: [`progress_bar`](#progress_bar) for determinate progress.

### `toast`

Transient notification pill anchored near the bottom of the surface. Not an `Element` — build it in `App::overlays` and return its `.overlay()` while a toast is pending. Auto-dismissal is the application's responsibility: `duration( secs )` only stores a value read back via `duration_value()`, so the app schedules its own "toast expired" timer and clears the state when it fires.

**When**: confirmation snackbars ("Saved"), non-blocking errors,
status flashes.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ toast, OverlaySpec };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg {}
# struct App { toast_message: Option<String> }
# impl App {
fn overlays( &self ) -> Vec<OverlaySpec<Msg>>
{
	match &self.toast_message
	{
		Some( m ) => vec![ toast( m ).duration( 3.0 ).overlay() ],
		None      => vec![],
	}
}
# }
```

**See also**: [`tooltip`](#tooltip) for hover-anchored hints.

### `tooltip`

Anchored hint rendered below a target widget. Like [`toast`](#toast) it is not an `Element` — return its `.overlay()` from `App::overlays` while the hint should be visible. Hover detection and the show / hide delay are the application's responsibility; the automatic variant is `Button::tooltip( text )`, which shows the hint by itself after a pointer dwell on the button.

**When**: discoverable affordances on icon-only controls, keyboard
shortcut reminders, helper text that should not occupy permanent
layout space.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ tooltip, Tooltip, WidgetId };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg {}
# fn _ex() -> Tooltip<Msg> {
tooltip( "Ctrl+S", WidgetId( "btn/save" ) ).max_width( 240 )
# }
```

The overlay anchors below the widget built with the matching
`.id( WidgetId )`. See [`docs/cookbook.md`](./cookbook.md) for the full
overlay wiring.

**See also**: [`toast`](#toast) for transient self-dismissing
notifications.

### `combo`

Select / dropdown with a popup list — single- or multi-select (`multi_select( true )` adds selection chips), with optional type-to-filter (`searchable( true )`). The widget is a stateless projection over an app-owned `ComboState`, and the app places **two** pieces: the trigger (`Combo::trigger()`) goes in the view tree like any widget, and the open popup is either layered into the same surface via `Combo::popup()` inside a [`stack`](#stack), or returned as a real xdg-popup from `App::overlays` via `Combo::overlay()`.

**When**: pick-one (or pick-several) fields with too many options for
a row of [`radio`](#radio) buttons (autocomplete, country list, theme
picker).

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ column, combo, Combo, ComboState, Element, OverlaySpec };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg { Pick( usize ), ToggleOpen, Dismiss }
# struct App { fruits: ComboState }
# impl App {
# fn build_combo( &self ) -> Combo<Msg> {
# let items = vec![ "One".to_string(), "Two".to_string(), "Three".to_string() ];
combo( self.fruits.clone(), items )
	.on_toggle_open( Msg::ToggleOpen )
	.on_select_idx( Msg::Pick )
	.on_dismiss( Msg::Dismiss )
# }
fn view( &self ) -> Element<Msg>
{
	column().push( self.build_combo().trigger() ).into()
}

fn overlays( &self ) -> Vec<OverlaySpec<Msg>>
{
	self.build_combo().overlay().into_iter().collect()
}
# }
```

`update()` then flips `is_open` on `ToggleOpen` / `Dismiss` and writes
the selection into the `ComboState` on `Pick`.

**See also**: [`radio`](#radio) for small mutually-exclusive sets,
[`notebook`](#notebook) for tabbed mode switches.

### `tabs`

A bare tab bar — visual selection without owning the page content.
Use this when you want full control over what each tab shows.

**When**: paged settings screens where the panes are large and you
want to keep them as siblings in the tree, not as
[`notebook`](#notebook) children.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ tabs, TabBar };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg { TabChanged( usize ) }
# fn _ex( active: usize ) -> TabBar<Msg> {
tabs::<Msg, _, _>( [ "Profile", "Network", "Privacy" ] )
    .selected( active )
    .on_select( Msg::TabChanged )
# }
```

**See also**: [`notebook`](#notebook) for tabs that own their pages.

### `notebook`

Tabbed container. Owns the pages and shows only the active one.

**When**: settings dialogs, multi-step forms, anywhere a flat
[`tabs`](#tabs) bar over hand-managed pages would be more code than
benefit.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ notebook, text, Notebook };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg { TabChanged( usize ) }
# fn _ex( active: usize ) -> Notebook<Msg> {
notebook::<Msg>()
    .page( "General",  text( "general body"  ) )
    .page( "Advanced", text( "advanced body" ) )
    .selected( active )
    .on_select( Msg::TabChanged )
# }
```

**See also**: [`tabs`](#tabs) for a bare tab bar without page
ownership.

### `dialog`

Modal or non-modal centered confirmation card with a built-in scrim,
optional title, subtitle, custom body, and a right-aligned action
row. Pressing `Esc` fires the configured `cancel` message.

**When**: destructive confirmations ("Delete file?"), guided pickers
that block other interaction until resolved, "are you sure" gates
before a long-running operation.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ button, dialog, ButtonVariant, Element };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg { Cancel, Confirm }
# fn _ex() -> Element<Msg> {
dialog()
    .title( "Delete partition?" )
    .subtitle( "This will erase every file on /dev/sda2." )
    .cancel( Msg::Cancel )
    .action( button::<Msg>( "Cancel" ).variant( ButtonVariant::Tertiary ).on_press( Msg::Cancel ) )
    .action( button::<Msg>( "Delete" ).variant( ButtonVariant::Primary  ).on_press( Msg::Confirm ) )
    .into()
# }
```

`modal( false ) + dismiss_on_scrim( msg )` makes a tap on the dim
background fire `msg`; combining `dismiss_on_scrim` with `modal( true )`
panics when the dialog is converted to an `Element` — the `.into()` asserts with "dialog: dismiss_on_scrim is not valid when modal=true", since the two contracts contradict. `body( elem )`
swaps a custom element in between the subtitle and the action row —
the example app at `examples/dialog.rs` uses this for an in-dialog
slider. `max_width( … )` caps the card width; it accepts any `Length`
and defaults to `Length::fluid( 480.0 )` so the card scales with the
same curve as the stock buttons inside it.

**See also**: [`toast`](#toast) for non-blocking transient
notifications, [`combo`](#combo) for a single-pick popup that does
not require modal blocking.

---

## Pickers

### `date_picker`

Calendar-grid date selector with month / year navigation.

**When**: birthdays, deadlines, any single-date input.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ date_picker, Date, DatePicker };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg { Picked( Date ) }
# fn _ex() -> DatePicker<Msg> {
date_picker( Date::new( 2026, 5, 7 ) ).on_change( Msg::Picked )
# }
```

### `time_picker`

Hour / minute selector. Wheel-style scrubbing on touch.

**When**: alarms, scheduling, time-of-day input.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ time_picker, Time, TimePicker };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg { Picked( Time ) }
# fn _ex( now: Time ) -> TimePicker<Msg> {
time_picker( now ).on_change( Msg::Picked )
# }
```

### `color_picker`

Hue + saturation/value picker with a hex/RGB readout.

**When**: theming UIs, paint tools, accent customisation.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ color_picker, Color, ColorPicker };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg { Picked( Color ) }
# fn _ex( current: Color ) -> ColorPicker<Msg> {
color_picker( current ).on_change( Msg::Picked )
# }
```

---

## Layouts

### `column`

Vertical flow. Children stack top-to-bottom with optional padding,
spacing, alignment.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ button, column, spacer, text, Element };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg { Ok }
# fn _ex() -> Element<Msg> {
column()
    .padding( 24.0 )
    .spacing( 12.0 )
    .push( text( "Title" ) )
    .push( spacer() )
    .push( button( "OK" ).on_press( Msg::Ok ) )
.into()
# }
```

`max_width(px)` caps the inner content width; `fit_content()` reports
the natural content width to the parent (otherwise the column claims
the full available width). `center_y( true )` centres the content
block vertically when there are no spacers.

Watch the defaults: `column()` starts with **16 px padding** on every
side (and 8 px spacing). A column nested inside an already-padded
container silently doubles the inset — pass `.padding( 0.0 )` when the
parent owns the margin.

### `row`

Horizontal flow. Mirror of [`column`](#column) on the X axis — except
its default padding is `0`, not `column`'s 16 px.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ flex, row, Element };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg {}
# fn _ex(
#     label:         Element<Msg>,
#     field:         Element<Msg>,
#     submit_button: Element<Msg>,
# ) -> Element<Msg> {
row()
    .spacing( 8.0 )
    .push( label )
    .push( flex( field ) )
    .push( submit_button )
.into()
# }
```

### `stack`

Z-order overlay. Each child gets explicit horizontal and vertical
alignment (`HAlign` / `VAlign`) plus an optional margin and pixel
translation. Children are drawn in declaration order — the last child
sits on top.

```rust,no_run
# use std::sync::Arc;
# use ltk::{ button, column, img_widget, stack, text, Element, HAlign, VAlign };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg { Add }
# fn _ex( background: Arc<Vec<u8>>, w: u32, h: u32 ) -> Element<Msg> {
stack()
    .push( img_widget( background, w, h ) )
    .push_aligned(
        column().push( text( "Heading" ) ),
        HAlign::Center, VAlign::Center,
    )
    .push_aligned_margin(
        button( "+" ).on_press( Msg::Add ),
        HAlign::End, VAlign::Bottom,
        16.0,
    )
.into()
# }
```

**See also**: [`column`](#column) and [`row`](#row) for flow layout.

### `grid`

Fixed-column-count grid that wraps its children into rows.

**When**: icon launchers, photo galleries, app drawers.

```rust,no_run
# use std::sync::Arc;
# use ltk::{ grid, icon_button, Element };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg { OpenApp1, OpenApp2 }
# fn _ex( app1_rgba: Arc<Vec<u8>>, app2_rgba: Arc<Vec<u8>>, w: u32, h: u32 ) -> Element<Msg> {
grid( 4 )
    .padding( 16.0 )
    .spacing( 12.0 )
    .push( icon_button( app1_rgba, w, h ).on_press( Msg::OpenApp1 ) )
    .push( icon_button( app2_rgba, w, h ).on_press( Msg::OpenApp2 ) )
    // ...
.into()
# }
```

Wrap inside [`scroll`](#scroll) when the grid may overflow.

`centre_last_row( true )` shifts a partial last row so its tiles sit
centred under the full rows above instead of left-aligned — useful for
app switchers and gallery layouts where a 7-of-9 leftover band reads
better balanced.

### `spacer`

An invisible flexible filler. Inside a column / row, absorbs leftover
space along the parent's main axis.

```rust,no_run
# use ltk::{ column, spacer, Element };
# #[ derive( Clone ) ] enum Msg {}
# fn _ex( header: Element<Msg>, footer: Element<Msg> ) -> Element<Msg> {
column()
    .push( header )
    .push( spacer() )       // pushes footer to the bottom
    .push( footer )
.into()
# }
```

`weight( n )` sets the relative share; `height( px )` / `width( px )`
pin the spacer to a fixed size on its respective axis.

**See also**: [`flex`](#flex) for a non-empty filler.