# Expanding Card Grid

> A grid of cards that each open into a full view. The card grows into a centered panel, its picture and title travelling with it, while the page dims. Closing shrinks it back into its slot. The open card is a modal dialog: focus moves in and stays there, and Escape, the close button or a click outside closes it.

- Slug: `expanding-card-grid`
- Category: [Bento & Grids](https://www.assembli.design/category/bento-grids.md)
- Type: component
- Tags: cards, grid, expand, shared-layout, dialog, case-studies
- npm dependencies: lucide-react, motion
- shadcn/ui dependencies: none
- Live preview: https://www.assembli.design/preview/expanding-card-grid
- Page: https://www.assembli.design/components/expanding-card-grid

![Expanding Card Grid preview](https://www.assembli.design/thumbnails/expanding-card-grid-light.png)

## Props

Other props pass through to the root element.

| Prop | Type | Default | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `items` (required) | `ExpandingCardItem[]` |  |  |
| `columns` | `2 \| 3 \| 4` | `3` | Columns on large screens. Phones get one column and tablets two. |
| `defaultOpen` | `string` |  | Open this card on first render. |

## Install

One-time setup (needs a subscription):

1. Add the registry to the project's `components.json`: `{"@assembli":{"url":"https://www.assembli.design/r/{name}.json","headers":{"Authorization":"Bearer ${ASSEMBLI_API_KEY}"}}}` (merge into `"registries"`).
2. Put an API key from https://www.assembli.design/account in `.env.local` as `ASSEMBLI_API_KEY=asm_…`.

Then install with the shadcn CLI (writes `components/expanding-card-grid/expanding-card-grid.tsx` and installs dependencies):

```bash
npx shadcn@latest add @assembli/expanding-card-grid
```

Registry item JSON: https://www.assembli.design/r/expanding-card-grid.json (send `Authorization: Bearer <api key>`)

## Code

> Component source needs an Assembli subscription ($12/month or $96/year) and an API key sent as `Authorization: Bearer <key>`. To get one without copying anything, POST https://www.assembli.design/api/agent/login (or call the MCP tool connect_account), show the user the link it returns, and poll https://www.assembli.design/api/agent/token for the key. Or subscribe at https://www.assembli.design/pricing and create a key at https://www.assembli.design/account.