diff --git a/crates/eye_declare/examples/chat.rs b/crates/eye_declare/examples/chat.rs
index caa69cf..0e39951 100644
--- a/crates/eye_declare/examples/chat.rs
+++ b/crates/eye_declare/examples/chat.rs
@@ -308,44 +308,38 @@ async fn main() -> io::Result<()> {
                     state.input.insert(state.cursor, *c);
                     state.cursor += c.len_utf8();
                 }
-                KeyCode::Backspace => {
-                    if state.cursor > 0 {
-                        state.cursor -= 1;
-                        state.input.remove(state.cursor);
-                    }
+                KeyCode::Backspace if state.cursor > 0 => {
+                    state.cursor -= 1;
+                    state.input.remove(state.cursor);
                 }
                 KeyCode::Left => {
                     state.cursor = state.cursor.saturating_sub(1);
                 }
-                KeyCode::Right => {
-                    if state.cursor < state.input.len() {
-                        state.cursor += 1;
-                    }
+                KeyCode::Right if state.cursor < state.input.len() => {
+                    state.cursor += 1;
                 }
-                KeyCode::Enter => {
-                    if !state.input.is_empty() {
-                        let text = std::mem::take(&mut state.input);
-                        state.cursor = 0;
-                        let user_id = state.next_id();
-                        state.messages.push(ChatMessage {
-                            id: user_id,
-                            kind: MessageKind::User(text),
-                        });
-
-                        let assistant_id = state.next_id();
-                        state.messages.push(ChatMessage {
-                            id: assistant_id,
-                            kind: MessageKind::Assistant {
-                                content: String::new(),
-                                done: false,
-                            },
-                        });
-
-                        let h2 = h.clone();
-                        tokio::spawn(async move {
-                            stream_response(h2, assistant_id).await;
-                        });
-                    }
+                KeyCode::Enter if !state.input.is_empty() => {
+                    let text = std::mem::take(&mut state.input);
+                    state.cursor = 0;
+                    let user_id = state.next_id();
+                    state.messages.push(ChatMessage {
+                        id: user_id,
+                        kind: MessageKind::User(text),
+                    });
+
+                    let assistant_id = state.next_id();
+                    state.messages.push(ChatMessage {
+                        id: assistant_id,
+                        kind: MessageKind::Assistant {
+                            content: String::new(),
+                            done: false,
+                        },
+                    });
+
+                    let h2 = h.clone();
+                    tokio::spawn(async move {
+                        stream_response(h2, assistant_id).await;
+                    });
                 }
                 KeyCode::Esc => {
                     return ControlFlow::Exit;
diff --git a/crates/eye_declare/examples/wrapping.rs b/crates/eye_declare/examples/wrapping.rs
index e80ad29..0fb5e2a 100644
--- a/crates/eye_declare/examples/wrapping.rs
+++ b/crates/eye_declare/examples/wrapping.rs
@@ -90,13 +90,12 @@ fn main() -> io::Result<()> {
                     stdout.write_all(&status_output)?;
                     stdout.flush()?;
                 }
-                Event::Key(key) => {
+                Event::Key(key)
                     if key.code == KeyCode::Char('q')
                         || (key.code == KeyCode::Char('c')
-                            && key.modifiers.contains(KeyModifiers::CONTROL))
-                    {
-                        break;
-                    }
+                            && key.modifiers.contains(KeyModifiers::CONTROL)) =>
+                {
+                    break;
                 }
                 _ => {}
             }
diff --git a/crates/eye_declare/src/app.rs b/crates/eye_declare/src/app.rs
index 3d59d94..ca8f068 100644
--- a/crates/eye_declare/src/app.rs
+++ b/crates/eye_declare/src/app.rs
@@ -30,12 +30,13 @@ use crossterm::event::{Event, KeyCode, KeyEvent, KeyEventKind, KeyModifiers};
 use futures::StreamExt;
 use tokio::sync::{mpsc, oneshot};
 
-use crate::component::{EventResult, VStack};
+use crate::component::{EventResult, TrackedRef, VStack};
 use crate::element::Elements;
 use crate::inline::InlineRenderer;
 use crate::node::NodeId;
 
 type StateUpdateFn<S> = Box<dyn FnOnce(&mut S) + Send>;
+type TrackedStateUpdateFn<S> = Box<dyn FnOnce(&mut TrackedRef<'_, S>) + Send>;
 type StateGetFn<S> = Box<dyn FnOnce(&S) + Send>;
 type ViewFn<S> = Box<dyn Fn(&S) -> Elements>;
 type CommitCallbackFn<S> = Box<dyn FnMut(&CommittedElement, &mut S)>;
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ type EventHandlerFn<'a, S> = Option<&'a mut dyn FnMut(&Event, &mut S) -> Control
 
 enum AppMessage<S> {
     UpdateState(StateUpdateFn<S>),
+    UpdateStateTracked(TrackedStateUpdateFn<S>),
     GetState(StateGetFn<S>),
 }
 
@@ -137,11 +139,20 @@ impl<S: Send + 'static> Handle<S> {
     /// Queue a state mutation. Applied on the next frame.
     ///
     /// This is non-blocking and can be called from both sync and
-    /// async contexts.
+    /// async contexts. Always triggers a rebuild.
     pub fn update(&self, f: impl FnOnce(&mut S) + Send + 'static) {
         let _ = self.tx.send(AppMessage::UpdateState(Box::new(f)));
     }
 
+    /// Queue a state mutation with dirty tracking. Only triggers a
+    /// rebuild if the callback actually writes through `DerefMut`.
+    ///
+    /// Use `state.read()` for reads that shouldn't trigger a rebuild,
+    /// and direct field access (which goes through `DerefMut`) for writes.
+    pub fn update_tracked(&self, f: impl FnOnce(&mut TrackedRef<'_, S>) + Send + 'static) {
+        let _ = self.tx.send(AppMessage::UpdateStateTracked(Box::new(f)));
+    }
+
     /// Get the current state.
     pub fn fetch<T: Send + 'static>(
         &self,
@@ -682,6 +693,9 @@ impl<S: Send + 'static> Application<S> {
                             update(&mut self.state);
                             self.dirty = true;
                         }
+                        Some(AppMessage::UpdateStateTracked(update)) => {
+                            self.apply_tracked_update(update);
+                        }
                         None => {
                             // All Handles dropped
                             channel_open = false;
@@ -802,6 +816,9 @@ impl<S: Send + 'static> Application<S> {
                             update(&mut self.state);
                             self.dirty = true;
                         }
+                        Some(AppMessage::UpdateStateTracked(update)) => {
+                            self.apply_tracked_update(update);
+                        }
                         Some(AppMessage::GetState(get)) => {
                             get(&self.state);
                         }
@@ -848,6 +865,14 @@ impl<S: Send + 'static> Application<S> {
         self.dirty = false;
     }
 
+    fn apply_tracked_update(&mut self, update: TrackedStateUpdateFn<S>) {
+        let mut tracked = TrackedRef::new(&mut self.state);
+        update(&mut tracked);
+        if tracked.is_dirty() {
+            self.dirty = true;
+        }
+    }
+
     fn drain_updates(&mut self) {
         while let Ok(update) = self.rx.try_recv() {
             match update {
@@ -855,6 +880,9 @@ impl<S: Send + 'static> Application<S> {
                     update(&mut self.state);
                     self.dirty = true;
                 }
+                AppMessage::UpdateStateTracked(update) => {
+                    self.apply_tracked_update(update);
+                }
                 AppMessage::GetState(get) => {
                     get(&self.state);
                 }
diff --git a/crates/eye_declare/src/component.rs b/crates/eye_declare/src/component.rs
index 589dc6f..f8f0381 100644
--- a/crates/eye_declare/src/component.rs
+++ b/crates/eye_declare/src/component.rs
@@ -173,6 +173,51 @@ impl<S> DerefMut for Tracked<S> {
     }
 }
 
+/// A mutable reference to `S` with dirty tracking.
+///
+/// Like [`Tracked<S>`] but borrows instead of owning. Reading through
+/// [`read()`](TrackedRef::read) or [`Deref`] does not set the dirty flag;
+/// writing through [`DerefMut`] does.
+pub struct TrackedRef<'a, S> {
+    inner: &'a mut S,
+    dirty: bool,
+}
+
+impl<'a, S> TrackedRef<'a, S> {
+    /// Wrap a mutable reference, starting clean.
+    pub fn new(inner: &'a mut S) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            inner,
+            dirty: false,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Whether any mutation has occurred through `DerefMut`.
+    pub fn is_dirty(&self) -> bool {
+        self.dirty
+    }
+
+    /// Get a shared reference without marking dirty.
+    pub fn read(&self) -> &S {
+        self.inner
+    }
+}
+
+impl<S> Deref for TrackedRef<'_, S> {
+    type Target = S;
+
+    fn deref(&self) -> &S {
+        self.inner
+    }
+}
+
+impl<S> DerefMut for TrackedRef<'_, S> {
+    fn deref_mut(&mut self) -> &mut S {
+        self.dirty = true;
+        self.inner
+    }
+}
+
 /// A component that can render itself into a terminal region.
 ///
 /// Most users should define components with the [`#[component]`](macro@crate::component)
diff --git a/crates/eye_declare/src/lib.rs b/crates/eye_declare/src/lib.rs
index 6c5642d..28bd295 100644
--- a/crates/eye_declare/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/eye_declare/src/lib.rs
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ pub use cells::Cells;
 pub use children::{
     AddTo, ChildCollector, ComponentWithSlot, DataChildren, DataHandle, SpliceInto,
 };
-pub use component::{Column, Component, EventResult, HStack, Tracked, VStack};
+pub use component::{Column, Component, EventResult, HStack, Tracked, TrackedRef, VStack};
 pub use components::canvas::Canvas;
 pub use components::markdown::{Markdown, MarkdownState};
 pub use components::spinner::{Spinner, SpinnerState};
diff --git a/crates/eye_declare/src/renderer.rs b/crates/eye_declare/src/renderer.rs
index 740d782..4d04ee7 100644
--- a/crates/eye_declare/src/renderer.rs
+++ b/crates/eye_declare/src/renderer.rs
@@ -1401,11 +1401,7 @@ fn allocate_widths(constraints: &[WidthConstraint], total: u16) -> Vec<u16> {
         .count() as u16;
 
     let remaining = total.saturating_sub(fixed_sum);
-    let per_fill = if fill_count > 0 {
-        remaining / fill_count
-    } else {
-        0
-    };
+    let per_fill = remaining.checked_div(fill_count).unwrap_or(0);
     let mut remainder = if fill_count > 0 {
         remaining % fill_count
     } else {
diff --git a/docs/content/guide/application.md b/docs/content/guide/application.md
index ce5eeb4..2a1760d 100644
--- a/docs/content/guide/application.md
+++ b/docs/content/guide/application.md
@@ -67,6 +67,24 @@ handle.update(|s| s.messages.push(msg3));
 // → one rebuild with all three messages
 ```
 
+### Conditional updates
+
+`update()` always triggers a rebuild, even if the callback doesn't actually change anything. For high-frequency events like keystroke handlers, use `update_tracked()` instead — it only triggers a rebuild if the callback actually writes through `DerefMut`:
+
+```rust
+handle.update_tracked(|state| {
+    let new_blank = text.is_empty();
+    // read() checks the value without marking dirty
+    if state.read().is_input_blank != new_blank {
+        // Field access through DerefMut — marks dirty, triggers rebuild
+        state.is_input_blank = new_blank;
+    }
+    // If nothing was written, no rebuild happens
+});
+```
+
+The callback receives `&mut TrackedRef<'_, S>`, which works like `&mut S` but tracks whether any mutation occurred. Use `.read()` for comparisons that shouldn't trigger a rebuild. Direct field access goes through `DerefMut` and sets the dirty flag.
+
 ### Exiting
 
 Call `handle.exit()` to stop the event loop, or simply drop the handle. When using `run()`, the app exits when the handle is dropped *and* all component effects (intervals, etc.) have stopped.