Problem Statement
Currently, navigating through long conversations in Perplexity requires extensive scrolling to find previous questions and answers. When users want to review details from earlier responses or use them as a basis for new questions, they must manually scroll through potentially hundreds of exchanges. This creates a frustrating user experience, especially for research sessions or complex problem-solving workflows where referencing previous content is essential. The desktop interface has significant unused screen real estate that could be leveraged to solve this navigation challenge.
Feature Request Details
A clear and concise description of the feature or improvement you’d like to see.
I propose implementing a collapsible side navigation panel (similar to Microsoft Word’s Document Map or PowerPoint’s slide thumbnail panel) that displays a scrollable list of previous questions from the current conversation.
Key functionality:
- Display the first 2-3 lines of each previous question as preview text
- Include timestamps for better orientation
- Implement instant scroll-to functionality when clicking on any question preview
- Mark favorite questions to see on top of the list in highlighted.
- Make the panel collapsible/expandable for users who prefer full-screen experience
- Position it on the left or right side of the interface (user preference)
- Add search functionality within the conversation history
- Include filtering options (questions only, answers only, or both)
Visual design:
Compact, clean interface that doesn’t interfere with main content
Hover effects and active question highlighting
Responsive behavior for different screen sizes
Integration with existing Perplexity design language
Use Cases
Research Sessions: When conducting deep research on complex topics, users frequently need to reference earlier questions to build upon previous findings or clarify related concepts.
Educational Use: Students and academics can quickly jump between different aspects of a topic they’ve explored, making it easier to cross-reference information.
Professional Workflows: Business users analyzing data or solving problems can efficiently navigate between different analytical approaches discussed earlier in the session.
Content Creation: Writers and content creators can quickly reference previous questions about different sections of their work without losing their current context.
Troubleshooting: Technical users working through complex problems can easily return to earlier diagnostic questions while maintaining their current line of investigation.
Additional Context
Any additional context, screenshots, mockups, or examples that help illustrate your request.
The desktop version of Perplexity currently utilizes only a small portion of available screen width, leaving substantial unused space on both sides. This feature would make productive use of this space while significantly improving user experience for power users who engage in lengthy, detailed conversations.
Priority Level: Medium to High - This addresses a common user pain point while leveraging existing unused interface space.
Estimated Impact: Would significantly improve user experience for extended research sessions and complex problem-solving workflows, particularly beneficial for Pro users who tend to have longer, more detailed conversations.