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Draggables and droppables are the fundamental entities in dnd-kit. They represent elements that can be dragged and elements that can receive dragged items.

​
Entity base class

Both Draggable and Droppable extend a common Entity base class: 
class Entity<T extends Data = Data> {
  id: UniqueIdentifier;
  data: T;
  disabled: boolean;
  manager?: DragDropManager;
  
  register(): CleanupFunction | void;
  unregister(): void;
  destroy(): void;
}

​
Unique identifier

Every entity has a unique identifier that can be a string or number: 
type UniqueIdentifier = string | number;
The id is used to:
  • Register/unregister entities in the manager’s registry
  • Identify entities during drag operations
  • Look up entities by ID
  • Track entity relationships
Identifiers must be unique within their entity type. Having two draggables with the same ID will cause unexpected behavior.

​
Data property

The data property stores custom data associated with the entity: 
type Data = Record<string, any>;

const draggable = new Draggable({
  id: 'item-1',
  element: myElement,
  data: {
    title: 'My Item',
    category: 'featured',
    metadata: { /* ... */ },
  },
});
You can access this data during drag operations: 
manager.monitor.addEventListener('dragend', (event) => {
  const {source, target} = event.operation;
  
  console.log('Dragged:', source?.data);
  console.log('Dropped on:', target?.data);
});

​
Disabled state

You can disable entities to prevent interaction: 
draggable.disabled = true;  // Can't be dragged
droppable.disabled = true;  // Can't receive drops
Disabled entities:
  • Won’t respond to sensor input (draggables)
  • Won’t participate in collision detection (droppables)
  • Remain in the registry but are skipped during operations

​
Draggable

A Draggable represents an element that can be dragged.

​
Creating a draggable

import {Draggable} from '@dnd-kit/dom';

const draggable = new Draggable(
  {
    id: 'item-1',
    element: document.getElementById('item-1'),
  },
  manager
);

​
Type signature

interface DraggableInput<T extends Data = Data> {
  id: UniqueIdentifier;
  element?: Element;
  handle?: Element;
  data?: T;
  disabled?: boolean;
  type?: Type;
  sensors?: Sensors;
  modifiers?: Modifiers;
  plugins?: Plugins;
  alignment?: Alignment;
  register?: boolean;  // Default: true
}

class Draggable<T extends Data = Data> extends Entity<T> {
  element?: Element;           // The draggable element
  handle?: Element;            // Optional drag handle
  type?: Type;                 // Category/type identifier
  sensors?: Sensors;           // Per-entity sensors
  modifiers?: Modifiers;       // Per-entity modifiers
  plugins?: Plugins;           // Per-entity plugins
  alignment?: Alignment;       // Positioning alignment
  
  status: DraggableStatus;     // Current status
  isDragging: boolean;         // Currently being dragged
  isDropping: boolean;         // Currently being dropped
  isDragSource: boolean;       // Is the drag source
}

​
Element and handle

The element is the DOM element that represents the draggable: 
const draggable = new Draggable({
  id: 'item-1',
  element: document.getElementById('item-1'),
});
Optionally specify a handle to restrict where dragging can start: 
const draggable = new Draggable({
  id: 'item-1',
  element: document.getElementById('item-1'),
  handle: document.querySelector('#item-1 .drag-handle'),
});
When a handle is specified:
  • Dragging only starts when interacting with the handle
  • The rest of the element remains interactive
  • Useful for complex UI elements with buttons, links, etc.

​
Status tracking

Draggables track their current status: 
type DraggableStatus = 'idle' | 'dragging' | 'dropping';

// Check status
if (draggable.status === 'dragging') {
  // Currently being dragged
}

// Convenience getters
if (draggable.isDragging) {
  // Same as status === 'dragging' && isDragSource
}

if (draggable.isDragSource) {
  // This draggable is the source of the current drag
}
Status transitions: 
idle → dragging → dropping → idle
       ↓
       idle (if canceled)

​
Type categorization

The type property categorizes draggables: 
const draggable = new Draggable({
  id: 'item-1',
  element: myElement,
  type: 'card',
});
Droppables can accept only specific types: 
const droppable = new Droppable({
  id: 'container-1',
  element: containerElement,
  accept: 'card',  // Only accepts 'card' type draggables
});

​
Per-entity configuration

You can override manager settings for individual draggables: 
import {PointerSensor} from '@dnd-kit/dom';
import {RestrictToVerticalAxis} from '@dnd-kit/abstract';

const draggable = new Draggable({
  id: 'item-1',
  element: myElement,
  
  // Use specific sensors for this draggable
  sensors: [PointerSensor],
  
  // Apply modifiers only to this draggable
  modifiers: [RestrictToVerticalAxis],
  
  // Configure plugins for this draggable
  plugins: [
    MyPlugin.configure({ /* options */ }),
  ],
});

​
Droppable

A Droppable represents an element that can receive dragged items.

​
Creating a droppable

import {Droppable} from '@dnd-kit/dom';
import {pointerIntersection} from '@dnd-kit/dom';

const droppable = new Droppable(
  {
    id: 'container-1',
    element: document.getElementById('container-1'),
    collisionDetector: pointerIntersection,
  },
  manager
);

​
Type signature

interface DroppableInput<T extends Data = Data> {
  id: UniqueIdentifier;
  element?: Element;
  data?: T;
  disabled?: boolean;
  type?: Type;
  accept?: Type | Type[] | ((source: Draggable) => boolean);
  collisionDetector: CollisionDetector;
  collisionPriority?: CollisionPriority | number;
  register?: boolean;  // Default: true
}

class Droppable<T extends Data = Data> extends Entity<T> {
  element?: Element;                  // The droppable element
  type?: Type;                        // Category/type identifier
  accept?: Type | Type[] | Function;  // Acceptance rules
  collisionDetector: CollisionDetector;
  collisionPriority?: CollisionPriority | number;
  shape?: Shape;                      // Current bounding rectangle
  
  isDropTarget: boolean;              // Is the current drop target
  accepts(draggable: Draggable): boolean;
}

​
Collision detection

Every droppable requires a collision detector: 
import {
  pointerIntersection,
  shapeIntersection,
  centerOfMass,
  closestCorners,
} from '@dnd-kit/dom';

const droppable = new Droppable({
  id: 'container-1',
  element: containerElement,
  collisionDetector: pointerIntersection,  // Required
});
See Collision detection for available detectors.

​
Acceptance rules

Control which draggables can be dropped: Accept a specific type: 
const droppable = new Droppable({
  id: 'cards-container',
  element: containerElement,
  accept: 'card',
  collisionDetector: pointerIntersection,
});
Accept multiple types: 
const droppable = new Droppable({
  id: 'mixed-container',
  element: containerElement,
  accept: ['card', 'token', 'piece'],
  collisionDetector: pointerIntersection,
});
Custom acceptance function: 
const droppable = new Droppable({
  id: 'special-container',
  element: containerElement,
  accept: (draggable) => {
    // Custom logic
    return draggable.data?.category === 'premium';
  },
  collisionDetector: pointerIntersection,
});
Accept all (default): 
const droppable = new Droppable({
  id: 'universal-container',
  element: containerElement,
  // accept: undefined (default - accepts all)
  collisionDetector: pointerIntersection,
});

​
Collision priority

When multiple droppables collide, priority determines the winner: 
enum CollisionPriority {
  Lowest,   // 0
  Low,      // 1
  Normal,   // 2 (default)
  High,     // 3
  Highest,  // 4
}

const droppable = new Droppable({
  id: 'priority-container',
  element: containerElement,
  collisionDetector: pointerIntersection,
  collisionPriority: CollisionPriority.High,
});
You can also use custom numeric priorities: 
const droppable = new Droppable({
  id: 'custom-priority',
  element: containerElement,
  collisionDetector: pointerIntersection,
  collisionPriority: 100,  // Custom priority
});

​
Shape tracking

Droppables track their bounding rectangle: 
const {shape} = droppable;

if (shape) {
  console.log('Position:', shape.x, shape.y);
  console.log('Size:', shape.width, shape.height);
}
The shape is automatically updated during drag operations.

​
Drop target status

Check if a droppable is the current drop target: 
if (droppable.isDropTarget) {
  // This droppable is the target of the current drag
}

​
Registration

Entities automatically register with the manager when created: 
const draggable = new Draggable(
  {id: 'item-1', element: myElement},
  manager  // Automatically registers
);

​
Manual registration

You can disable automatic registration: 
const draggable = new Draggable(
  {
    id: 'item-1',
    element: myElement,
    register: false,  // Don't auto-register
  },
  manager
);

// Register manually later
const cleanup = draggable.register();

// Unregister when done
cleanup();
// or
draggable.unregister();

​
Registration lifecycle

Entities can register effects that run when registered: 
const draggable = new Draggable(
  {
    id: 'item-1',
    element: myElement,
    effects: () => [
      // Effect runs when registered
      () => {
        console.log('Registered');
        
        // Cleanup runs when unregistered
        return () => console.log('Unregistered');
      },
    ],
  },
  manager
);

​
Reactive properties

Many entity properties are reactive: 
import {effect} from '@dnd-kit/state';

// React to property changes
effect(() => {
  if (draggable.isDragging) {
    console.log('Started dragging');
  }
});

effect(() => {
  if (droppable.isDropTarget) {
    console.log('Is drop target');
  }
});
Reactive properties:
  • disabled
  • data
  • type
  • status (draggables)
  • accept (droppables)
  • shape (droppables)
  • modifiers (draggables)

​
Type safety

You can type the data property: 
interface CardData {
  title: string;
  category: string;
  priority: number;
}

const draggable = new Draggable<CardData>(
  {
    id: 'card-1',
    element: myElement,
    data: {
      title: 'My Card',
      category: 'tasks',
      priority: 1,
    },
  },
  manager
);

// Type-safe access
const title: string = draggable.data.title;

​
Framework integration

Framework adapters provide idiomatic APIs: 
// React example
import {useDraggable, useDroppable} from '@dnd-kit/react';

function DraggableCard({id, data}) {
  const {ref} = useDraggable({
    id,
    data,
    type: 'card',
  });
  
  return <div ref={ref}>Card</div>;
}

function DroppableContainer({id}) {
  const {ref} = useDroppable({
    id,
    accept: 'card',
  });
  
  return <div ref={ref}>Container</div>;
}

Draggable API

Draggable API reference

Droppable API

Droppable API reference

Collision detection

How collisions work

Data flow

Working with entity data

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