AddThisFeature

Inline Editing

Let people change a single value in place instead of opening a whole edit screen.

moderate Forms & Input

What it adds

Click-to-edit fields in lists, tables, and detail views, with keyboard commit, validation, and rollback.

What your agent is told to do

5
  1. 1

    Pick the fields worth editing inline: short, single-value, low-risk. Long text, relationships, and anything with side effects belong in a real form.

  2. 2

    Make the editable region obviously interactive before it is clicked, and require a deliberate gesture to enter edit mode.

  3. 3

    Support Enter to commit, Escape to cancel, and Tab to commit and move to the next field. Keyboard-only editing must be complete.

  4. 4

    Keep the original value until the save succeeds, and restore it visibly with an explanation if it fails.

  5. 5

    Do NOT enter edit mode on a stray click during text selection or row navigation. An accidental edit mode that eats a keystroke is worse than a slower flow.

Edge cases it handles

7
  • A failed save must restore the previous value and say why, not leave the invalid input sitting there looking saved.
  • If another user changed the value while this one was editing, say so and let them choose. Do not silently overwrite.
  • Losing permission mid-edit must exit edit mode with an explanation, not fail confusingly on submit.
  • Screen readers need the mode change announced and the field labelled — an unlabelled input appearing in a table cell is invisible.
  • The editor must not resize the row or shift the table layout when it opens.
  • Clicking outside should commit or cancel, but pick one and be consistent across the app.
  • Rapid edits to several fields must not race each other into an inconsistent record.

Definition of done

9
  • Editable fields are visually identifiable before interaction.
  • Enter commits, Escape cancels, and Tab commits and advances.
  • A failed save restores the original value and explains the failure.
  • Concurrent edits by another user are detected and surfaced rather than overwritten.
  • Entering and leaving edit mode is announced to assistive technology.
  • Edit mode is never triggered by text selection or row navigation.
  • Row height and column widths do not shift when an editor opens.
  • The feature matches the existing design system.
  • No existing functionality is broken.

Related features

How it works

  1. 1

    Copy the link

    Grab the Markdown instruction URL for this feature.

  2. 2

    Give it to your AI

    Paste it into Claude Code, Cursor, v0, Lovable — whatever you build with.

  3. 3

    It inspects, then implements

    Your agent reads your existing app first, then adds the feature to fit it.

Works with your stack

These instructions are written to adapt. They tell the agent to detect your framework, match your existing design system, and reuse what you already have — rather than assuming a particular stack.

Need it tighter than that? Customize the feature and tell it exactly what you're running.