| Do | Use named slots (media, label, description, trailing) for the common layout. These cover the 80% case. |
| Do | Use density="compact" for menus and dense lists, "default" for standalone items and spacious layouts. |
| Do | Set labelLines and descriptionLines to control truncation when content length varies. |
| Do | Use align="start" when media or trailing content is taller than a single line of text. |
| Don't | Don't nest interactive elements (buttons, links) inside an interactive XDSItem — it creates confusing focus and click targets. |
| Don't | Don't use XDSItem for navigation between views — use proper navigation components instead. |
| Don't | Don't add read/unread or inbox-specific behavior directly — compose a thin wrapper like XDSPreviewItem instead. |