Navigation Menu – Kobalte

A collection of links for navigating websites.

Import

ts
import { NavigationMenu } from "@kobalte/core/navigation-menu";
// or
import { Root, Menu, ... } from "@kobalte/core/navigation-menu";

ts
import { NavigationMenu } from "@kobalte/core/navigation-menu";
// or
import { Root, Menu, ... } from "@kobalte/core/navigation-menu";

Features

Follows the WAI ARIA Navigation Menubar design pattern.
Supports modal and non-modal modes.
Supports submenus.
Supports items, labels, groups of items.
Supports checkable items (single or multiple) with optional indeterminate state.
Support disabled items.
Complex item labeling support for accessibility.
Keyboard opening and navigation support.
Automatic scrolling support during keyboard navigation.
Typeahead to allow focusing items by typing text.
Optionally render a pointing arrow.
Focus is fully managed.

Anatomy

The navigation menu consists of:

NavigationMenu: The root container for a NavigationMenu.
NavigationMenu.Viewport: Contains the menu rendered by the open menu.
NavigationMenu.Arrow: An optional arrow element to render alongside the viewport.

The menu consists of:

NavigationMenu.Menu: The container of each menu.
NavigationMenu.Trigger: The button that toggles the menu.
NavigationMenu.Icon: A small icon that can be displayed inside the menu trigger as a visual affordance for the fact it can be open.
NavigationMenu.Portal: Portals its children into the NavigationMenu.Viewport when the menu is open.
NavigationMenu.Content: Contains the content to be rendered when the menu is open.
NavigationMenu.Separator: Used to visually separate items in the menu.
NavigationMenu.Group: Used to group multiple items. Use in conjunction with NavigationMenu.GroupLabel to ensure good accessibility via automatic labelling.
NavigationMenu.GroupLabel: Used to render the label of a group. It won't be focusable using arrow keys.
NavigationMenu.Sub: Contains all the parts of a submenu.
NavigationMenu.SubTrigger: An item that opens a submenu. Must be rendered inside NavigationMenu.Sub.
NavigationMenu.SubContent: The component that pops out when a submenu is open. Must be rendered inside NavigationMenu.Sub.

The menu item consists of:

NavigationMenu.Item: An item of the select.
NavigationMenu.ItemLabel: An accessible label to be announced for the item.
NavigationMenu.ItemDescription: An optional accessible description to be announced for the item.
NavigationMenu.ItemIndicator: The visual indicator rendered when the item is checked.

The checkable menu item consists of:

NavigationMenu.RadioGroup: Used to group multiple NavigationMenu.RadioItems and manage the selection.
NavigationMenu.RadioItem: An item that can be controlled and rendered like a radio.
NavigationMenu.CheckboxItem: An item that can be controlled and rendered like a checkbox.

tsx
<NavigationMenu>
	<NavigationMenu.Menu>
		<NavigationMenu.Trigger>
			<NavigationMenu.Icon />
		</NavigationMenu.Trigger>
		<NavigationMenu.Portal>
			<NavigationMenu.Content>
				<NavigationMenu.Item>
					<NavigationMenu.ItemLabel />
					<NavigationMenu.ItemDescription />
				</NavigationMenu.Item>
				<NavigationMenu.Group>
					<NavigationMenu.GroupLabel />
					<NavigationMenu.Item />
				</NavigationMenu.Group>
				<NavigationMenu.CheckboxItem>
					<NavigationMenu.ItemIndicator />
				</NavigationMenu.CheckboxItem>
				<NavigationMenu.RadioGroup>
					<NavigationMenu.RadioItem>
						<NavigationMenu.ItemIndicator />
					</NavigationMenu.RadioItem>
				</NavigationMenu.RadioGroup>
				<NavigationMenu.Sub>
					<NavigationMenu.SubTrigger />
					<NavigationMenu.Portal>
						<NavigationMenu.SubContent />
					</NavigationMenu.Portal>
				</NavigationMenu.Sub>
				<NavigationMenu.Separator />
			</NavigationMenu.Content>
		</NavigationMenu.Portal>
	</NavigationMenu.Menu>
	<NavigationMenu.Viewport>
		<NavigationMenu.Arrow />
	</NavigationMenu.Viewport>
</NavigationMenu>

tsx
<NavigationMenu>
	<NavigationMenu.Menu>
		<NavigationMenu.Trigger>
			<NavigationMenu.Icon />
		</NavigationMenu.Trigger>
		<NavigationMenu.Portal>
			<NavigationMenu.Content>
				<NavigationMenu.Item>
					<NavigationMenu.ItemLabel />
					<NavigationMenu.ItemDescription />
				</NavigationMenu.Item>
				<NavigationMenu.Group>
					<NavigationMenu.GroupLabel />
					<NavigationMenu.Item />
				</NavigationMenu.Group>
				<NavigationMenu.CheckboxItem>
					<NavigationMenu.ItemIndicator />
				</NavigationMenu.CheckboxItem>
				<NavigationMenu.RadioGroup>
					<NavigationMenu.RadioItem>
						<NavigationMenu.ItemIndicator />
					</NavigationMenu.RadioItem>
				</NavigationMenu.RadioGroup>
				<NavigationMenu.Sub>
					<NavigationMenu.SubTrigger />
					<NavigationMenu.Portal>
						<NavigationMenu.SubContent />
					</NavigationMenu.Portal>
				</NavigationMenu.Sub>
				<NavigationMenu.Separator />
			</NavigationMenu.Content>
		</NavigationMenu.Portal>
	</NavigationMenu.Menu>
	<NavigationMenu.Viewport>
		<NavigationMenu.Arrow />
	</NavigationMenu.Viewport>
</NavigationMenu>

Example

Orientation

Horizontal

Vertical

Usage

Viewport size

Since the viewport content has a position of absolute to allow animating, Kobalte exports a custom CSS variable --kb-navigation-menu-viewport-height and --kb-navigation-menu-viewport-width. The height and width will be copied from the active NavigationMenu.Content, which can either be set using CSS or automatically calculated based on it's content. Combined with a transition CSS rule the size can be animated.

css
/* style.css */
.navigation-menu__viewport {
	width: var(--kb-navigation-menu-viewport-width);
	height: var(--kb-navigation-menu-viewport-height);
	transition:
		width,
		height,
		250ms ease;
}

css
/* style.css */
.navigation-menu__viewport {
	width: var(--kb-navigation-menu-viewport-width);
	height: var(--kb-navigation-menu-viewport-height);
	transition:
		width,
		height,
		250ms ease;
}

Link trigger

To make one of the navigation menu triggers a link instead of opening a menu, omit the NavigationMenu.Menu and set as="a" on the NavigationMenu.Trigger.

tsx
<NavigationMenu>
	<NavigationMenu.Menu>
		<NavigationMenu.Trigger>Opens a regular menu</NavigationMenu.Trigger>
		<NavigationMenu.Portal>
			<NavigationMenu.Content>...</NavigationMenu.Content>
		</NavigationMenu.Portal>
	</NavigationMenu.Menu>
	<NavigationMenu.Trigger as="a" href="https://kobalte.dev">
		Opens a link on click and enter
	</NavigationMenu.Trigger>
	<NavigationMenu.Viewport>
		<NavigationMenu.Arrow />
	</NavigationMenu.Viewport>
</NavigationMenu>

tsx
<NavigationMenu>
	<NavigationMenu.Menu>
		<NavigationMenu.Trigger>Opens a regular menu</NavigationMenu.Trigger>
		<NavigationMenu.Portal>
			<NavigationMenu.Content>...</NavigationMenu.Content>
		</NavigationMenu.Portal>
	</NavigationMenu.Menu>
	<NavigationMenu.Trigger as="a" href="https://kobalte.dev">
		Opens a link on click and enter
	</NavigationMenu.Trigger>
	<NavigationMenu.Viewport>
		<NavigationMenu.Arrow />
	</NavigationMenu.Viewport>
</NavigationMenu>

Origin-aware animations

We expose a CSS custom property --kb-menu-content-transform-origin which can be used to animate the viewport from its computed origin.

css
/* style.css */
.navigation-menu__viewport {
	transform-origin: var(--kb-menu-content-transform-origin);
	animation: viewportHide 250ms ease-in forwards;
}
.navigation-menu__viewport[data-expanded] {
	animation: viewportShow 250ms ease-out;
}
@keyframes viewportShow {
	from {
		opacity: 0;
		transform: rotateX(-20deg) scale(0.96);
	}
	to {
		opacity: 1;
		transform: rotateX(0deg) scale(1);
	}
}
@keyframes viewportHide {
	from {
		opacity: 1;
		transform: rotateX(0deg) scale(1);
	}
	to {
		opacity: 0;
		transform: rotateX(-10deg) scale(0.96);
	}
}

css
/* style.css */
.navigation-menu__viewport {
	transform-origin: var(--kb-menu-content-transform-origin);
	animation: viewportHide 250ms ease-in forwards;
}
.navigation-menu__viewport[data-expanded] {
	animation: viewportShow 250ms ease-out;
}
@keyframes viewportShow {
	from {
		opacity: 0;
		transform: rotateX(-20deg) scale(0.96);
	}
	to {
		opacity: 1;
		transform: rotateX(0deg) scale(1);
	}
}
@keyframes viewportHide {
	from {
		opacity: 1;
		transform: rotateX(0deg) scale(1);
	}
	to {
		opacity: 0;
		transform: rotateX(-10deg) scale(0.96);
	}
}

For animating the content of the viewport we apply the attribute data-motion of type "to-start" | "to-end" | "from-start" | "from-end" on the NavigationMenu.Content.

css
/* style.css */
.navigation-menu__content[data-motion="from-start"] {
	animation-name: enterFromLeft;
}
.navigation-menu__content[data-motion="from-end"] {
	animation-name: enterFromRight;
}
.navigation-menu__content[data-motion="to-start"] {
	animation-name: exitToLeft;
}
.navigation-menu__content[data-motion="to-end"] {
	animation-name: exitToRight;
}
@keyframes enterFromRight {
	from {
		opacity: 0;
		transform: translateX(200px);
	}
	to {
		opacity: 1;
		transform: translateX(0);
	}
}
@keyframes enterFromLeft {
	from {
		opacity: 0;
		transform: translateX(-200px);
	}
	to {
		opacity: 1;
		transform: translateX(0);
	}
}
@keyframes exitToRight {
	from {
		opacity: 1;
		transform: translateX(0);
	}
	to {
		opacity: 0;
		transform: translateX(200px);
	}
}
@keyframes exitToLeft {
	from {
		opacity: 1;
		transform: translateX(0);
	}
	to {
		opacity: 0;
		transform: translateX(-200px);
	}
}

css
/* style.css */
.navigation-menu__content[data-motion="from-start"] {
	animation-name: enterFromLeft;
}
.navigation-menu__content[data-motion="from-end"] {
	animation-name: enterFromRight;
}
.navigation-menu__content[data-motion="to-start"] {
	animation-name: exitToLeft;
}
.navigation-menu__content[data-motion="to-end"] {
	animation-name: exitToRight;
}
@keyframes enterFromRight {
	from {
		opacity: 0;
		transform: translateX(200px);
	}
	to {
		opacity: 1;
		transform: translateX(0);
	}
}
@keyframes enterFromLeft {
	from {
		opacity: 0;
		transform: translateX(-200px);
	}
	to {
		opacity: 1;
		transform: translateX(0);
	}
}
@keyframes exitToRight {
	from {
		opacity: 1;
		transform: translateX(0);
	}
	to {
		opacity: 0;
		transform: translateX(200px);
	}
}
@keyframes exitToLeft {
	from {
		opacity: 1;
		transform: translateX(0);
	}
	to {
		opacity: 0;
		transform: translateX(-200px);
	}
}

API Reference

Prop	Description
defaultValue	`string` The value of the menu that should be open when initially rendered. Use when you do not need to control the value state.
value	`string` The controlled value of the menu to open. Should be used in conjunction with onValueChange.
onValueChange	`(value: string \| undefined \| null) => void` Event handler called when the value changes.
loop	`boolean` When true, keyboard navigation will loop from last item to first, and vice versa.
delayDuration	`number` Delay before the menu opens on hover (default 200).
skipDelayDuration	`boolean` Open immediately if hovered again within delay (default 300).
loop	`boolean` When true, keyboard navigation will loop from last item to first, and vice versa.
focusOnAlt	`boolean` When true, click on alt by itsef will focus this NavigationMenu (some browsers interfere).
forceMount	`boolean` Used to force mounting the menu (portal and content) when more control is needed. Useful when controlling animation with SolidJS animation libraries.

NavigationMenu.Viewport

Prop	Description
onEscapeKeyDown	`(event: KeyboardEvent) => void` Event handler called when the escape key is down. It can be prevented by calling `event.preventDefault`.
onPointerDownOutside	`(event: PointerDownOutsideEvent) => void` Event handler called when a pointer event occurs outside the bounds of the component. It can be prevented by calling `event.preventDefault`.
onFocusOutside	`(event: FocusOutsideEvent) => void` Event handler called when the focus moves outside the bounds of the component. It can be prevented by calling `event.preventDefault`.
onInteractOutside	`(event: InteractOutsideEvent) => void` Event handler called when an interaction (pointer or focus event) happens outside the bounds of the component. It can be prevented by calling `event.preventDefault`.

NavigationMenu.Arrow

Prop	Description
size	`number` The size of the arrow.

NavigationMenu.Menu

Prop	Description
onOpenChange	`(open: boolean) => void` Event handler called when the open state of the menu changes.
id	`string` A unique identifier for the component. The id is used to generate id attributes for nested components. If no id prop is provided, a generated id will be used.
modal	`boolean` Whether the menu should be the only visible content for screen readers, when set to `true`: - interaction with outside elements will be disabled. - scroll will be locked. - focus will be locked inside the menu content. - elements outside the menu content will not be visible for screen readers.
preventScroll	`boolean` Whether the scroll should be locked even if the menu is not modal.
forceMount	`boolean` Used to force mounting the menu (portal and content) when more control is needed. Useful when controlling animation with SolidJS animation libraries.
value	`string` A unique value that associates the item with an active value when the navigation menu is controlled. This prop is managed automatically when uncontrolled.

NavigationMenu.Menu also accepts the following props to customize the placement of the NavigationMenu.Content.

Prop	Description
placement	`Placement` The placement of the menu content.
gutter	`number` The distance between the menu content and the trigger element. By default, it's 0 plus half of the arrow offset, if it exists.
shift	`number` The skidding of the menu content along the trigger element.
flip	`boolean \| string` Controls the behavior of the menu content when it overflows the viewport: - If a `boolean`, specifies whether the menu content should flip to the opposite side when it overflows. - If a `string`, indicates the preferred fallback placements when it overflows. The placements must be spaced-delimited, e.g. "top left".
slide	`boolean` Whether the menu content should slide when it overflows.
overlap	`boolean` Whether the menu content can overlap the trigger element when it overflows.
sameWidth	`boolean` Whether the menu content should have the same width as the trigger element. This will be exposed to CSS as `--kb-popper-anchor-width`.
fitViewport	`boolean` Whether the menu content should fit the viewport. If this is set to true, the menu content will have `maxWidth` and `maxHeight` set to the viewport size. This will be exposed to CSS as `--kb-popper-available-width` and `--kb-popper-available-height`.
hideWhenDetached	`boolean` Whether to hide the menu content when the trigger element becomes occluded.
detachedPadding	`number` The minimum padding in order to consider the trigger element occluded.
arrowPadding	`number` The minimum padding between the arrow and the menu content corner.
overflowPadding	`number` The minimum padding between the menu content and the viewport edge. This will be exposed to CSS as `--kb-popper-overflow-padding`.

NavigationMenu.Trigger

Prop	Description
disabled	`boolean` Whether the context menu trigger is disabled or not.

Data attribute	Description
data-expanded	Present when the menu is open.
data-closed	Present when the menu is close.
data-disabled	Present when the trigger is disabled.

NavigationMenu.Icon, NavigationMenu.Content, NavigationMenu.SubTrigger and NavigationMenu.SubContent share the same data-expanded attribute.

NavigationMenu.Content

Prop	Description
onOpenAutoFocus	`(event: Event) => void` Event handler called when focus moves into the component after opening. It can be prevented by calling `event.preventDefault`.
onCloseAutoFocus	`(event: Event) => void` Event handler called when focus moves to the trigger after closing. It can be prevented by calling `event.preventDefault`.
onEscapeKeyDown	`(event: KeyboardEvent) => void` Event handler called when the escape key is down. It can be prevented by calling `event.preventDefault`.
onPointerDownOutside	`(event: PointerDownOutsideEvent) => void` Event handler called when a pointer event occurs outside the bounds of the component. It can be prevented by calling `event.preventDefault`.
onFocusOutside	`(event: FocusOutsideEvent) => void` Event handler called when the focus moves outside the bounds of the component. It can be prevented by calling `event.preventDefault`.
onInteractOutside	`(event: InteractOutsideEvent) => void` Event handler called when an interaction (pointer or focus event) happens outside the bounds of the component. It can be prevented by calling `event.preventDefault`.

NavigationMenu.Item

Prop	Description
textValue	`string` Optional text used for typeahead purposes. By default, the typeahead behavior will use the .textContent of the `NavigationMenu.ItemLabel` part if provided, or fallback to the .textContent of the `NavigationMenu.Item`. Use this when the content is complex, or you have non-textual content inside.
disabled	`boolean` Whether the item is disabled or not.
closeOnSelect	`boolean` Whether the menu should close when the item is activated.
onSelect	`() => void` Event handler called when the user selects an item (via mouse or keyboard).

Data attribute	Description
data-disabled	Present when the item is disabled.
data-highlighted	Present when the item is highlighted.

NavigationMenu.ItemLabel, NavigationMenu.ItemDescription and NavigationMenu.ItemIndicator shares the same data-attributes.

NavigationMenu.ItemIndicator

Prop	Description
forceMount	`boolean` Used to force mounting when more control is needed. Useful when controlling animation with SolidJS animation libraries.

NavigationMenu.RadioGroup

Prop	Description
value	`string` The controlled value of the menu radio item to check.
defaultValue	`string` The value of the menu radio item that should be checked when initially rendered. Useful when you do not need to control the state of the radio group.
onChange	`(value: string) => void` Event handler called when the value changes.
disabled	`boolean` Whether the radio group is disabled or not.

NavigationMenu.RadioItem

Prop	Description
value	`string` The value of the menu item radio.
textValue	`string` Optional text used for typeahead purposes. By default, the typeahead behavior will use the .textContent of the `NavigationMenu.ItemLabel` part if provided, or fallback to the .textContent of the `NavigationMenu.Item`. Use this when the content is complex, or you have non-textual content inside.
disabled	`boolean` Whether the item is disabled or not.
closeOnSelect	`boolean` Whether the menu should close when the item is checked.
onSelect	`() => void` Event handler called when the user selects an item (via mouse or keyboard).

Data attribute	Description
data-disabled	Present when the item is disabled.
data-checked	Present when the item is checked.
data-highlighted	Present when the item is highlighted.

NavigationMenu.CheckboxItem

Prop	Description
checked	`boolean` The controlled checked state of the item.
defaultChecked	`boolean` The default checked state when initially rendered. Useful when you do not need to control the checked state.
onChange	`(checked: boolean) => void` Event handler called when the checked state of the item changes.
textValue	`string` Optional text used for typeahead purposes. By default, the typeahead behavior will use the .textContent of the `NavigationMenu.ItemLabel` part if provided, or fallback to the .textContent of the `NavigationMenu.Item`. Use this when the content is complex, or you have non-textual content inside.
indeterminate	`boolean` Whether the item is in an indeterminate state.
disabled	`boolean` Whether the item is disabled or not.
closeOnSelect	`boolean` Whether the menu should close when the item is checked/unchecked.
onSelect	`() => void` Event handler called when the user selects an item (via mouse or keyboard).

Data attribute	Description
data-disabled	Present when the item is disabled.
data-indeterminate	Present when the item is in an indeterminate state.
data-checked	Present when the item is checked.
data-highlighted	Present when the item is highlighted.

NavigationMenu.Sub

Prop	Description
open	`boolean` The controlled open state of the sub menu.
defaultOpen	`boolean` The default open state when initially rendered. Useful when you do not need to control the open state.
onOpenChange	`(open: boolean) => void` Event handler called when the open state of the sub menu changes.

NavigationMenu.Sub also accepts the following props to customize the placement of the NavigationMenu.SubContent.

Prop	Description
getAnchorRect	`(anchor?: HTMLElement) => AnchorRect \| undefined` Function that returns the trigger element's DOMRect.
gutter	`number` The distance between the sub menu content and the trigger element. By default, it's 0 plus half of the arrow offset, if it exists.
shift	`number` The skidding of the sub menu content along the trigger element.
slide	`boolean` Whether the sub menu content should slide when it overflows.
overlap	`boolean` Whether the sub menu content can overlap the trigger element when it overflows.
fitViewport	`boolean` Whether the sub menu content should fit the viewport. If this is set to true, the sub menu content will have `maxWidth` and `maxHeight` set to the viewport size. This will be exposed to CSS as `--kb-popper-available-width` and `--kb-popper-available-height`.
hideWhenDetached	`boolean` Whether to hide the sub menu content when the trigger element becomes occluded.
detachedPadding	`number` The minimum padding in order to consider the trigger element occluded.
arrowPadding	`number` The minimum padding between the arrow and the sub menu content corner.
overflowPadding	`number` The minimum padding between the sub menu content and the viewport edge. This will be exposed to CSS as `--kb-popper-overflow-padding`.

NavigationMenu.SubTrigger

Prop	Description
textValue	`string` Optional text used for typeahead purposes. By default, the typeahead behavior will use the .textContent of the `NavigationMenu.SubTrigger`. Use this when the content is complex, or you have non-textual content inside.
disabled	`boolean` Whether the sub menu trigger is disabled or not.

Data attribute	Description
data-disabled	Present when the item is disabled.
data-highlighted	Present when the item is highlighted.

NavigationMenu.SubContent

Prop	Description
onEscapeKeyDown	`(event: KeyboardEvent) => void` Event handler called when the escape key is down. It can be prevented by calling `event.preventDefault`.
onPointerDownOutside	`(event: PointerDownOutsideEvent) => void` Event handler called when a pointer event occurs outside the bounds of the component. It can be prevented by calling `event.preventDefault`.
onFocusOutside	`(event: FocusOutsideEvent) => void` Event handler called when the focus moves outside the bounds of the component. It can be prevented by calling `event.preventDefault`.
onInteractOutside	`(event: InteractOutsideEvent) => void` Event handler called when an interaction (pointer or focus event) happens outside the bounds of the component. It can be prevented by calling `event.preventDefault`.

Rendered elements

Component	Default rendered element
`NavigationMenu`	`ul`
`NavigationMenu.Viewport`	`li`
`NavigationMenu.Arrow`	`div`
`NavigationMenu.Menu`	none
`NavigationMenu.Trigger`	`div`
`NavigationMenu.Icon`	`div`
`NavigationMenu.Portal`	`Portal`
`NavigationMenu.Content`	`ul`
`NavigationMenu.Separator`	`hr`
`NavigationMenu.Group`	`div`
`NavigationMenu.GroupLabel`	`span`
`NavigationMenu.Sub`	none
`NavigationMenu.SubTrigger`	`div`
`NavigationMenu.SubContent`	`div`
`NavigationMenu.Item`	`a`
`NavigationMenu.ItemLabel`	`div`
`NavigationMenu.ItemDescription`	`div`
`NavigationMenu.ItemIndicator`	`div`
`NavigationMenu.RadioGroup`	`div`
`NavigationMenu.RadioItem`	`div`
`NavigationMenu.CheckboxItem`	`div`

Accessibility

Keyboard Interactions

Key	Description
`Space`	When focus is on an item, activates the item.
`Enter`	When focus is on an item, activates the item.
`ArrowDown`	When focus is on an item, moves focus to the next item.
`ArrowUp`	When focus is on an item, moves focus to the previous item.
`ArrowRight`	When focus is on an item (not sub menu trigger), moves focus to the next menu.
`ArrowLeft`	When focus is on an item (not sub menu item), moves focus to the previous menu.
`ArrowRight` / `ArrowLeft`	When focus is on a sub menu trigger, opens or closes the submenu depending on reading direction.
`Home`	When focus is on an item, moves focus to first item.
`End`	When focus is on an item, moves focus to last item.
`Esc`	Closes the menu.