DragDropManager

Orchestrate drag and drop interactions between elements.

The DragDropManager is the central orchestrator of the drag and drop system. It coordinates all interactions between draggable and droppable elements.

Usage

Create a manager instance to coordinate drag and drop interactions:

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

const manager = new DragDropManager();

options · object

Optional configuration for the manager:

• sensors: Sensors to detect drag interactions — an array or a function that receives the defaults
• plugins: Plugins to extend functionality — an array or a function that receives the defaults
• modifiers: Modifiers to customize behavior — an array or a function that receives the defaults

Configuration

The manager comes with sensible defaults, but you can customize its behavior. The plugins, sensors, and modifiers options accept either an array (which replaces the defaults) or a function that receives the default values and returns a new array.

Extending defaults

Use the function form to add to or configure the defaults without replacing them:

import {DragDropManager} from '@dnd-kit/dom';
import {RestrictToWindow} from '@dnd-kit/dom/modifiers';

const manager = new DragDropManager({
  // Add a plugin to the defaults
  plugins: (defaults) => [...defaults, MyPlugin],

  // Configure a default sensor
  sensors: (defaults) => [
    ...defaults,
    PointerSensor.configure({
      activationConstraints: { distance: 5 },
    }),
  ],

  // Add a modifier
  modifiers: (defaults) => [...defaults, RestrictToWindow],
});

Replacing defaults

Pass an array to fully replace the defaults:

import {
  DragDropManager,
  KeyboardSensor,
  PointerSensor,
} from '@dnd-kit/dom';

const manager = new DragDropManager({
  sensors: [
    PointerSensor,  // Handles mouse and touch
    KeyboardSensor, // Enables keyboard navigation
  ],

  plugins: [
    AutoScroller,   // Automatic scrolling during drag
    Accessibility,  // ARIA attributes management
  ],

  modifiers: [
    RestrictToWindow, // Keeps dragged items within window bounds
  ],
});

Default configuration

The manager includes these defaults out of the box:

Sensors

• PointerSensor: Handles mouse and touch interactions
  • Mouse: Activates immediately on drag handle
  • Touch: 250ms delay with 5px movement tolerance
  • Other pointers: 200ms delay with 5px distance threshold
• KeyboardSensor: Enables keyboard navigation with arrow keys

Plugins

• Accessibility: Manages ARIA attributes and announcements
• AutoScroller: Scrolls containers when dragging near edges
• Cursor: Updates cursor appearance during drag
• Feedback: Controls visual feedback during drag
• PreventSelection: Prevents text selection while dragging
• ScrollListener: Monitors scroll events during drag
• Scroller: Handles programmatic scrolling

Events

The manager’s monitor lets you observe drag and drop events:

// Observe drag start
manager.monitor.addEventListener('beforedragstart', (event) => {
  // Optionally prevent dragging
  if (shouldPreventDrag(event.operation.source)) {
    event.preventDefault();
  }
});

// Track movement
manager.monitor.addEventListener('dragmove', (event) => {
  const {source, position} = event.operation;
  console.log(`Dragging ${source.id} to ${position.current}`);
});

// Detect collisions
manager.monitor.addEventListener('collision', (event) => {
  const [firstCollision] = event.collisions;
  if (firstCollision) {
    console.log(`Colliding with ${firstCollision.id}`);
  }
});

// Listen for when dragging ends
manager.monitor.addEventListener('dragend', (event) => {
  const {source, target, canceled} = event.operation;
  if (!canceled && target) {
    console.log(`Dropped ${source.id} onto ${target.id}`);
  }
});

Available Events

beforedragstart · Event

Fires before drag begins. Can be prevented.

Show Properties

operation · object

The drag operation that is about to begin

preventDefault · function

Call to prevent the drag operation from starting

dragstart · Event

Fires when drag starts.

Show Properties

operation · object

The current drag operation

nativeEvent · Event

The original browser event that triggered the drag

dragmove · Event

Fires during movement. Can be prevented.

Show Properties

operation · object

The current drag operation

to · Point

The destination coordinates

by · Point

The movement delta

nativeEvent · Event

The original browser event

dragover · Event

Fires when over a droppable. Call event.preventDefault() to prevent the default behavior of plugins that respond to this event.

Show Properties

operation · object

The current drag operation

collision · Event

Fires on droppable collision. Can be prevented.

Show Properties

collisions · Collision[]

Array of detected collisions with droppable targets

dragend · Event

Fires when drag ends.

Show Properties

operation · object

The completed drag operation

canceled · boolean

Whether the operation was canceled

nativeEvent · Event

The original browser event

Registration

The manager’s registry tracks draggable and droppable elements:

// Manual registration
const cleanup = manager.registry.register(draggable);
cleanup(); // Or manager.registry.unregister(draggable);

// Auto-registration with manager reference
const draggable = new Draggable({
  id: 'draggable-1',
  element,
}, manager);

// Opt out of auto-registration
const draggable = new Draggable({
  id: 'draggable-1',
  element,
  register: false
}, manager);

Elements automatically register when created with a manager reference. Only use manual registration for advanced use cases.

API Reference

Properties

• registry: Tracks active elements and extensions

  • draggables: Map of registered draggable elements
  • droppables: Map of registered droppable elements
  • plugins: Registry of active plugins
  • sensors: Registry of active sensors
  • modifiers: Registry of active modifiers

• dragOperation: Current drag operation state

  • source: Currently dragged element
  • target: Current drop target
  • position: Current drag coordinates
  • status: Current operation status
  • canceled: Whether operation was canceled

• monitor: Event system

  • addEventListener: Add event listener
  • removeEventListener: Remove listener

• renderer: Integration with asynchronous renderers such as React

Methods

destroy() · function

Clean up the manager and all registered elements:

• Unregisters all draggables and droppables
• Cleans up all plugins, sensors, and modifiers
• Removes all event listeners

Lifecycle

1. Initialization

   • Manager created
   • Default plugins and sensors registered
   • Custom configuration applied

2. Registration

   • Draggable and droppable elements register
   • Plugins initialize
   • Event listeners bound

3. Operation

   • Drag operations tracked
   • Events dispatched
   • Collisions detected

4. Cleanup

   • Elements unregister
   • Event listeners removed
   • Resources released