calcite_action: Create a Calcite Action Component

In calcite: Bindings to the Calcite Design System 'JavaScript' Component Library

Create a Calcite Action Component

Description

Creates an action button that can be used within action bars and action groups. Actions provide a compact way to trigger operations with icon-based buttons.

Usage

calcite_action(
  text,
  icon = NULL,
  id = NULL,
  active = NULL,
  disabled = NULL,
  indicator = NULL,
  text_enabled = NULL,
  scale = NULL,
  alignment = NULL,
  appearance = NULL,
  loading = NULL,
  label = NULL,
  ...
)

Arguments

text	Text label for the action (required, also used for accessibility)
icon	Icon name from the Calcite icon set
id	Optional ID for the action (required for Shiny reactivity)
active	Whether the action is highlighted/selected
disabled	Whether the action is disabled
indicator	Whether to show a visual indicator (e.g., notification badge)
text_enabled	Whether to display the text label alongside the icon
scale	Size of the action: "s" (small), "m" (medium), or "l" (large)
alignment	Text alignment: "start", "center", or "end"
appearance	Visual style: "solid" or "transparent"
loading	Whether to show a loading indicator
label	Custom accessibility label (defaults to text if not provided)
...	Additional attributes passed to the component

Details

Shiny Integration

When used in a Shiny app, calcite_action() returns a reactive list containing all component properties. You can observe the entire component state or watch individual properties:

Available properties:

• ⁠$clicked⁠ - Boolean that toggles on each click (use this to detect clicks)

• ⁠$active⁠ - Whether the action is currently active/highlighted

• ⁠$disabled⁠ - Whether the action is disabled

• ⁠$icon⁠ - The icon name

• ⁠$text⁠ - The text label

• ⁠$indicator⁠ - Whether an indicator is shown

• ⁠$alignment⁠, ⁠$appearance⁠, ⁠$scale⁠, etc. - Other component properties

Usage in server:

# Watch for any change to the action (including clicks)
observeEvent(input$my_action, {
  print("Action changed!")
})

# Watch only the clicked state
observeEvent(input$my_action$clicked, {
  print("Action was clicked!")
})

# Access specific properties
observeEvent(input$my_action, {
  is_active <- input$my_action$active
  click_state <- input$my_action$clicked
})

Value

An object of class calcite_component

References

Official Documentation

Examples

# Basic action with icon
calcite_action(
  text = "Layers",
  icon = "layers",
  id = "layers-action"
)

# Active action with text label
calcite_action(
  text = "Settings",
  icon = "gear",
  active = TRUE,
  text_enabled = TRUE
)

# Action with indicator
calcite_action(
  text = "Notifications",
  icon = "bell",
  indicator = TRUE
)

# Shiny example
if (interactive()) {
  library(shiny)

  ui <- calcite_shell(
    calcite_action(
      id = "my_action",
      text = "Click me",
      icon = "check",
      text_enabled = TRUE
    ),
    verbatimTextOutput("status")
  )

  server <- function(input, output, session) {
    # Respond to clicks
    observeEvent(input$my_action$clicked, {
      message("Action clicked! State: ", input$my_action$clicked)
    })

    # Display all properties
    output$status <- renderPrint({
      input$my_action
    })
  }

  shinyApp(ui, server)
}

calcite documentation built on March 3, 2026, 5:07 p.m.