computePosition

This is an async function that computes and returns x and y coordinates to position a floating element next to a reference element. autoUpdate is used with it to ensure the floating element remains “anchored” to its reference element.

Usage

The function works with two elements:

Reference element — also known as the anchor element, this is the element that is being referred to for positioning. Often this is a button that triggers a popup like a tooltip or menu.
Floating element — this is the element that floats next to the reference element, remaining anchored to it. This is the popup or tooltip itself.

<button id="button">My reference element</button>
<div id="tooltip">My floating element</div>

<button id="button">My reference element</button>
<div id="tooltip">My floating element</div>

First, give the floating element initial CSS styles so that it becomes an absolutely-positioned element that floats on top of the UI with layout ready for being measured:

#tooltip {
  /* Float on top of the UI */
  position: absolute;
 
  /* Avoid layout interference */
  width: max-content;
  top: 0;
  left: 0;
}

#tooltip {
  /* Float on top of the UI */
  position: absolute;
 
  /* Avoid layout interference */
  width: max-content;
  top: 0;
  left: 0;
}

Then, ensuring that these two elements are rendered onto the document and can be measured, call computePosition()computePosition() with them as arguments.

The first argument is the reference element to anchor to, and the second argument is the floating element to be positioned.

import {computePosition} from '@floating-ui/dom';
 
const button = document.querySelector('#button');
const tooltip = document.querySelector('#tooltip');
 
computePosition(button, tooltip).then(({x, y}) => {
  Object.assign(tooltip.style, {
    left: `${x}px`,
    top: `${y}px`,
  });
});

import {computePosition} from '@floating-ui/dom';
 
const button = document.querySelector('#button');
const tooltip = document.querySelector('#tooltip');
 
computePosition(button, tooltip).then(({x, y}) => {
  Object.assign(tooltip.style, {
    left: `${x}px`,
    top: `${y}px`,
  });
});

computePosition()computePosition() returns a PromisePromise that resolves with the coordinates that can be used to apply styles to the floating element.

By default, the floating element will be placed at the bottom center of the reference element.

Initial layout

To ensure positioning works smoothly, the dimensions of the floating element should not change before and after being positioned.

Certain CSS styles must be applied before computePosition()computePosition() is called:

position: absoluteposition: absolute

This makes the element float on top of the UI with intrinsic dimensions based on the content, instead of acting as a block. The toptop and leftleft coordinates can then take effect.

width: max-contentwidth: max-content (or a fixed value)
top: 0top: 0
left: 0left: 0

These properties prevent the floating element from resizing when it overflows a container, removing layout interference that can cause incorrect measurements.

This lets you place the floating element anywhere in the DOM tree and have it be positioned correctly, regardless of the CSS styles of any ancestor containers.

Options

Passed as a third argument, this is the object to configure the behavior.

computePosition(referenceEl, floatingEl, {
  // options
});

computePosition(referenceEl, floatingEl, {
  // options
});

placement

Where to place the floating element relative to its reference element. By default, this is 'bottom''bottom'.

12 strings are available:

type Placement =
  | 'top'
  | 'top-start'
  | 'top-end'
  | 'right'
  | 'right-start'
  | 'right-end'
  | 'bottom'
  | 'bottom-start'
  | 'bottom-end'
  | 'left'
  | 'left-start'
  | 'left-end';

type Placement =
  | 'top'
  | 'top-start'
  | 'top-end'
  | 'right'
  | 'right-start'
  | 'right-end'
  | 'bottom'
  | 'bottom-start'
  | 'bottom-end'
  | 'left'
  | 'left-start'
  | 'left-end';

computePosition(referenceEl, floatingEl, {
  placement: 'bottom-start', // 'bottom' by default
});

computePosition(referenceEl, floatingEl, {
  placement: 'bottom-start', // 'bottom' by default
});

The -start-start and -end-end alignments are logical and will adapt to the writing direction (e.g. RTL) as expected.

strategy

This is the type of CSS position property to use. Two strings are available:

type Strategy = 'absolute' | 'fixed';

type Strategy = 'absolute' | 'fixed';

computePosition(referenceEl, floatingEl, {
  strategy: 'fixed', // 'absolute' by default
});

computePosition(referenceEl, floatingEl, {
  strategy: 'fixed', // 'absolute' by default
});

Ensure your initial layout matches the strategy:

#tooltip {
  position: fixed;
}

#tooltip {
  position: fixed;
}

These strategies are differentiated as follows:

'absolute''absolute' — the floating element is positioned relative to its nearest positioned ancestor. With most layouts, this usually requires the browser to do the least work when updating the position.
'fixed''fixed' — the floating element is positioned relative to its nearest containing block (usually the viewport). This is useful when the reference element is also fixed to reduce jumpiness with positioning while scrolling. It will in many cases also “break” the floating element out of a clipping ancestor.

middleware

When you want granular control over how the floating element is positioned, middleware are used. They read the current coordinates, optionally alter them, and/or provide data to the consumer. They compose and work together to produce the final coordinates which you receive as xx and yy parameters.

The following are included in the package:

Placement modifiers

These middleware alter the base placement coordinates.

offset modifies the placement to add distance or margin between the reference and floating elements.
inline positions the floating element relative to individual client rects rather than the bounding box for better precision.

Visibility optimizers

These middleware alter the coordinates to ensure the floating element stays on screen optimally.

shift prevents the floating element from overflowing a clipping container by shifting it to stay in view.
flip prevents the floating element from overflowing a clipping container by flipping it to the opposite placement to stay in view.
autoPlacement automatically chooses a placement for you using a “most space” strategy.
size resizes the floating element, for example so it will not overflow a clipping container, or to match the width of the reference element.

Data providers

These middleware only provide data and do not alter the coordinates.

arrow provides data to position an inner element of the floating element such that it is centered to its reference element.
hide provides data to hide the floating element in applicable situations when it no longer appears attached to its reference element due to different clipping contexts.

Custom

You can also craft your own custom middleware to extend the behavior of the library. Read Middleware to learn how to create your own.

Conditional

Middleware can be called conditionally inside the array inline for ergonomics:

// The array can accept `false`, `null`, or `undefined`
// inside of it. They get filtered out.
type MiddlewareOption = Array<
  Middleware | false | null | undefined
>;

// The array can accept `false`, `null`, or `undefined`
// inside of it. They get filtered out.
type MiddlewareOption = Array<
  Middleware | false | null | undefined
>;

Often this is useful for higher-level wrapper functions to avoid needing the consumer to import middleware themselves:

function wrapper(referenceEl, floatingEl, options) {
  computePosition(referenceEl, floatingEl, {
    ...options,
    middleware: [
      options.shouldFlip && flip(),
      options.arrowEl && arrow({element: arrowEl}),
    ],
  });
}

function wrapper(referenceEl, floatingEl, options) {
  computePosition(referenceEl, floatingEl, {
    ...options,
    middleware: [
      options.shouldFlip && flip(),
      options.arrowEl && arrow({element: arrowEl}),
    ],
  });
}

Return value

computePosition()computePosition() returns the following type:

interface ComputePositionReturn {
  x: number;
  y: number;
  placement: Placement;
  strategy: Strategy;
  middlewareData: MiddlewareData;
}

interface ComputePositionReturn {
  x: number;
  y: number;
  placement: Placement;
  strategy: Strategy;
  middlewareData: MiddlewareData;
}