@tanstack/table-core 9.0.0-alpha.8 → 9.0.0-beta.2

package/skills/state-management/SKILL.md

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+---
+name: state-management
+description: >
+  Coordinate TanStack Table v9 state across `initialState`, controlled
+  `state`+`on*Change`, and external `atoms`. Covers the atom model
+  (`table.atoms.<slice>`, `table.baseAtoms.<slice>`, `table.store`, `table.state`),
+  per-slice precedence (atoms beat state beat initialState beat baseAtoms),
+  `manualSorting` / `manualFiltering` / `manualPagination` / `manualGrouping` /
+  `manualExpanding` for server-side data, `autoResetPageIndex` / `autoResetAll`,
+  reset APIs (`resetSorting`, `resetPagination`, `reset()`), and the
+  `SortingState` / `PaginationState` / `RowSelectionState` / `ColumnFiltersState` /
+  `GroupingState` shapes. Foundational for every other skill.
+type: core
+library: tanstack-table
+library_version: '9.0.0-alpha.48'
+sources:
+  - TanStack/table:docs/framework/vanilla/guide/table-state.md
+  - TanStack/table:docs/framework/react/guide/table-state.md
+  - TanStack/table:packages/table-core/src/store-reactivity-bindings.ts
+  - TanStack/table:packages/table-core/src/reactivity.ts
+  - TanStack/table:packages/table-core/src/core/table/constructTable.ts
+---
+
+## Setup
+
+TanStack Table v9 is built on TanStack Store. Each state slice (sorting, pagination, columnFilters, rowSelection, columnVisibility, …) is a separate atom. There are four ownership patterns, and the table reads from them in a fixed precedence.
+
+```ts
+import {
+  constructTable,
+  tableFeatures,
+  rowSortingFeature,
+  rowPaginationFeature,
+  createSortedRowModel,
+  createPaginatedRowModel,
+  sortFns,
+} from '@tanstack/table-core'
+
+const features = tableFeatures({ rowSortingFeature, rowPaginationFeature })
+
+const table = constructTable({
+  features,
+  rowModels: {
+    sortedRowModel: createSortedRowModel(sortFns),
+    paginatedRowModel: createPaginatedRowModel(),
+  },
+  columns,
+  data,
+  // 1. initialState — set starting values; read once at construction
+  initialState: {
+    sorting: [{ id: 'lastName', desc: false }],
+    pagination: { pageIndex: 0, pageSize: 10 },
+  },
+})
+
+// Read APIs:
+table.store.state // flat snapshot of every slice (no subscription)
+table.atoms.sorting.get() // single-slice atom read (no subscription)
+table.state // typed output of the `useTable` selector (framework adapters)
+
+// Write APIs use the feature setters — they're atom-aware:
+table.setSorting([{ id: 'firstName', desc: true }])
+table.setPageIndex(2)
+```
+
+The four ownership patterns per slice:
+
+| Pattern                             | When to use                                          | Wins over                       |
+| ----------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------- |
+| internal (default)                  | Most slices in a simple table                        | nothing — baseline              |
+| `initialState.<slice>`              | Set starting value only                              | internal default                |
+| `state.<slice>` + `on<Slice>Change` | v8-style controlled state                            | `initialState`                  |
+| `atoms.<slice>`                     | v9 preferred — share with other components / queries | `state`+`on*Change` (silently!) |
+
+## Core Patterns
+
+### Internal state with `initialState`
+
+```ts
+const table = constructTable({
+  features,
+  rowModels: { sortedRowModel: createSortedRowModel(sortFns) },
+  columns,
+  data,
+  initialState: { sorting: [{ id: 'age', desc: false }] },
+})
+// State lives entirely inside the table.
+table.setSorting([{ id: 'firstName', desc: true }])
+```
+
+### Controlled state with `state` + `on*Change` (v8-style)
+
+```tsx
+const [sorting, setSorting] = React.useState<SortingState>([])
+
+const table = useTable({
+  features,
+  rowModels: { sortedRowModel: createSortedRowModel(sortFns) },
+  columns,
+  data,
+  state: { sorting },
+  onSortingChange: setSorting,
+})
+```
+
+`state` and `on*Change` must be paired. Without the callback the table cannot update React state, so toggling sort appears to do nothing.
+
+### External atom (v9 preferred for shared slices)
+
+```tsx
+import { useCreateAtom } from '@tanstack/react-store'
+
+function MyTable() {
+  // Hoist or pass via context to share with queries / other components.
+  const paginationAtom = useCreateAtom<PaginationState>({
+    pageIndex: 0,
+    pageSize: 10,
+  })
+
+  const table = useTable({
+    features,
+    rowModels: { paginatedRowModel: createPaginatedRowModel() },
+    columns,
+    data,
+    atoms: { pagination: paginationAtom },
+    // no state.pagination, no onPaginationChange needed
+  })
+
+  return <Pager paginationAtom={paginationAtom} />
+}
+```
+
+The atom IS the source of truth; `table.atoms.pagination` derives from it.
+
+### Server-side / manual mode
+
+```tsx
+const [pagination, setPagination] = React.useState({
+  pageIndex: 0,
+  pageSize: 10,
+})
+const dataQuery = useQuery({
+  queryKey: ['rows', pagination],
+  queryFn: () => fetchPage(pagination),
+})
+
+const table = useTable({
+  features: tableFeatures({ rowPaginationFeature }),
+  rowModels: {}, // can drop paginatedRowModel — server paginates
+  columns,
+  data: dataQuery.data?.rows ?? EMPTY,
+  rowCount: dataQuery.data?.rowCount, // server tells the table the total
+  state: { pagination },
+  onPaginationChange: setPagination,
+  manualPagination: true, // ← tell the table to NOT re-paginate
+})
+```
+
+The same shape applies to `manualSorting`, `manualFiltering`, `manualGrouping`, `manualExpanding`. Without the flag, the table re-applies its client-side pipeline on top of already-prepared server data.
+
+## Common Mistakes
+
+### [CRITICAL] Passing both `state.<slice>` and `atoms.<slice>`
+
+Wrong:
+
+```tsx
+// both ownership paths for the same slice
+const paginationAtom = useCreateAtom<PaginationState>({ pageIndex: 0, pageSize: 10 })
+const [pagination, setPagination] = React.useState(...)
+
+const table = useTable({
+  features, rowModels: {...}, columns, data,
+  state: { pagination },                  // ignored
+  onPaginationChange: setPagination,
+  atoms: { pagination: paginationAtom },  // wins
+})
+```
+
+Correct:
+
+```tsx
+// pick one ownership path per slice — here, external atoms
+const paginationAtom = useCreateAtom<PaginationState>({ pageIndex: 0, pageSize: 10 })
+
+const table = useTable({
+  features, rowModels: {...}, columns, data,
+  atoms: { pagination: paginationAtom },
+})
+```
+
+When both are supplied, the external atom wins silently. `state.pagination` becomes dead config and `setPagination` writes never reach the table.
+
+Source: docs/framework/react/guide/table-state.md; packages/table-core/src/core/table/constructTable.ts
+
+### [CRITICAL] Using external `state` without the matching `on*Change` callback
+
+Wrong:
+
+```tsx
+const [sorting, setSorting] = React.useState<SortingState>([])
+const table = useTable({
+  features,
+  rowModels: { sortedRowModel: createSortedRowModel(sortFns) },
+  columns,
+  data,
+  state: { sorting }, // no onSortingChange
+})
+```
+
+Correct:
+
+```tsx
+const [sorting, setSorting] = React.useState<SortingState>([])
+const table = useTable({
+  features,
+  rowModels: { sortedRowModel: createSortedRowModel(sortFns) },
+  columns,
+  data,
+  state: { sorting },
+  onSortingChange: setSorting,
+})
+```
+
+The table keeps reading from `state.sorting`, so the UI looks stuck — sort toggles never make it back into React state.
+
+Source: docs/framework/react/guide/table-state.md; examples/react/basic-external-state/src/main.tsx
+
+### [HIGH] Using `initialState` to control or update state
+
+Wrong:
+
+```tsx
+// updates to initialState are ignored after first render
+function MyTable({ defaultSort }: { defaultSort: SortingState }) {
+  const table = useTable({
+    features,
+    rowModels: { sortedRowModel: createSortedRowModel(sortFns) },
+    columns,
+    data,
+    initialState: { sorting: defaultSort }, // later changes never sync
+  })
+}
+```
+
+Correct:
+
+```tsx
+function MyTable({ defaultSort }: { defaultSort: SortingState }) {
+  const [sorting, setSorting] = React.useState(defaultSort)
+  const table = useTable({
+    features,
+    rowModels: { sortedRowModel: createSortedRowModel(sortFns) },
+    columns,
+    data,
+    state: { sorting },
+    onSortingChange: setSorting,
+  })
+}
+```
+
+`initialState` is read once at construction to seed `baseAtoms`. Mutating it later does nothing.
+
+Source: docs/framework/vanilla/guide/table-state.md; docs/framework/react/guide/table-state.md
+
+### [HIGH] Writing to `table.baseAtoms.<slice>` while `atoms.<slice>` owns the slice
+
+Wrong:
+
+```ts
+const paginationAtom = useCreateAtom<PaginationState>({ pageIndex: 0, pageSize: 10 })
+const table = useTable({ features, rowModels: {...}, columns, data, atoms: { pagination: paginationAtom } })
+
+table.baseAtoms.pagination.set((old) => ({ ...old, pageIndex: 0 }))
+// baseAtom updated, but table.atoms.pagination still reads from paginationAtom
+```
+
+Correct:
+
+```ts
+// Write to the external atom directly, OR use the feature's setter API
+paginationAtom.set((old) => ({ ...old, pageIndex: 0 }))
+// or
+table.setPageIndex(0) // setter writes through the slice's updater (atom-aware)
+```
+
+When an external atom owns a slice, `table.atoms.<slice>` derives from it — not from `baseAtoms`. Direct base-atom writes drift and never surface in the UI.
+
+Source: docs/framework/vanilla/guide/table-state.md; packages/table-core/src/core/table/constructTable.ts
+
+### [CRITICAL] Forgetting `manualSorting` / `manualFiltering` / `manualPagination` for server-side data
+
+Wrong:
+
+```tsx
+// data is already paginated server-side, but table still slices it
+const dataQuery = useQuery({
+  queryKey: ['data', pagination],
+  queryFn: fetchPage,
+})
+const table = useTable({
+  features,
+  rowModels: { paginatedRowModel: createPaginatedRowModel() },
+  columns,
+  data: dataQuery.data?.rows ?? [],
+  rowCount: dataQuery.data?.rowCount,
+  atoms: { pagination: paginationAtom },
+  // ❌ missing manualPagination: true
+})
+```
+
+Correct:
+
+```tsx
+const table = useTable({
+  features,
+  rowModels: {}, // drop paginatedRowModel if fully server-side
+  columns,
+  data: dataQuery.data?.rows ?? [],
+  rowCount: dataQuery.data?.rowCount,
+  atoms: { pagination: paginationAtom },
+  manualPagination: true,
+})
+```
+
+Without the manual flag, the table re-applies its client-side row models on top of already-prepared server data — wrong rows, broken page math, blank pages.
+
+Source: docs/framework/react/guide/table-state.md; packages/table-core/src/features/row-pagination/rowPaginationFeature.types.ts
+
+### [HIGH] Using `table.reset()` to clear externally owned state
+
+Wrong:
+
+```ts
+// external atom keeps its current value; only baseAtoms reset
+const sortingAtom = useCreateAtom<SortingState>([])
+const table = useTable({
+  features, rowModels: {...}, columns, data,
+  atoms: { sorting: sortingAtom },
+})
+table.reset() // sortingAtom is NOT cleared
+```
+
+Correct:
+
+```ts
+// Use feature-specific reset — atom-aware
+table.resetSorting()
+// or, to clear the external atom specifically:
+sortingAtom.set([])
+```
+
+`table.reset()` only resets `baseAtoms` to `initialState`; slices owned by external atoms or external `state` are untouched. The atom split makes `reset()` less safe than v8.
+
+Source: docs/framework/vanilla/guide/table-state.md; packages/table-core/src/core/table/coreTablesFeature.utils.ts
+
+### [CRITICAL] Reimplementing what built-in setters provide
+
+Wrong:
+
+```ts
+// Reimplements sorting state manually instead of using the API
+const [sorting, setSorting] = useState([])
+const sortedData = useMemo(() => [...data].sort(/* ... */), [data, sorting])
+// then uses sortedData directly, bypassing the table
+```
+
+Correct:
+
+```ts
+const table = useTable({
+  features: tableFeatures({ rowSortingFeature }),
+  rowModels: { sortedRowModel: createSortedRowModel(sortFns) },
+  columns,
+  data,
+})
+// table.setSorting(...), column.toggleSorting(), header.getToggleSortingHandler()
+```
+
+The setters honor reset behavior, multi-sort, internal invariants. Hand-rolled state loops skip all of that.
+
+Source: maintainer interview (Phase 4, 2026-05-17)
+
+## See also
+
+- `tanstack-table/setup` — how `features` and `rowModels` are wired
+- `tanstack-table/pagination`, `tanstack-table/sorting`, `tanstack-table/filtering` — feature-specific `manual*` and reset semantics
+- `tanstack-table/migrate-v8-to-v9` — `table.getState()` → `table.store.state` / `table.atoms.<slice>.get()`

package/src/core/cells/constructCell.ts

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+import type { Table_Internal } from '../../types/Table'
+import type { CellData, RowData } from '../../types/type-utils'
+import type { TableFeatures } from '../../types/TableFeatures'
+import type { Row } from '../../types/Row'
+import type { Cell } from '../../types/Cell'
+import type { Column } from '../../types/Column'
+import type { Cell_CoreProperties } from './coreCellsFeature.types'
+
+/**
+ * Creates or retrieves the cell prototype for a table.
+ * The prototype is cached on the table and shared by all cell instances.
+ */
+function getCellPrototype<
+  TFeatures extends TableFeatures,
+  TData extends RowData,
+>(table: Table_Internal<TFeatures, TData>): object {
+  if (!table._cellPrototype) {
+    table._cellPrototype = { table }
+    const features = Object.values(table._features)
+    for (let i = 0; i < features.length; i++) {
+      features[i]!.assignCellPrototype?.(table._cellPrototype, table)
+    }
+  }
+  return table._cellPrototype
+}
+
+/**
+ * Constructs a cell instance from normalized table internals.
+ *
+ * This wires core properties, feature prototype APIs, and instance data used by table rendering and row-model operations.
+ */
+export function constructCell<
+  TFeatures extends TableFeatures,
+  TData extends RowData,
+  TValue extends CellData = CellData,
+>(
+  column: Column<TFeatures, TData, TValue>,
+  row: Row<TFeatures, TData>,
+  table: Table_Internal<TFeatures, TData>,
+): Cell<TFeatures, TData, TValue> {
+  // Create cell with shared prototype for memory efficiency
+  const cellPrototype = getCellPrototype(table)
+  const cell = Object.create(cellPrototype) as Cell_CoreProperties<
+    TFeatures,
+    TData,
+    TValue
+  >
+
+  // Only assign instance-specific properties
+  cell.column = column
+  cell.id = `${row.id}_${column.id}`
+  cell.row = row
+
+  return cell as Cell<TFeatures, TData, TValue>
+}

package/src/core/cells/coreCellsFeature.ts

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+import { assignPrototypeAPIs } from '../../utils'
+import {
+  cell_getContext,
+  cell_getValue,
+  cell_renderValue,
+} from './coreCellsFeature.utils'
+import type { RowData } from '../../types/type-utils'
+import type { TableFeature, TableFeatures } from '../../types/TableFeatures'
+// import type { Cell_Cell, TableOptions_Cell } from './coreCellsFeature.types'
+
+export interface CoreCellsFeatureConstructors<
+  TFeatures extends TableFeatures,
+  TData extends RowData,
+> {
+  // Cell: Cell_Cell<TableFeatures, RowData>
+  // TableOptions: TableOptions_Cell
+}
+
+/**
+ * Creates the stock core cells feature.
+ *
+ * The returned feature registers its state defaults, option defaults, and instance APIs so it can be included in a `tableFeatures({ ... })` call.
+ */
+export function constructCoreCellsFeature<
+  TFeatures extends TableFeatures,
+  TData extends RowData,
+>(): TableFeature<CoreCellsFeatureConstructors<TFeatures, TData>> {
+  return {
+    assignCellPrototype: (prototype, table) => {
+      assignPrototypeAPIs('coreCellsFeature', prototype, table, {
+        cell_getValue: {
+          fn: (cell) => cell_getValue(cell),
+        },
+        cell_renderValue: {
+          fn: (cell) => cell_renderValue(cell),
+        },
+        cell_getContext: {
+          fn: (cell) => cell_getContext(cell),
+          memoDeps: (cell) => [cell],
+        },
+      })
+    },
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * The Core Cells feature provides the core cell functionality.
+ */
+export const coreCellsFeature = constructCoreCellsFeature()

package/src/core/cells/coreCellsFeature.types.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+import type { CellData, Getter, RowData } from '../../types/type-utils'
+import type { TableFeatures } from '../../types/TableFeatures'
+import type { Table, Table_Internal } from '../../types/Table'
+import type { Row } from '../../types/Row'
+import type { Cell } from '../../types/Cell'
+import type { Column } from '../../types/Column'
+
+export interface CellContext<
+  TFeatures extends TableFeatures,
+  TData extends RowData,
+  TValue extends CellData = CellData,
+> {
+  cell: Cell<TFeatures, TData, TValue>
+  column: Column<TFeatures, TData, TValue>
+  getValue: Getter<TValue>
+  renderValue: Getter<TValue | null>
+  row: Row<TFeatures, TData>
+  table: Table<TFeatures, TData>
+}
+
+export interface Cell_CoreProperties<
+  TFeatures extends TableFeatures,
+  TData extends RowData,
+  TValue extends CellData = CellData,
+> {
+  /**
+   * The associated Column object for the cell.
+   */
+  column: Column<TFeatures, TData, TValue>
+  /**
+   * The unique ID for the cell across the entire table.
+   */
+  id: string
+  /**
+   * The associated Row object for the cell.
+   */
+  row: Row<TFeatures, TData>
+  /**
+   * Reference to the parent table instance.
+   */
+  table: Table_Internal<TFeatures, TData>
+}
+
+export interface Cell_Cell<
+  TFeatures extends TableFeatures,
+  TData extends RowData,
+  TValue extends CellData = CellData,
+> extends Cell_CoreProperties<TFeatures, TData, TValue> {
+  /**
+   * Returns the rendering context (or props) for cell-based components like cells and aggregated cells. Use these props with your framework's `flexRender` utility to render these using the template of your choice:
+   */
+  getContext: () => CellContext<TFeatures, TData, TValue>
+  /**
+   * Returns the value for the cell, accessed via the associated column's accessor key or accessor function.
+   */
+  getValue: CellContext<TFeatures, TData, TValue>['getValue']
+  /**
+   * Renders the value for a cell the same as `getValue`, but will return the `renderFallbackValue` if no value is found.
+   */
+  renderValue: CellContext<TFeatures, TData, TValue>['renderValue']
+}
+
+export interface TableOptions_Cell {
+  /**
+   * Value used when the desired value is not found in the data.
+   */
+  renderFallbackValue?: any
+}

package/src/core/cells/coreCellsFeature.utils.ts

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+import type { CellData, RowData } from '../../types/type-utils'
+import type { TableFeatures } from '../../types/TableFeatures'
+import type { Cell } from '../../types/Cell'
+
+/**
+ * Reads this cell's accessor value from its owning row and column.
+ *
+ * This is the standalone implementation behind `cell.getValue()`, useful when
+ * importing static APIs instead of calling methods from the cell prototype.
+ *
+ * @example
+ * ```ts
+ * const value = cell_getValue(cell)
+ * ```
+ */
+export function cell_getValue<
+  TFeatures extends TableFeatures,
+  TData extends RowData,
+  TValue extends CellData = CellData,
+>(cell: Cell<TFeatures, TData, TValue>): TValue {
+  return cell.row.getValue(cell.column.id)
+}
+
+/**
+ * Reads the value that should be rendered for this cell.
+ *
+ * Nullish accessor values are replaced with `table.options.renderFallbackValue`,
+ * matching the behavior of `cell.renderValue()`.
+ *
+ * @example
+ * ```ts
+ * const rendered = cell_renderValue(cell)
+ * ```
+ */
+export function cell_renderValue<
+  TFeatures extends TableFeatures,
+  TData extends RowData,
+  TValue extends CellData = CellData,
+>(cell: Cell<TFeatures, TData, TValue>) {
+  return cell.getValue() ?? cell.table.options.renderFallbackValue
+}
+
+/**
+ * Builds the render context passed to a column's `cell` template.
+ *
+ * The returned object includes stable references to the table, row, column, and
+ * cell, plus bound `getValue` and `renderValue` helpers for render functions.
+ *
+ * @example
+ * ```ts
+ * const context = cell_getContext(cell)
+ * ```
+ */
+export function cell_getContext<
+  TFeatures extends TableFeatures,
+  TData extends RowData,
+  TValue extends CellData = CellData,
+>(cell: Cell<TFeatures, TData, TValue>) {
+  return {
+    table: cell.table,
+    column: cell.column,
+    row: cell.row,
+    cell: cell,
+    // Wrap in arrow functions to preserve `this` binding (methods are on prototype)
+    getValue: () => cell.getValue(),
+    renderValue: () => cell.renderValue(),
+  }
+}