---
title: Chat
sidebar_position: 3
---

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# Chat Contributions

Extensions can add a chat interface to Superset by registering a trigger and a panel. The host owns the layout, open/close state, and display mode — the extension only needs to provide the UI components.

## Overview

A chat registration consists of two React components:

| Component | Role |
|-----------|------|
| **Trigger** | Always-visible entry point (e.g., a floating button). Rendered in the bottom-right corner in floating mode, or as a fixed overlay in panel mode. |
| **Panel** | The chat UI itself (message list, input, etc.). Mounted by the host in the active display mode. |

## Display Modes

The host supports two display modes, switchable by the user or the extension at runtime:

| Mode | Behavior |
|------|----------|
| `floating` | Panel floats above page content, anchored to the bottom-right corner. |
| `panel` | Panel is docked to the right side of the application as a resizable sidebar, sitting beside the page content. |

The user's last selected mode and open/closed state are persisted across page reloads.

## Registering a Chat

Call `chat.registerChat` from your extension's entry point with a descriptor, a trigger factory, and a panel factory:

```tsx
import { chat } from '@apache-superset/core';
import ChatTrigger from './ChatTrigger';
import ChatPanel from './ChatPanel';

chat.registerChat(
  { id: 'my-org.my-chat', name: 'My Chat' },
  ChatTrigger,
  ChatPanel,
);
```

Only one chat registration is active at a time. If a second extension calls `registerChat`, it replaces the first and a warning is logged.

## Opening and Closing the Chat

The trigger component is responsible for toggling the panel. Use `chat.isOpen()`, `chat.open()`, and `chat.close()` to control visibility:

```tsx
import { chat } from '@apache-superset/core';

export default function ChatTrigger() {
  return (
    <button onClick={() => (chat.isOpen() ? chat.close() : chat.open())}>
      💬
    </button>
  );
}
```

You can also subscribe to open/close events from any component:

```tsx
useEffect(() => {
  const { dispose } = chat.onDidOpen(() => console.log('chat opened'));
  return dispose;
}, []);
```

## Changing the Display Mode

Call `chat.setDisplayMode` to switch between `'floating'` and `'panel'` modes. In your panel component, subscribe to `onDidChangeDisplayMode` to react to changes (including those triggered by the user):

```tsx
import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import { chat } from '@apache-superset/core';

export default function ChatPanel() {
  const [mode, setMode] = useState(chat.getDisplayMode());

  useEffect(() => {
    const { dispose } = chat.onDidChangeDisplayMode(m => setMode(m));
    return dispose;
  }, []);

  return (
    <div style={{ height: mode === 'panel' ? '100%' : '80vh' }}>
      <button onClick={() => chat.setDisplayMode(mode === 'panel' ? 'floating' : 'panel')}>
        {mode === 'panel' ? 'Float' : 'Dock'}
      </button>
      {/* message list and input */}
    </div>
  );
}
```

## Chat API Reference

All methods are available on the `chat` namespace from `@apache-superset/core`:

| Method / Event | Description |
|----------------|-------------|
| `registerChat(descriptor, trigger, panel)` | Register a chat extension. Returns a `Disposable` to unregister. |
| `open()` | Open the chat panel. No-op if already open or no registration. |
| `close()` | Close the chat panel. |
| `isOpen()` | Returns `true` if the panel is currently open. |
| `getDisplayMode()` | Returns the current display mode (`'floating'` or `'panel'`). |
| `setDisplayMode(mode)` | Switch between `'floating'` and `'panel'` mode. |
| `onDidOpen(listener)` | Subscribe to panel open events. Returns a `Disposable`. |
| `onDidClose(listener)` | Subscribe to panel close events. Returns a `Disposable`. |
| `onDidChangeDisplayMode(listener)` | Subscribe to display mode changes. Returns a `Disposable`. |
| `onDidRegisterChat(listener)` | Subscribe to registration events. |
| `onDidUnregisterChat(listener)` | Subscribe to unregistration events. |
| `onDidResizePanel(listener)` | Subscribe to panel resize events (panel mode only). Not all hosts provide a resizer — do not rely on this firing. Returns a `Disposable`. |

## Next Steps

- **[Contribution Types](../contribution-types.md)** — Explore other contribution types
- **[Development](../development.md)** — Set up your development environment