diff --git a/e2e/focus-retention.spec.ts b/e2e/focus-retention.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d64cbb3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/e2e/focus-retention.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+import { expect, test } from '@playwright/test';
+
+// Runs under the `chromium` project (already authenticated via the saved
+// storage state).
+//
+// Regression guard for focus survival across a rerun. The renderer used to key
+// every component by its value, so any committed value change unmounted and
+// remounted the widget — dropping DOM focus, the text caret, and selection
+// mid-interaction. Components are now keyed by their stable `id` and sync the
+// server value in place (useSyncedState), so the node survives a value change.
+//
+// The Volume slider is the sharpest probe: a keyboard nudge commits a new value
+// and reruns the script. If that rerun remounts the slider, it loses focus and
+// the NEXT arrow key goes nowhere. So we focus once and then drive every nudge
+// through `page.keyboard` (which targets whatever is currently focused, and does
+// NOT re-focus the element the way `locator.press` would — re-focusing would
+// mask the very bug under test). Each subsequent increment landing proves focus
+// was retained across the previous rerun.
+
+test.describe('focus survives a rerun', () => {
+  test.beforeEach(async ({ page }) => {
+    await page.goto('/widgets');
+    await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: /^Widgets$/ })).toBeVisible({
+      timeout: 10_000,
+    });
+  });
+
+  test('a slider keeps keyboard focus across each commit-driven rerun', async ({
+    page,
+  }) => {
+    const slider = page.getByRole('slider', { name: 'Volume' });
+    await expect(page.getByText('Volume is 30')).toBeVisible();
+
+    await slider.focus();
+    await expect(slider).toBeFocused();
+
+    // First nudge: commit + rerun. Under the old value-keyed renderer the slider
+    // remounts here and focus is lost.
+    await page.keyboard.press('ArrowRight');
+    await expect(page.getByText('Volume is 31')).toBeVisible({
+      timeout: 10_000,
+    });
+    // The node must still be the focused one for the rest of the test to work.
+    await expect(slider).toBeFocused();
+
+    // These two only register if focus survived the reruns above — each waits
+    // for the script echo, so the prior rerun has fully landed (and, under the
+    // old behaviour, would already have remounted) before the next key.
+    await page.keyboard.press('ArrowRight');
+    await expect(page.getByText('Volume is 32')).toBeVisible({
+      timeout: 10_000,
+    });
+
+    await page.keyboard.press('ArrowRight');
+    await expect(page.getByText('Volume is 33')).toBeVisible({
+      timeout: 10_000,
+    });
+
+    await expect(slider).toBeFocused();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/checkbox.tsx b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/checkbox.tsx
index e0623b0..f65dc03 100644
--- a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/checkbox.tsx
+++ b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/checkbox.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-import { useState } from 'react';
+import { useSyncedState } from '../hooks/use-synced-state';
 import { BackroadComponentRenderer } from '../types/components';
 import { setBackroadValue } from '../socket';
 import { Checkbox as UICheckbox, Label } from 'backroad-ui';
 
 export const Checkbox: BackroadComponentRenderer<'checkbox'> = (props) => {
-  const [value, setValue] = useState(props.value);
+  const [value, setValue] = useSyncedState(props.value);
   return (
     <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
       <UICheckbox
diff --git a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/color_picker.tsx b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/color_picker.tsx
index 7fb2c96..ccf95c7 100644
--- a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/color_picker.tsx
+++ b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/color_picker.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { HexColorPicker } from 'react-colorful';
+import { useSyncedState } from '../hooks/use-synced-state';
 import { setBackroadValue } from '../socket';
 import { BackroadComponentRenderer } from '../types/components';
 
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ export const ColorPicker: BackroadComponentRenderer<'color_picker'> = (
   props
 ) => {
   const popover = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
-  const [value, setValue] = useState(props.value || undefined);
+  const [value, setValue] = useSyncedState(props.value || undefined);
   const [isOpen, setIsOpen] = useState(false);
 
   const close = useCallback(() => setIsOpen(false), []);
diff --git a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/date_input.tsx b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/date_input.tsx
index c08e0ce..474bfb2 100644
--- a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/date_input.tsx
+++ b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/date_input.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useState } from 'react';
+import { useSyncedState } from '../hooks/use-synced-state';
 import { BackroadComponentRenderer } from '../types/components';
 import { setBackroadValue } from '../socket';
 import { Input, Label } from 'backroad-ui';
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import { Input, Label } from 'backroad-ui';
 // Native date picker. `change` fires once per selection (not per keystroke),
 // so committing directly is cheap. Value is an ISO `YYYY-MM-DD` string.
 export const DateInput: BackroadComponentRenderer<'date_input'> = (props) => {
-  const [value, setValue] = useState(props.value);
+  const [value, setValue] = useSyncedState(props.value);
   return (
     <div className="flex w-full max-w-xs flex-col gap-2">
       <Label htmlFor={props.id}>{props.args.label}</Label>
diff --git a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/multiselect.tsx b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/multiselect.tsx
index 20a6b7a..cd8f150 100644
--- a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/multiselect.tsx
+++ b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/multiselect.tsx
@@ -2,17 +2,21 @@ import ReactSelect from 'react-select';
 import { getFlattenedOptions, reactSelectClassNames } from '../helpers/select';
 import { setBackroadValue } from '../socket';
 import { BackroadComponentRenderer } from '../types/components';
-import { useState } from 'react';
-import { SelectOptionType } from '@backroad/core';
+import { useSyncedState } from '../hooks/use-synced-state';
 import { Label } from 'backroad-ui';
 export const Multiselect: BackroadComponentRenderer<'multiselect'> = (
   props
 ) => {
   const flattenedOptions = getFlattenedOptions(props.args.options);
+  // Controlled (was uncontrolled `defaultValue`): the renderer no longer
+  // remounts this on a value change. Track the selected VALUES — which keep a
+  // stable identity across local re-renders — and derive the option objects
+  // react-select wants from them each render. Syncing on the freshly-filtered
+  // option array instead would make useSyncedState re-fire every render.
+  const [selectedValues, setSelectedValues] = useSyncedState(props.value);
   const valueOptions = flattenedOptions.filter((option) =>
-    props.value?.includes(option.value)
-  ) as Readonly<SelectOptionType[]>;
-  const [value, setValue] = useState(valueOptions);
+    selectedValues?.includes(option.value)
+  );
   return (
     <div className="flex w-full max-w-xs flex-col gap-2">
       <Label htmlFor={props.id}>{props.args.label || props.id}</Label>
@@ -21,14 +25,12 @@ export const Multiselect: BackroadComponentRenderer<'multiselect'> = (
         inputId={props.id}
         unstyled
         classNames={reactSelectClassNames}
-        defaultValue={value}
+        value={valueOptions}
         isMulti
         onChange={(newValue) => {
-          setValue(newValue);
-          setBackroadValue({
-            id: props.id,
-            value: newValue?.map((option) => option.value),
-          });
+          const values = newValue.map((option) => option.value);
+          setSelectedValues(values);
+          setBackroadValue({ id: props.id, value: values });
         }}
       />
     </div>
diff --git a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/number_input.tsx b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/number_input.tsx
index 85f4106..c733440 100644
--- a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/number_input.tsx
+++ b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/number_input.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 import { BackroadComponent } from '@backroad/core';
-import { useState } from 'react';
+import { useSyncedState } from '../hooks/use-synced-state';
 import { setBackroadValue } from '../socket';
 import { handleKeyUpBlur } from '../helpers/handleKeyUp';
 import { Minus, Plus } from 'lucide-react';
 import { Input, Label, Button } from 'backroad-ui';
 
 export const NumberInput = (props: BackroadComponent<'number_input', true>) => {
-  const [inputValue, setInputValue] = useState(props.value);
+  const [inputValue, setInputValue] = useSyncedState(props.value);
   const stepValue = props.args.step || 1;
   const precisionValue = props.args.precision || 0;
 
diff --git a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/radio.tsx b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/radio.tsx
index 448ea0c..2c36ce6 100644
--- a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/radio.tsx
+++ b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/radio.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-import { useState } from 'react';
+import { useSyncedState } from '../hooks/use-synced-state';
 import { BackroadComponentRenderer } from '../types/components';
 import { setBackroadValue } from '../socket';
 import { RadioGroup, RadioGroupItem, Label } from 'backroad-ui';
 
 export const Radio: BackroadComponentRenderer<'radio'> = (props) => {
-  const [value, setValue] = useState(props.value);
+  const [value, setValue] = useSyncedState(props.value);
   return (
     <div className="flex w-full max-w-xs flex-col gap-3">
       <span className="backroad-label">{props.args.label}</span>
diff --git a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/select.tsx b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/select.tsx
index 91bff7f..556fb83 100644
--- a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/select.tsx
+++ b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/select.tsx
@@ -2,9 +2,20 @@ import ReactSelect from 'react-select';
 import { getFlattenedOptions, reactSelectClassNames } from '../helpers/select';
 import { setBackroadValue } from '../socket';
 import { BackroadComponentRenderer } from '../types/components';
+import { useSyncedState } from '../hooks/use-synced-state';
 import { Label } from 'backroad-ui';
 
 export const Select: BackroadComponentRenderer<'select'> = (props) => {
+  // Controlled (was uncontrolled `defaultValue`): the renderer no longer
+  // remounts this on a value change, so the selection has to be driven by
+  // state. Seed + resync from the server value via useSyncedState, and update
+  // optimistically on change so the menu reflects the pick before the rerun
+  // round-trips.
+  const [value, setValue] = useSyncedState(
+    getFlattenedOptions(props.args.options).find(
+      (option) => option.value === props.value
+    ) ?? null
+  );
   return (
     <div className="flex w-full max-w-xs flex-col gap-2">
       <Label htmlFor={props.id}>{props.args.label || props.id}</Label>
@@ -13,10 +24,9 @@ export const Select: BackroadComponentRenderer<'select'> = (props) => {
         inputId={props.id}
         unstyled
         classNames={reactSelectClassNames}
-        defaultValue={getFlattenedOptions(props.args.options).find(
-          (option) => option.value === props.value
-        )}
+        value={value}
         onChange={(newValue) => {
+          setValue(newValue ?? null);
           setBackroadValue({ id: props.id, value: newValue?.value });
         }}
       />
diff --git a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/slider.tsx b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/slider.tsx
index 459c81f..818d0e1 100644
--- a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/slider.tsx
+++ b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/slider.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useState } from 'react';
+import { useSyncedState } from '../hooks/use-synced-state';
 import { BackroadComponentRenderer } from '../types/components';
 import { setBackroadValue } from '../socket';
 import { Label, Slider as SliderPrimitive } from 'backroad-ui';
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import { Label, Slider as SliderPrimitive } from 'backroad-ui';
 // the thumb for sighted users.
 export const Slider: BackroadComponentRenderer<'slider'> = (props) => {
   const { label, min = 0, max = 100, step = 1 } = props.args;
-  const [value, setValue] = useState(props.value);
+  const [value, setValue] = useSyncedState(props.value);
 
   return (
     <div className="flex w-full max-w-xs flex-col gap-2">
diff --git a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/text_area.tsx b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/text_area.tsx
index ca8751b..51885d4 100644
--- a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/text_area.tsx
+++ b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/text_area.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useState } from 'react';
+import { useSyncedState } from '../hooks/use-synced-state';
 import { BackroadComponentRenderer } from '../types/components';
 import { setBackroadValue } from '../socket';
 import { Label, Textarea } from 'backroad-ui';
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import { Label, Textarea } from 'backroad-ui';
 // Unlike text_input, Enter must insert a newline rather than commit, so there's
 // no handleKeyUpBlur here — the value commits on blur only.
 export const TextArea: BackroadComponentRenderer<'text_area'> = (props) => {
-  const [value, setValue] = useState(props.value);
+  const [value, setValue] = useSyncedState(props.value);
   return (
     <div className="flex w-full max-w-md flex-col gap-2">
       <Label htmlFor={props.id}>{props.args.label}</Label>
diff --git a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/text_input.tsx b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/text_input.tsx
index f9bf4a7..732b0e2 100644
--- a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/text_input.tsx
+++ b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/text_input.tsx
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
-import { useState } from 'react';
+import { useSyncedState } from '../hooks/use-synced-state';
 import { BackroadComponentRenderer } from '../types/components';
 import { handleKeyUpBlur } from '../helpers/handleKeyUp';
 import { setBackroadValue } from '../socket';
 import { Input, Label } from 'backroad-ui';
 
 export const TextInput: BackroadComponentRenderer<'text_input'> = (props) => {
-  const [value, setValue] = useState(props.value);
+  const [value, setValue] = useSyncedState(props.value);
   return (
     <div className="flex w-full max-w-xs flex-col gap-2">
       <Label htmlFor={props.id}>{props.args.label}</Label>
diff --git a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/time_input.tsx b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/time_input.tsx
index 270087f..eb9670d 100644
--- a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/time_input.tsx
+++ b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/time_input.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useState } from 'react';
+import { useSyncedState } from '../hooks/use-synced-state';
 import { BackroadComponentRenderer } from '../types/components';
 import { setBackroadValue } from '../socket';
 import { Input, Label } from 'backroad-ui';
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import { Input, Label } from 'backroad-ui';
 // Native time picker. Value is a 24-hour `HH:mm` string. `step` (seconds)
 // switches the picker to second-level granularity when provided.
 export const TimeInput: BackroadComponentRenderer<'time_input'> = (props) => {
-  const [value, setValue] = useState(props.value);
+  const [value, setValue] = useSyncedState(props.value);
   return (
     <div className="flex w-full max-w-xs flex-col gap-2">
       <Label htmlFor={props.id}>{props.args.label}</Label>
diff --git a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/toggle.tsx b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/toggle.tsx
index 965ca3c..7cc7fff 100644
--- a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/toggle.tsx
+++ b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/components/toggle.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-import { useState } from 'react';
+import { useSyncedState } from '../hooks/use-synced-state';
 import { BackroadComponentRenderer } from '../types/components';
 import { setBackroadValue } from '../socket';
 import { Switch, Label } from 'backroad-ui';
 
 export const Toggle: BackroadComponentRenderer<'toggle'> = (props) => {
-  const [value, setValue] = useState(props.value);
+  const [value, setValue] = useSyncedState(props.value);
   return (
     <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
       <Switch
diff --git a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/hooks/use-synced-state.ts b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/hooks/use-synced-state.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0612c9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/hooks/use-synced-state.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import { useRef, useState, type Dispatch, type SetStateAction } from 'react';
+
+/**
+ * Local component state seeded from a server-pushed value, kept in sync WITHOUT
+ * remounting.
+ *
+ * Backround: every value-returning widget keeps a local copy of its value so
+ * typing/dragging feels instant (the authoritative value only commits to the
+ * server on blur/commit). To make a server-driven change — `br.setValue(id,…)`,
+ * or the new value echoed back after a commit — actually show up, the renderer
+ * used to key each component by its value, forcing a full unmount+remount on any
+ * change. That remount is what dropped focus, the text caret, and selection
+ * mid-interaction (see TreeRender).
+ *
+ * Instead we adopt a new server value *during render* only when it actually
+ * differs from the last one we saw (React's documented "adjusting state when a
+ * prop changes" pattern), so the DOM node — and its focus — survives. While the
+ * server value holds steady, in-progress local edits are left untouched, because
+ * the guard never fires.
+ */
+export function useSyncedState<T>(
+  serverValue: T
+): [T, Dispatch<SetStateAction<T>>] {
+  const [value, setValue] = useState<T>(serverValue);
+  const lastServerValue = useRef<T>(serverValue);
+  // `Object.is` guard: `serverValue` only gets a new identity when a render
+  // patch replaces this node (i.e. a genuine server-side change), not on the
+  // re-renders triggered by local `setValue`, so this neither loops nor clobbers
+  // local edits.
+  if (!Object.is(serverValue, lastServerValue.current)) {
+    lastServerValue.current = serverValue;
+    setValue(serverValue);
+  }
+  return [value, setValue];
+}
diff --git a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/tree.tsx b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/tree.tsx
index e792241..cfdcd15 100644
--- a/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/tree.tsx
+++ b/libs/backroad-components/src/lib/tree.tsx
@@ -7,10 +7,17 @@ export const TreeRender = (props: { tree: BackroadNode }) => {
   if (isBackroadComponent(props.tree, true)) {
     const ComponentRenderer = backroadClientComponents[props.tree.type];
     // Suspense boundary for lazy renderers (e.g. `table`); inert for the rest.
+    // Key by the component's stable `id`, NOT its value: the parent already
+    // keys this whole subtree by `path`, so keying on value here only served to
+    // force a remount whenever the value changed — which dropped focus, the text
+    // caret, and selection mid-edit on every rerun. Value-driven UI updates are
+    // handled inside the components via `useSyncedState` instead, so the DOM
+    // node now survives a value change and only remounts when the component's
+    // identity actually changes.
     return (
       <Suspense fallback={null}>
         {/* @ts-expect-error there are sufficient checks to ensure this is correct */}
-        <ComponentRenderer {...props.tree} key={props.tree.value} />
+        <ComponentRenderer {...props.tree} key={props.tree.id} />
       </Suspense>
     );
   } else {