---
type: "TechArticle"
softwareVersion: "1.0.0"
url: "https://registry.docsloth.dev/components/cards.html"
markdown: "https://registry.docsloth.dev/docs/cards.md"
component: "cards"
section: "pure"
trust_class: "pure"
implementation_status: "implemented_native"
renderer: "native block"
install: "docsloth component add @docsloth/cards@1.0.0"
spec: "packages/contracts/component-specs/cards.md"
props_schema: "packages/contracts/component-props/cards.schema.json"
---

> Index: [Agent index](https://registry.docsloth.dev/llms.txt)

# cards

Choose task-oriented navigation

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Trust class | pure |
| Implementation status | implemented_native |
| Renderer | native block |
| Key prop (production schema) | items |
| Key prop (protocol fixture) | items |
| Tools | none |
| Package version | 1.0.0 |
| Package digest | sha256:135257635d5f1c26b0a06458ab2d8b7ef24e4a9ff9a407aa29860dcc19eceb67 |

## Install

```sh
docsloth component add @docsloth/cards@1.0.0
```

Live package: sha256:135257635d5f1c26b0a06458ab2d8b7ef24e4a9ff9a407aa29860dcc19eceb67 with 2 file digest(s); the catalog entry is generated from the built package, not a placeholder.

## Props

The prop schema is normative in `packages/contracts/component-props/cards.schema.json`.

| Prop | Type | Required | Constraints |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `title` | string | no | maxLength: 160 |
| `items` | array<object> | yes |  |
| `columns` | integer | yes |  |

Example props generated from this schema:

```json
{
  "title": "example-title",
  "items": [
    {
      "id": "example-id",
      "label": "example-label",
      "description": "example-description",
      "href": "example-href"
    }
  ],
  "columns": 1
}
```

Required props: items, columns.

## Example

Example document IR (the block the renderer consumes):

```json
{
  "type": "cards",
  "props": {
    "title": "Explore",
    "columns": 2
  },
  "children": [
    {
      "type": "prose",
      "props": {
        "label": "Guides",
        "href": "/guides",
        "text": "Task-oriented walkthroughs."
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "prose",
      "props": {
        "label": "Reference",
        "text": "Component reference."
      }
    }
  ]
}
```

Renderer HTML (entities decoded and wrapped for display):

```html
<section class="ds-cards" data-component="cards" aria-label="Explore" data-columns="2">
<article class="ds-card">
<h3 class="ds-card-title">
<a href="/guides">Guides</a>
</h3>
<div class="ds-prose">Task-oriented walkthroughs.</div>
</article>
<article class="ds-card">
<h3 class="ds-card-title">Reference</h3>
<div class="ds-prose">Component reference.</div>
</article>
</section>
```

Preview (interface-only; the markup above is the same output):

The renderer resolves this component as a native block; the preview above is its real HTML output, and Markdown parity for native blocks is covered by the renderer test suite.

## Specification

Generated from `packages/contracts/component-specs/cards.md`.

### Contract

Production props are normative in `../contracts/component-props/cards.schema.json`. The corresponding `component-fixtures` manifest is only a minimal protocol fixture; use the production props schema when building the published package. The packaged artifact ships exactly its generated `component-package.json` manifest plus `props.schema.json` (the production props schema, copied byte-for-byte) and `spec.md` (this spec, copied byte-for-byte); it contains no executable payload, fallback implementation, Storybook, test suite, SSR harness or README. Rendering behavior and the acceptance cases below belong to the renderer and the repository tests, not to the package. Installation pins the package version and the digest of every shipped byte.

### Intended behavior

Task cards with descriptive links; mobile single column.

### Failure and fallback

Bad URL rejected by URL policy.

### Required acceptance cases

Whole card keyboard focus without duplicate interactive nesting. Also test empty data, loading, denied access, browser without JS, mobile 360px, keyboard navigation, dark mode and an explicit constrained agent tool call. The server independently authorizes capability requests; a package manifest cannot grant authority.

### Data and maintenance

Data bindings resolve from a specific publication/release vector and permitted fact/evidence graph. Configuration edits create versioned component patches. Update invalidation uses dependency IDs, never indiscriminate whole-page regeneration. Human-owned props survive automatic updates unless invalidated with an explicit conflict. Missing optional resources leave an honest inert/readable fallback, not a broken page or fake success.

### Cost and tools

Pure/local interaction must never invoke a model by accident. Any model, remote query or executor call must reserve approved budget before dispatch. Public visitors do not inherit owner resources. The component may call only named tools in its signed manifest with valid typed inputs. A cancelled job stops polling and closes resources. No component gets platform administration, raw credentials or an unlimited execution loop.

### Native renderer block

`packages/renderer` renders a `cards` block from the document IR: each child becomes an `<article class="ds-card">` with an `<h3>` title drawn from `label`/`title`/`summary` and an optional safe `href`. Production props for a packaged instance remain normative in `../contracts/component-props/cards.schema.json`.

#### Native block props

| prop | type | required | behaviour |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `title` | string | no | Optional `aria-label` on the cards region. |
| `columns` | integer | no | 1–4 visual columns exposed as `data-columns`; out-of-range values are ignored. |
| `children` | DocBlock[] | yes | One card per child. Empty children or a non-array value degrades to the labelled fallback. |
| `children[].props.href` | string | no | Card link. Only `http(s):`, `mailto:`, site-absolute `/...` and `#fragment` URLs render; anything else (for example `javascript:`) is dropped by URL policy. |

Markdown flattens the block to a titled list (`- **Label**`) with the card body nested under its item; link targets stay HTML-only metadata.

#### Example

```json
{
  "type": "cards",
  "props": { "title": "Explore", "columns": 2 },
  "children": [
    { "type": "prose", "props": { "label": "Guides", "href": "/guides", "text": "Task-oriented walkthroughs." } },
    { "type": "prose", "props": { "label": "Reference", "text": "Component reference." } }
  ]
}
```

## Package manifest

Protocol fixture: `packages/contracts/component-fixtures/cards.json`.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Name | @docsloth/cards |
| Version | 1.0.0 |
| Protocol | 1.x |
| License | Apache-2.0 |
| Runtime | react |
| Entry | dist/index.js |
| Recording policy | masked |
| Fallback | html, markdown, json |
| Network hosts | none |
| Production write | no |
| Max runtime seconds | 0 |
| Integrity | all zeros (protocol fixture placeholder) |

## Sources

| Source | Path |
| --- | --- |
| Component page | https://registry.docsloth.dev/components/cards.html |
| Markdown twin | https://registry.docsloth.dev/docs/cards.md |
| LLM index | https://registry.docsloth.dev/llms.txt |
| Specification | packages/contracts/component-specs/cards.md |
| Prop schema | packages/contracts/component-props/cards.schema.json |
| Protocol fixture | packages/contracts/component-fixtures/cards.json |
| Catalog | packages/contracts/component-catalog.json |