AI Elements Workflow

This skill provides comprehensive guidance for building workflow visualizations using Vercel AI Elements with React Flow.

When to Use

• Building interactive node-based workflow interfaces
• Creating process flow visualizations
• Implementing diagram editors with custom nodes and edges
• Adding workflow visualization to AI applications

Setup

1. Create Next.js Project

npx create-next-app@latest ai-workflow && cd ai-workflow

Choose to use Tailwind in the project setup.

2. Install AI Elements

npx ai-elements@latest

This also sets up shadcn/ui if not configured.

3. Install React Flow

npm i @xyflow/react

4. Add Components

Install the workflow components as needed:

npx ai-elements@latest add canvas
npx ai-elements@latest add node
npx ai-elements@latest add edge
npx ai-elements@latest add connection
npx ai-elements@latest add controls
npx ai-elements@latest add panel
npx ai-elements@latest add toolbar

Building a Workflow

Import Components

'use client';
import { Canvas } from '@/components/ai-elements/canvas';
import { Connection } from '@/components/ai-elements/connection';
import { Controls } from '@/components/ai-elements/controls';
import { Edge } from '@/components/ai-elements/edge';
import {
  Node,
  NodeContent,
  NodeDescription,
  NodeFooter,
  NodeHeader,
  NodeTitle,
} from '@/components/ai-elements/node';
import { Panel } from '@/components/ai-elements/panel';
import { Toolbar } from '@/components/ai-elements/toolbar';
import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';

Define Node IDs

const nodeIds = {
  start: 'start',
  process1: 'process1',
  decision: 'decision',
  output1: 'output1',
  output2: 'output2',
  complete: 'complete',
};

Create Nodes

const nodes = [
  {
    id: nodeIds.start,
    type: 'workflow',
    position: { x: 0, y: 0 },
    data: {
      label: 'Start',
      description: 'Initialize workflow',
      handles: { target: false, source: true },
      content: 'Triggered by user action',
      footer: 'Status: Ready',
    },
  },
  // Add more nodes...
];

Create Edges

Use animated for active paths and temporary for conditional/error paths:

const edges = [
  {
    id: 'edge1',
    source: nodeIds.start,
    target: nodeIds.process1,
    type: 'animated',
  },
  {
    id: 'edge2',
    source: nodeIds.decision,
    target: nodeIds.output2,
    type: 'temporary', // For error/conditional paths
  },
];

Define Node Types

const nodeTypes = {
  workflow: ({
    data,
  }: {
    data: {
      label: string;
      description: string;
      handles: { target: boolean; source: boolean };
      content: string;
      footer: string;
    };
  }) => (
    <Node handles={data.handles}>
      <NodeHeader>
        <NodeTitle>{data.label}</NodeTitle>
        <NodeDescription>{data.description}</NodeDescription>
      </NodeHeader>
      <NodeContent>
        <p className="text-sm">{data.content}</p>
      </NodeContent>
      <NodeFooter>
        <p className="text-muted-foreground text-xs">{data.footer}</p>
      </NodeFooter>
      <Toolbar>
        <Button size="sm" variant="ghost">Edit</Button>
        <Button size="sm" variant="ghost">Delete</Button>
      </Toolbar>
    </Node>
  ),
};

Define Edge Types

const edgeTypes = {
  animated: Edge.Animated,
  temporary: Edge.Temporary,
};

Render the Canvas

const App = () => (
  <Canvas
    edges={edges}
    edgeTypes={edgeTypes}
    fitView
    nodes={nodes}
    nodeTypes={nodeTypes}
    connectionLineComponent={Connection}
  >
    <Controls />
    <Panel position="top-left">
      <Button size="sm" variant="secondary">Export</Button>
    </Panel>
  </Canvas>
);

export default App;

Key Features

Feature	Description
Custom Node Components	Use NodeHeader, NodeTitle, NodeDescription, NodeContent, NodeFooter for structured layouts
Node Toolbars	Attach contextual actions to nodes via Toolbar component
Handle Configuration	Control connections with handles: { target: boolean, source: boolean }
Edge Types	Edge.Animated for active flow, Edge.Temporary for conditional paths
Connection Lines	Styled bezier curves when dragging new connections
Controls	Zoom in/out and fit view buttons
Panels	Position custom UI anywhere on the canvas

Component Reference

For detailed props and API documentation for each component, see references/components.md.