Thinking / Reasoning UI
Collapsible reasoning trace with elapsed time and step indicators.
- 1
Parsed the question
Identified the entity and the comparison dimension.
- 2
Formulated search queries
3 queries across pricing and documentation.
- 3
Scored candidate sources
Ranked 12 results by recency and domain authority.
- 4
Synthesized the answer
Combined 4 sources into a single recommendation.
Props
Also takes onStop.
Component source
Single-file React + Tailwind component. No dependencies — drop it into any project with Tailwind configured.
"use client";
import * as React from "react";
/* ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
/* Types */
/* ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
export type ReasoningStep = {
title: string;
detail?: string;
};
export type ReasoningProps = {
steps?: ReasoningStep[];
isThinking?: boolean;
elapsed?: string;
onStop?: () => void;
defaultOpen?: boolean;
open?: boolean;
onOpenChange?: (open: boolean) => void;
className?: string;
};
/* ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
/* Icons */
/* ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
function BrainIcon(props: React.SVGProps<SVGSVGElement>) {
return (
<svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" width="15" height="15" {...props}>
<path d="M9.5 2A2.5 2.5 0 0 1 12 4.5v15a2.5 2.5 0 0 1-4.96.44A2.5 2.5 0 0 1 4 17.5v-11A2.5 2.5 0 0 1 6.5 4h3Z" />
<path d="M14.5 2A2.5 2.5 0 0 0 12 4.5v15a2.5 2.5 0 0 0 4.96.44A2.5 2.5 0 0 0 20 17.5v-11A2.5 2.5 0 0 0 17.5 4h-3Z" />
<path d="M12 5v1M12 18v1" />
</svg>
);
}
function ChevronIcon(props: React.SVGProps<SVGSVGElement>) {
return (
<svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" width="14" height="14" {...props}>
<path d="m6 9 6 6 6-6" />
</svg>
);
}
function StopIcon(props: React.SVGProps<SVGSVGElement>) {
return (
<svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="currentColor" width="10" height="10" {...props}>
<rect x="6" y="6" width="12" height="12" rx="2" />
</svg>
);
}
function CheckIcon(props: React.SVGProps<SVGSVGElement>) {
return (
<svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2.5" strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" width="11" height="11" {...props}>
<path d="M20 6 9 17l-5-5" />
</svg>
);
}
/* ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
/* Reasoning */
/* ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
export function Reasoning({
steps = [],
isThinking = false,
elapsed,
onStop,
defaultOpen = true,
open: controlledOpen,
onOpenChange,
className = "",
}: ReasoningProps) {
const [internalOpen, setInternalOpen] = React.useState(defaultOpen);
const open = controlledOpen ?? internalOpen;
const setOpen = (v: boolean) => {
setInternalOpen(v);
onOpenChange?.(v);
};
return (
<div
className={`overflow-hidden rounded-xl border border-zinc-200 bg-white transition-colors dark:border-zinc-800 dark:bg-zinc-900 ${className}`}
>
{/* Header */}
<button
type="button"
onClick={() => setOpen(!open)}
aria-expanded={open}
className="flex w-full items-center gap-2.5 px-3.5 py-2.5 text-left"
>
<span className="flex h-7 w-7 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-lg bg-violet-100 text-violet-600 dark:bg-violet-900/40 dark:text-violet-400">
<BrainIcon />
</span>
<span className="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate text-sm font-medium text-zinc-900 dark:text-zinc-100">
{isThinking ? "Reasoning" : "Reasoning trace"}
</span>
{elapsed && <span className="shrink-0 text-xs tabular-nums text-zinc-500 dark:text-zinc-400">{elapsed}</span>}
{isThinking && (
<span className="inline-flex shrink-0 items-center gap-1 rounded-full bg-violet-100 px-2 py-0.5 text-[11px] text-violet-700 dark:bg-violet-900/40 dark:text-violet-400">
<span className="h-2.5 w-2.5 animate-spin rounded-full border-[1.5px] border-current border-t-transparent" />
Thinking
</span>
)}
<span className={`shrink-0 text-zinc-400 transition-transform ${open ? "rotate-180" : ""}`}>
<ChevronIcon />
</span>
</button>
{/* Steps */}
{open && (
<div className="border-t border-zinc-100 px-4 py-3 dark:border-zinc-800">
{steps.length === 0 ? (
<div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-zinc-500 dark:text-zinc-400">
<span className="h-2 w-2 animate-pulse rounded-full bg-zinc-300 dark:bg-zinc-600" />
<span>Formulating an approach…</span>
</div>
) : (
<ol className="relative space-y-3 before:absolute before:left-[7px] before:top-2 before:bottom-2 before:w-px before:bg-zinc-200 dark:before:bg-zinc-800">
{steps.map((step, i) => (
<li key={i} className="relative pl-6">
<span className="absolute left-0 top-1 flex h-[15px] w-[15px] items-center justify-center rounded-full border border-zinc-200 bg-white text-[9px] text-zinc-500 dark:text-zinc-400 dark:border-zinc-700 dark:bg-zinc-800">
{i + 1}
</span>
<p className="text-sm font-medium text-zinc-800 dark:text-zinc-200">{step.title}</p>
{step.detail && (
<p className="mt-0.5 text-[13px] leading-5 text-zinc-500 dark:text-zinc-400">
{step.detail}
</p>
)}
</li>
))}
</ol>
)}
{isThinking && onStop && (
<button
type="button"
onClick={onStop}
className="mt-3 inline-flex h-7 items-center gap-1.5 rounded-lg border border-zinc-200 px-2.5 text-xs text-zinc-600 transition-colors hover:bg-zinc-100 dark:border-zinc-800 dark:text-zinc-300 dark:hover:bg-zinc-800"
>
<StopIcon />
Stop reasoning
</button>
)}
{!isThinking && steps.length > 0 && (
<p className="mt-3 flex items-center gap-1.5 text-xs text-emerald-700 dark:text-emerald-400">
<CheckIcon />
Reasoning complete — {steps.length} step{steps.length > 1 ? "s" : ""}
</p>
)}
</div>
)}
</div>
);
}
Usage Guidelines
- Show the trace as it happens — a blank pause during 'thinking' reads as a hang or a failure.
- Keep each step one line when possible; expand details on demand.
- Elapsed time gives users confidence something is progressing. Always show it for long traces.
- Collapse by default once complete so the answer leads the conversation.
- Allow interruption — reasoning can take tens of seconds.
Common UX Mistakes
- Hiding the reasoning entirely. Users of reasoning models expect to see the thinking.
- Letting steps grow unbounded with huge wall-of-text details.
- Auto-scrolling the page as steps stream in — anchor only when the user is already there.
- Using a flashy animation that distracts from the actual content of the trace.
Related Components
Animated pre-stream indicator — bouncing dots, a caret, or a labeled status line.
Collapsible multi-step reasoning trace with per-step status and an elapsed timer.
The core input for AI chat products — with attachments, model selector, tools, voice and loading states.
Prompt input with file attachment chips, upload progress and removal.