Allow configurable always-visible row actions in EuiBasicTable

[kyrspl]

Summary

I want to propose adding a configuration option to EuiBasicTable that allows row text actions to be always visible (not just on hover), with overflow actions in a menu.

Proposal

Enhance EUI's EuiBasicTable to better support always-visible row text actions as configurable behavior. While EUI already provides isPrimary and showOnHover props, the current implementation has usability limitations that require teams to implement workarounds.

The trade-off is between visual density (cleaner tables) and discoverability (users know what's available). The optimal solution is configurability.

• Primary actions (1-3): Always visible, no hover required
• Secondary actions (4+): In overflow menu (⋮)
• Configurable: Teams choose based on their use case

What I'm NOT asking

• ❌ Changing the default behavior
• ❌ Removing hover-only actions
• ❌ Breaking existing implementations

What I am asking

• ✅ An opt-in configuration to show actions inline
• ✅ Ability to specify how many actions are visible (e.g., 2-3)

Impact

Configurability should not have any impact downstream. If we keep the default option as-is, other tables will not be impacted.

Background

See conversation in the #eui channel for context. When having more than 2 (text only) actions:

Current behavior

• Primary Actions are hidden until row hover (rest hidden inside vertical menu)

Requested behavior

• Option to show 2-3 primary actions inline (always visible)
• Overflow actions remain in a "more actions" menu --> only overflow, not including the primary ones
• Configurable mobile behavior (inline vs collapsed)

Use Case (1): Budgets table (user console) - new feature

• New feature: users aren't familiar with
• Not a daily driver: users interact with it occasionally
• Contains critical actions: (View, Edit)

Our goal: Make important actions immediately discoverable so users don't have to guess what they can do with each row.

Use case (2): Homepage tables

note: this is in the product

• Open and Manage actions always visible

Use case (2): Deployments table

note: this is in the product

Additional notes

It's worth noting that custom implementations (see use cases above) result in a modified responsive rendering of the actions menu on mobile breakpoints

[mdefazio]

This is an interesting one. I think feature discover is a constant struggle and balance.

Our goal: Make important actions immediately discoverable so users don't have to guess what they can do with each row.

My initial concern is setting us up to make more tables busy. You mention that we already override this in a few areas, so I'm wondering if this needs to be built into EUI?

The table options you show in the discussion: isn't the name of the deployment / project be the link to open it? So could we remove this as one of the exposed row actions?

All that said, it also seems like what we're asking for is the option for 3 isPrimary for row actions, rather than 2?

Maybe we tweak how the current props act? Playing around with the example, doesn't seem like showOnHover does anything for multiple actions? We can also review if we want to duplicate actions in the overflow menu.

If we have isPrimary and showOnHover=false, then should these actions always show?

[kyrspl]

I'm wondering if this needs to be built into EUI?

Given we've been using it in some places, I'm proposing we add it as opt-in configuration (not default). I agree we need to be careful about making tables busy, but in some situations it improves usability.

I suggest to allow for:

• always visible 2 primary actions
• if more actions are available, then bring the rest of these actions (the primary ones not included) to the vertical menu

[mdefazio]

I'm good with this

[kyrspl]

@ryankeairns - do you have any concerns with the proposal?