bevyengine/bevy · info · DirectionalNavigationError

Navigation explicitly blocked from {current_focus} in the {d

Error message

Navigation explicitly blocked from {current_focus} in the {direction:?} direction.

What it means

The focused entity has an explicit block for the requested direction in the DirectionalNavigationMap, added via block_edge or block_symmetrical_edge. This is deliberate denial, distinct from NoNeighborInDirection: a block exists and navigation was intentionally forbidden.

Source

Thrown at crates/bevy_input_focus/src/directional_navigation.rs:451

    }
}

/// An error that can occur when navigating between focusable entities using [directional navigation](crate::directional_navigation).
#[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Clone, Error)]
pub enum DirectionalNavigationError {
    /// No focusable entity is currently set.
    #[error("No focusable entity is currently set.")]
    NoFocus,
    /// No neighbor in the requested direction.
    #[error("No neighbor from {current_focus} in the {direction:?} direction.")]
    NoNeighborInDirection {
        /// The entity that was the focus when the error occurred.
        current_focus: Entity,
        /// The direction in which the navigation was attempted.
        direction: CompassOctant,
    },
    /// Navigation explicitly blocked in the requested direction.
    #[error("Navigation explicitly blocked from {current_focus} in the {direction:?} direction.")]
    BlockedNavigation {
        /// The entity that was the focus when the error occurred.
        current_focus: Entity,
        /// The direction in which the navigation was attempted.
        direction: CompassOctant,
    },
}

/// A focusable area with position and size information.
///
/// This struct represents a UI element used during directional navigation,
/// containing its entity ID, center position, and size for spatial navigation calculations.
///
/// The term "focusable area" avoids confusion with UI `Node` components in `bevy_ui`.
#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq)]
#[cfg_attr(
    feature = "bevy_reflect",
    derive(Reflect),

View on GitHub (pinned to 396ca72708)

Solutions

1. If blocking is intended, handle the error silently or give feedback (sound, shake) — do nothing to focus.
2. Remove the block_edge/block_symmetrical_edge call if navigation should be allowed.
3. Remember that blocking a cardinal direction (e.g. North) does not block its diagonals (NorthEast/NorthWest); block those explicitly too.

Example fix

// before
nav_map.block_edge(modal_root, CompassOctant::South); // then navigate(South) errors

// after: keep the block, handle it intentionally
match nav.navigate(CompassOctant::South) {
    Err(DirectionalNavigationError::BlockedNavigation { .. }) => {
        // play a 'denied' cue; focus stays put
    }
    _ => {}
}

use bevy_input_focus::directional_navigation::DirectionalNavigationMap;

fn is_blocked(map: &DirectionalNavigationMap, focus: Entity, dir: CompassOctant) -> bool {
    map.get_neighbors(focus)
        .map(|n| n.get(dir).is_blocked())
        .unwrap_or(false)
}

match nav.navigate(dir) {
    Err(DirectionalNavigationError::BlockedNavigation { .. }) => {
        // intentional: play a denied cue, focus stays
    }
    _ => {}
}

When it happens

Trigger: Calling navigate in a direction for which block_edge/block_symmetrical_edge was previously called on the currently focused entity.

Common situations: Modal dialogs blocking navigation away from the dialog; intentional one-way menus; a block added during prototyping and forgotten.

Related errors

• No focusable entity is currently set.
• No neighbor from {current_focus} in the {direction:?} direct
• No tab groups found
• No focusable entities found
• Failed to navigate to next focusable entity

AI-assisted analysis of bevyengine/bevy@396ca72708 (2026-08-20). Data as JSON: /api/errors/c74072cd112f8531. Report an issue: GitHub.