app-ux-paradigms

Design

Applies standard web app UX for keyboard shortcuts, modals, overlays, forms, and interaction patterns. Use when building UI, dialogs, menus, hotkeys, help text, accessibility, or when the user asks about Esc, shortcuts, modal close, backdrop click, or common desktop-app expectations.

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App UX: keyboard shortcuts and common paradigms

User preference

Match desktop-app and modern web conventions by default. Users should not need to hunt for close affordances or discover shortcuts only by accident. Implement the patterns below unless the product explicitly opts out.

Pair with the sync-url-navigation skill for bookmarkable nav/filter state.

Keyboard shortcuts

Must-have behaviors

Key / chord	Expected behavior
Esc	Close the topmost overlay: modal, drawer, popover, context menu, inline edit. Do not close if a destructive save is in flight—block Esc while `saving` or show a clear state.
⌘/Ctrl+Enter	Submit primary form or send message in chat/composer (when focus is in a text field).
Enter	Submit single-line fields; in multi-line fields, Enter = newline unless Shift+Enter is documented as send.
⌘/Ctrl+letter	Use for global toggles (e.g. ⌘/Ctrl+J = open assistant panel). Always support both `metaKey` (Mac) and `ctrlKey` (Windows/Linux).

Implementation notes

Attach document-level keydown listeners when an overlay opens; remove on unmount.
Call event.preventDefault() on Esc when handling it so nested browser UI does not steal the key.
Show shortcuts in title tooltips on icon buttons (e.g. Close (Esc)).
Surface the same shortcuts in an in-app Help section with <kbd> styling.
Avoid shortcut conflicts: check !event.shiftKey / !event.altKey when the chord is specific (e.g. Ctrl+J vs Ctrl+Shift+K).

Optional but valued

Pattern	Use when
⌘/Ctrl+K	Command palette / quick open (if the app has one)
⌘/Ctrl+Shift+K	Secondary global action (e.g. clear chat / reset context)—only if distinct from Ctrl+K
?	Toggle keyboard shortcut help (when not typing in an input)
/	Focus search (when not in an input)

Modals and overlays

Paradigm	Requirement
Esc	Closes modal (see above).
Backdrop click	Clicking dimmed area outside the panel closes (call same `close()` as ×).
× control	Top-right (or consistent corner), `type="button"`, labeled `title` with Esc hint.
Click propagation	`stopPropagation` on panel content so inner clicks do not close.
Focus	Move focus into modal on open; return focus to trigger on close when practical.
Scroll	Lock or contain body scroll for full-screen overlays; allow scroll inside tall forms.

Apply the same close trio (Esc, backdrop, ×) to Speaker editor, slot editor, confirmation dialogs, and any fixed inset-0 overlay.

Menus and transient UI

Context menus: Esc closes; click outside closes (mousedown on document).
Hover cards / tooltips: Do not trap Esc unless they are modal; dismiss on pointer leave or Esc if sticky.
Inline edit (e.g. grid cell): Esc cancels edit without saving.

Forms and async actions

Disable primary submit while saving; label button Saving….
Show inline error under the form, not only alert.
Required fields: validate on submit; focus first invalid field.
Clear resets filters to empty defaults and syncs URL if using query-param routing.

Lists, tables, and selection

Row click opens editor or expands detail (consistent per table).
Shift+click multi-select where bulk actions exist; show selection chrome and a bulk action bar.
ID chips: click copies to clipboard with brief status feedback (Copied).
Empty states: explain why no rows (no data vs no matches vs filters too narrow).
Load more for long tables instead of rendering thousands of rows at once.

Search and filters

Use type="search" where appropriate.
Changing filters resets pagination/limit to the first page.
Debounce URL sync is optional; immediate URL sync is fine for admin tools.

Feedback and safety

Status line or toast for export, save, copy, undo—not silent success.
Undo for reversible schedule/data edits when the backend supports it.
Destructive actions (delete, rollback): confirm in-modal or confirm(); never rely only on icon buttons.
Role-gated UI: hide or disable edit actions for viewers; explain in help text.

Accessibility baseline

Visible focus rings on interactive elements.
Buttons for actions; avoid div onClick without role and keyboard support.
Meaningful title / aria-label on icon-only controls.
Do not rely on color alone for status (use text labels or pills).

Checklist for new UI

Esc closes overlay / menu / inline edit
Backdrop + × use same close handler
Global shortcuts use ⌘ and Ctrl
Shortcuts documented in tooltips and Help
Submit disabled while saving; Esc blocked if close would lose in-flight save
Click-outside closes non-modal menus
Primary action discoverable without reading source

Reference (this repo)

AI Engineer WF 2026 schedule admin examples:

SpeakerEditor.tsx — Esc + backdrop + ×; Esc disabled while saving
ContextMenu.tsx — Esc + outside click
GridView.tsx — Esc cancels inline edit; Shift+click selection
FloatingAiebot.tsx — ⌘/Ctrl+J toggle, ⌘/Ctrl+Shift+K clear chat
AiebotPanel.tsx — ⌘/Ctrl+Enter send
HelpPanel.tsx — documents grid and aiebot shortcuts

Anti-patterns

Modal with only × and no Esc or backdrop close
Shortcut only in README, not in UI
Mac-only metaKey with no ctrlKey
Esc closes modal but leaves a nested context menu open underneath
Silent failures on save/export/copy