The input in function(input, output, session)

Introduction

I recently came across this stackoverflow post from 6 years ago and I was intrigued.

The OP wanted to render a dynamic number of selectInputs. The number of the selectInputs would be dependent on the value of a numericInput.

If the numericInput had a value of 3 then there would be 3 selectInputs on the UI.

The OP correctly made this observation:

• Say the default value of the numericInput is 3. If you change it to 2, the UI correctly updates and there are only 2 selectInputs. But when you print the input object, it still contains the id and value of the 3rd selectInput even though it is not currently rendered.
• Generally, the input slot does not correspond with the current number of elements, but with the largest number chosen during the session.

Here is the reprex the OP provided:

reprex-from-op.R

library(shiny)
library(plyr)

testUI <- function(id) {
  ns <- NS(id)
  uiOutput(ns("container"))
}

test <- function(input, output, session, numElems) {
   output$container <- renderUI(do.call(tagList, llply(1:numElems(), function(i) 
            selectInput(session$ns(paste0("elem", i)), 
                        label = i, choices = LETTERS[sample(26, 3)]))))
   getNames <- reactive(reactiveValuesToList(input))
   list(getNames = getNames)
}

ui <- fluidPage(numericInput("n", "Number of Elems", value = 3), 
                testUI("column1"), 
                verbatimTextOutput("debug"))

server <- function(input, output, session) {
   getN <- reactive(input$n)
   handler <- callModule(test, "column1", getN)
   output$debug <- renderPrint(handler$getNames())
}

shinyApp(ui, server)

My manager at work always says “Trust but verify”. So please run the reprex and ascertain that all the above observations are indeed true.

My $0.02

Jackie Redmond Jackie GIFfrom Jackie Redmond GIFs

The OP had 2 questions:

1. Is this behaviour intentional?
2. If so, how can I update the input to assure that it only contains valid slots?

TL;DR

Is this behaviour intentional?

I don’t know. But it is consistent. The OP used renderUI in the reprex, I will use insertUI/removeUI in my reprex later and you will see that the behaviour is the same.

How can I update the input to assure that it only contains valid slots?

You can set the “invalid” slots to NULL, then use req() or isTruthy() to check for validity in your server.R.

Explanation

We finally get to the juicy part.

Here’s what I know about input:

1. input is immutable from the app’s server, unless you use update*Input(). eg. If you try this:

   server.R

   input$random_id <- "trial"

   you will get an error: “Can’t modify read-only reactive value ‘random_id’”.

2. Once added, you can’t remove an element (an input id) from input, but you can change its value (using update*Input() or JavaScript).

3. Changing the value of an element to NULL will not remove it from input.

   By that I mean input will not behave like a regular list where setting the value of an element to NULL removes it from the list:

   regular-list.R

   x <- list(a = 1, b = 2, c = 3)
   x$a <- NULL
   x
   
   # $b
   # [1] 2
   #
   # $c
   # [1] 3

   Also, you can’t use update*Input() to set the value of an input id to NULL. From ?updateSelectInput:

   Any arguments with NULL values will be ignored; they will not result in any changes to the input object on the client.

   So to set the value of an input element to NULL you have to use JavaScript and provide the option priority: "event". Reference.

   script.js

   Shiny.setInputValue(input_id, new_input_value, {priority: "event"});

4. We can use 3 above to our advantage: Set the unwanted input id values (the ones whose UI has been removed/deleted) to NULL.

   This is what will allow us to use req() or isTruthy() if need be.

Reprex

In the reprex below, I show how you can set the input id values to NULL.

Also, I use insertUI/removeUI as stated earlier.

global.R

library(shiny)

ui.R

ui <- fluidPage(
  numericInput("n", "Number of Elems", value = 3), 
  mod_test_ui("column1"), 
  verbatimTextOutput("debug"),
  tags$script(src = "script.js")
)

server.R

server <- function(input, output, session) {
  handler <- mod_test_server(
    id = "column1",
    numElems = reactive({ input$n })
  )
  output$debug <- renderPrint({ handler$getNames() })
}

R/mod_test_ui.R

mod_test_ui <- function(id) {
  ns <- NS(id)
  tags$div(id = ns("container"))
}

R/mod_test_ui.R

R/mod_test_server.R

mod_test_server <- \(id, numElems) {
  moduleServer(
    id = id,
    module = \(input, output, session) {
      ns <- session$ns
      # reactive to track added UI ids:
      rv_added_ids <- reactiveValues(ids = NULL)
      observeEvent(numElems(), {
        # do nothing if `numElems()` is less than zero:
        n <- numElems()
        if (n < 0) return()
        # remove previously rendered UIs:
        removeUI(
          selector = sprintf("#%s > *", ns("container")),
          multiple = TRUE,
          immediate = TRUE
        )
        # inform JS to set the removed input id values to NULL:
        lapply(rv_added_ids$ids, \(id) {
          session$sendCustomMessage(
            type = "set_to_null",
            list(id = id, value = NULL)
          )
        })
        # reset tracker:
        rv_added_ids$ids <- NULL
        # add new UIs:
        lapply(seq_len(n), \(i) {
          id <- ns(paste0("elem", i))
          # track new id:
          rv_added_ids$ids <- c(rv_added_ids$ids, id)
          insertUI(
            selector = paste0("#", ns("container")),
            where = "beforeEnd",
            ui = selectInput(
              inputId = id, 
              label = i,
              choices = LETTERS[sample(26, 3)]
            )
          )
        }
        )
      })
      getNames <- reactive(reactiveValuesToList(input))
      list(getNames = getNames)
    }
  )
}

www/script.js

$(document).ready(function() {
  Shiny.addCustomMessageHandler("set_to_null", (message) => {
    Shiny.setInputValue(message.id, message.value, {priority: "event"});
  });
});

Conclusion

$(this) has been the input in function(input, output, session).

Me: At this point I can confidently say that I like JavaScript.

JS: