title: Advanced Connections description: Multi-connect, easy-connect, and proximity connect. order: 2

Advanced Connections

WireFlow supports three advanced connection modes for power users: multi-connect, easy-connect, and proximity connect. All are configured via the :config prop on <x-flow>.

Multi-connect

Create edges from multiple selected nodes in a single drag.

<x-flow :nodes="$nodes" :edges="$edges" :config="[
    'multiConnect' => true,
]">
    <x-slot:node>
        <x-flow-handle type="target" position="top" />
        <span x-text="node.data.label"></span>
        <x-flow-handle type="source" position="bottom" />
    </x-slot:node>
</x-flow>

How it works

1. Select multiple nodes (Shift+click or drag-select).
2. Drag from any selected node's source handle.
3. Connection lines appear from all selected nodes' source handles to the cursor.
4. Drop on a valid target to create all valid connections in a single batch.

Each connection in the batch is validated individually. Connections that fail validation are silently skipped.

Easy connect

Connect nodes without targeting a specific handle. Hold a modifier key and drag from anywhere on a node's body to start a connection.

<x-flow :nodes="$nodes" :edges="$edges" :config="[
    'easyConnect' => true,
    'easyConnectKey' => 'alt',
]">
    <x-slot:node>
        <x-flow-handle type="target" position="top" />
        <span x-text="node.data.label"></span>
        <x-flow-handle type="source" position="bottom" />
    </x-slot:node>
</x-flow>

AlpineFlow finds the nearest source handle on the node and starts a connection from it. The connection then behaves exactly like a standard drag-to-connect.

Modifier keys

{{-- Use Shift as the modifier key --}}
<x-flow :nodes="$nodes" :edges="$edges" :config="[
    'easyConnect' => true,
    'easyConnectKey' => 'shift',
]">

Proximity connect

Auto-create edges when dragging nodes close together.

<x-flow :nodes="$nodes" :edges="$edges" :config="[
    'proximityConnect' => true,
    'proximityConnectDistance' => 150,
    'proximityConnectConfirm' => false,
]">
    <x-slot:node>
        <x-flow-handle type="target" position="top" />
        <span x-text="node.data.label"></span>
        <x-flow-handle type="source" position="bottom" />
    </x-slot:node>
</x-flow>

::demo

<div x-data="flowCanvas({
    nodes: [
        { id: 'a', position: { x: 0, y: 60 }, data: { label: 'Drag me close' } },
        { id: 'b', position: { x: 350, y: 60 }, data: { label: 'To me' } },
    ],
    edges: [],
    proximityConnect: true,
    proximityConnectDistance: 150,
    background: 'dots',
    fitViewOnInit: true,
    controls: false,
    pannable: false,
    zoomable: false,
})" class="flow-container" style="height: 220px;">
    <div x-flow-viewport>
        <template x-for="node in nodes" :key="node.id">
            <div x-flow-node="node">
                <div x-flow-handle:target></div>
                <span x-text="node.data.label"></span>
                <div x-flow-handle:source></div>
            </div>
        </template>
    </div>
</div>

::enddemo

Direction inference

Direction is inferred automatically: the node further left becomes the source. If X positions are similar (within 30px), the higher node becomes the source.

Confirmation mode

When proximityConnectConfirm is true, a visual indicator appears when nodes are close enough to connect, but the edge is not created until the user releases the drag.

Prevent cycles

Reject connections that would create circular dependencies:

<x-flow :nodes="$nodes" :edges="$edges" :prevent-cycles="true">
    <x-slot:node>
        <x-flow-handle type="target" position="top" />
        <span x-text="node.data.label"></span>
        <x-flow-handle type="source" position="bottom" />
    </x-slot:node>
</x-flow>

When enabled, any connection that would form a cycle is rejected during the validation chain.

Custom connection validation

Use WireFlow::js() to pass a custom JavaScript validation callback via :config. The callback runs as the last step in the validation chain, after all built-in checks.

use ArtisanFlow\WireFlow\View\Components\WireFlow;

// In your Livewire component
public function render(): \Illuminate\Contracts\View\View
{
    return view('livewire.flow-editor', [
        'config' => [
            'isValidConnection' => WireFlow::js('(conn) => conn.source !== "locked-node"'),
        ],
    ]);
}

<x-flow :nodes="$nodes" :edges="$edges" :config="$config">
    <x-slot:node>
        <x-flow-handle type="target" position="top" />
        <span x-text="node.data.label"></span>
        <x-flow-handle type="source" position="bottom" />
    </x-slot:node>
</x-flow>

The callback receives a connection object with source, sourceHandle, target, and targetHandle. Return false to reject the connection.

See also

• Connection Basics -- drag-connect, click-to-connect, and reconnection
• Connection Events -- handle connection events on the server
• Configuration -- all config options including connection settings