# Expanding Search

> A header search that waits as an icon button and springs open into a full pill field on click or / from anywhere, growing from whichever edge its row anchors it to. The field takes focus, Escape clears and then folds it away, and it collapses when focus leaves while empty. Collapsed it's one labelled button, open a search form whose icon submits. Controlled or not, so a header can make room.

- Slug: `expanding-search`
- Category: [Inputs](https://www.assembli.design/category/inputs.md)
- Type: component
- Tags: search, expand, header, navbar, toolbar, shortcut
- npm dependencies: lucide-react
- shadcn/ui dependencies: none
- Added: 2026-10-23
- Live preview: https://www.assembli.design/preview/expanding-search
- Page: https://www.assembli.design/components/expanding-search

## 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-search/expanding-search.tsx` and installs dependencies):

```bash
npx shadcn@latest add @assembli/expanding-search
```

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

## Code

> Component source needs an Assembli subscription ($12/month) 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.