DropdownReady

Dropdown menu displays a list of actions or selectable options for a user. Dropdown uses popout component internally to create the overlay functionality.

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<nord-stack direction="horizontal" justify-content="center" style="margin-bottom: calc(var(--n-space-xxl) * 3)">
  <nord-dropdown size="s">
    <nord-button slot="toggle">Menu</nord-button>
    <nord-dropdown-item href="#">View profile</nord-dropdown-item>
    <nord-dropdown-item>Settings</nord-dropdown-item>
    <nord-dropdown-item>Show keyboard shortcuts</nord-dropdown-item>
    <nord-dropdown-item>Help & Support</nord-dropdown-item>
    <nord-dropdown-item>API</nord-dropdown-item>
    <nord-dropdown-item>Sign out</nord-dropdown-item>
  </nord-dropdown>
</nord-stack>

<nord-navigation style="max-inline-size: 250px">
  <nord-dropdown slot="header" expand>
    <nord-button slot="toggle" expand>
      <nord-avatar slot="start" name="Bath Clinic" variant="square">B</nord-avatar>
      Bath Clinic
      <nord-icon slot="end" class="n-margin-i-s" name="interface-dropdown-small"></nord-icon>
    </nord-button>
    <nord-dropdown-group heading="laura.williams@nordhealth.com">
      <nord-dropdown-item>
        <nord-avatar slot="start" name="Bath Clinic" size="s" variant="square">B</nord-avatar>
        Bath Clinic
        <nord-icon slot="end" name="interface-checked"></nord-icon>
      </nord-dropdown-item>
      <nord-dropdown-item>
        <nord-avatar
          slot="start"
          name="Ocean Beach Clinic"
          size="s"
          variant="square"
          style="--n-avatar-color: var(--n-color-status-success)"
        >
          O
        </nord-avatar>
        Ocean Beach Clinic
      </nord-dropdown-item>
      <nord-dropdown-item>
        <nord-avatar
          slot="start"
          name="Park Animal Hospital"
          size="s"
          variant="square"
          style="--n-avatar-color: var(--n-color-status-highlight)"
        >
          P
        </nord-avatar>
        Park Animal Hospital
      </nord-dropdown-item>
      <nord-dropdown-item>
        <nord-avatar
          slot="start"
          name="Balboa Pet Hospital"
          size="s"
          variant="square"
          style="--n-avatar-color: var(--n-color-status-danger)"
        >
          B
        </nord-avatar>
        Balboa Pet Hospital
      </nord-dropdown-item>
    </nord-dropdown-group>
    <nord-dropdown-group>
      <nord-dropdown-item>Add another clinic</nord-dropdown-item>
      <nord-dropdown-item>Customize style</nord-dropdown-item>
    </nord-dropdown-group>
    <nord-dropdown-item>Sign out from all clinics</nord-dropdown-item>
  </nord-dropdown>
</nord-navigation>

<nord-stack direction="horizontal" justify-content="center" style="margin-bottom: calc(var(--n-space-xxl) * 4)">
  <nord-dropdown>
    <nord-button size="s" slot="toggle">
      <nord-visually-hidden>Menu</nord-visually-hidden>
      <nord-icon size="s" name="interface-menu-small"></nord-icon>
    </nord-button>
    <nord-dropdown-group heading="Account">
      <nord-dropdown-item href="#">
        <nord-icon slot="start" name="user-single"></nord-icon>
        View profile
        <nord-icon slot="end" name="interface-checked"></nord-icon>
      </nord-dropdown-item>
      <nord-dropdown-item>
        <nord-icon slot="start" name="navigation-settings"></nord-icon>
        Settings
      </nord-dropdown-item>
    </nord-dropdown-group>
    <nord-dropdown-group>
      <nord-dropdown-item>
        <nord-icon slot="start" name="generic-keyboard"></nord-icon>
        Show keyboard shortcuts
      </nord-dropdown-item>
      <nord-dropdown-item>
        <nord-icon slot="start" name="interface-help"></nord-icon>
        Help & Support
      </nord-dropdown-item>
      <nord-dropdown-item>
        <nord-icon slot="start" name="file-script"></nord-icon>
        API
      </nord-dropdown-item>
    </nord-dropdown-group>
    <nord-dropdown-item>
      Sign out
      <nord-icon slot="end" name="interface-logout"></nord-icon>
    </nord-dropdown-item>
  </nord-dropdown>
</nord-stack>

<nord-stack direction="horizontal" justify-content="center" style="margin-bottom: calc(var(--n-space-xxl) * 4)">
  <nord-dropdown>
    <nord-button slot="toggle">Menu</nord-button>
    <nord-dropdown-group heading="Account">
      <nord-dropdown-item href="#">View profile</nord-dropdown-item>
      <nord-dropdown-item>Settings</nord-dropdown-item>
    </nord-dropdown-group>
    <nord-dropdown-group>
      <nord-dropdown-item>Show keyboard shortcuts</nord-dropdown-item>
      <nord-dropdown-item>Help & Support</nord-dropdown-item>
      <nord-dropdown-item>API</nord-dropdown-item>
    </nord-dropdown-group>
    <nord-dropdown-item>Sign out</nord-dropdown-item>
  </nord-dropdown>
</nord-stack>

<nord-stack direction="horizontal" justify-content="center" style="margin-top: calc(var(--n-space-xxl) * 3)">
  <nord-dropdown position="inline-end" align="end">
    <nord-button slot="toggle">Open top right</nord-button>
    <nord-dropdown-group heading="Account">
      <nord-dropdown-item href="#">View profile</nord-dropdown-item>
      <nord-dropdown-item>Settings</nord-dropdown-item>
    </nord-dropdown-group>
    <nord-dropdown-group>
      <nord-dropdown-item>Show keyboard shortcuts</nord-dropdown-item>
      <nord-dropdown-item>Help & Support</nord-dropdown-item>
    </nord-dropdown-group>
    <nord-dropdown-item>Sign out</nord-dropdown-item>
  </nord-dropdown>
</nord-stack>

<nord-dropdown expand>
  <nord-button slot="toggle" expand>Default</nord-button>
  <nord-dropdown-item>View profile</nord-dropdown-item>
  <nord-dropdown-item>Save changes</nord-dropdown-item>
</nord-dropdown>
<nord-dropdown expand align="start">
  <nord-button slot="toggle" expand>align="start"</nord-button>
  <nord-dropdown-item>View profile</nord-dropdown-item>
  <nord-dropdown-item>Save changes</nord-dropdown-item>
</nord-dropdown>
<nord-dropdown expand align="end">
  <nord-button slot="toggle" expand>align="end"</nord-button>
  <nord-dropdown-item>View profile</nord-dropdown-item>
  <nord-dropdown-item>Save changes</nord-dropdown-item>
</nord-dropdown>
<nord-dropdown expand position="block-end">
  <nord-button slot="toggle" expand>position="block-end"</nord-button>
  <nord-dropdown-item>View profile</nord-dropdown-item>
  <nord-dropdown-item>Save changes</nord-dropdown-item>
</nord-dropdown>
<nord-dropdown expand position="block-start">
  <nord-button slot="toggle" expand>position="block-start"</nord-button>
  <nord-dropdown-item>View profile</nord-dropdown-item>
  <nord-dropdown-item>Save changes</nord-dropdown-item>
</nord-dropdown>
<nord-dropdown expand position="inline-start">
  <nord-button slot="toggle" expand>position="inline-start"</nord-button>
  <nord-dropdown-item>View profile</nord-dropdown-item>
  <nord-dropdown-item>Save changes</nord-dropdown-item>
</nord-dropdown>
<nord-dropdown expand position="inline-end">
  <nord-button slot="toggle" expand>position="inline-end"</nord-button>
  <nord-dropdown-item>View profile</nord-dropdown-item>
  <nord-dropdown-item>Save changes</nord-dropdown-item>
</nord-dropdown>
<nord-dropdown expand align="start" position="block-end">
  <nord-button slot="toggle" expand>align="start" position="block-end"</nord-button>
  <nord-dropdown-item>View profile</nord-dropdown-item>
  <nord-dropdown-item>Save changes</nord-dropdown-item>
</nord-dropdown>
<nord-dropdown expand align="start" position="block-start">
  <nord-button slot="toggle" expand>align="start" position="block-start"</nord-button>
  <nord-dropdown-item>View profile</nord-dropdown-item>
  <nord-dropdown-item>Save changes</nord-dropdown-item>
</nord-dropdown>
<nord-dropdown expand align="start" position="inline-start">
  <nord-button slot="toggle" expand>align="start" position="inline-start"</nord-button>
  <nord-dropdown-item>View profile</nord-dropdown-item>
  <nord-dropdown-item>Save changes</nord-dropdown-item>
</nord-dropdown>
<nord-dropdown expand align="start" position="inline-end">
  <nord-button slot="toggle" expand>align="start" position="inline-end"</nord-button>
  <nord-dropdown-item>View profile</nord-dropdown-item>
  <nord-dropdown-item>Save changes</nord-dropdown-item>
</nord-dropdown>
<nord-dropdown expand align="end" position="block-end">
  <nord-button slot="toggle" expand>align="end" position="block-end"</nord-button>
  <nord-dropdown-item>View profile</nord-dropdown-item>
  <nord-dropdown-item>Save changes</nord-dropdown-item>
</nord-dropdown>
<nord-dropdown expand align="end" position="block-start">
  <nord-button slot="toggle" expand>align="end" position="block-start"</nord-button>
  <nord-dropdown-item>View profile</nord-dropdown-item>
  <nord-dropdown-item>Save changes</nord-dropdown-item>
</nord-dropdown>
<nord-dropdown expand align="end" position="inline-start">
  <nord-button slot="toggle" expand>align="end" position="inline-start"</nord-button>
  <nord-dropdown-item>View profile</nord-dropdown-item>
  <nord-dropdown-item>Save changes</nord-dropdown-item>
</nord-dropdown>
<nord-dropdown expand align="end" position="inline-end">
  <nord-button slot="toggle" expand>align="end" position="inline-end"</nord-button>
  <nord-dropdown-item>View profile</nord-dropdown-item>
  <nord-dropdown-item>Save changes</nord-dropdown-item>
</nord-dropdown>
<style>
  body {
    display: grid;
    grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(30ch, max-content));
    justify-content: center;
    gap: var(--n-space-m);
  }
</style>

<nord-stack direction="horizontal" justify-content="center" style="margin-bottom: calc(var(--n-space-xxl) * 3)">
  <nord-dropdown size="s">
    <nord-button slot="toggle">Small</nord-button>
    <nord-dropdown-item>Item 1</nord-dropdown-item>
    <nord-dropdown-item>Item 2</nord-dropdown-item>
    <nord-dropdown-item>Item 3</nord-dropdown-item>
  </nord-dropdown>
  <nord-dropdown size="m">
    <nord-button slot="toggle">Medium</nord-button>
    <nord-dropdown-item>Item 1</nord-dropdown-item>
    <nord-dropdown-item>Item 2</nord-dropdown-item>
    <nord-dropdown-item>Item 3</nord-dropdown-item>
  </nord-dropdown>
  <nord-dropdown size="l">
    <nord-button slot="toggle">Large</nord-button>
    <nord-dropdown-item>Item 1</nord-dropdown-item>
    <nord-dropdown-item>Item 2</nord-dropdown-item>
    <nord-dropdown-item>Item 3</nord-dropdown-item>
  </nord-dropdown>
</nord-stack>

Properties

Property	Attribute	Description	Type	Default
`expand`	`expand`	Controls whether the toggle slot expands to fill the width of its container.	`boolean`	`false`
`size`	`size`	The size of the dropdown. This affects the minimum and maximum inline-size of the dropdown.	`"s" \| "m" \| "l"`	`"m"`
`open`	`open`	Controls whether the component is open or not.	`boolean`	`false`
`align`	`align`	Set the alignment in relation to the toggle (or anchor) depending on the position. `start` will align it to the left of the toggle (or anchor). `end` will align it to the right of the toggle (or anchor). Setting the `position` to `inline-start` or `inline-end` will switch `start` and `end` to the top and bottom respectively.	`"start" \| "end"`	`"start"`
`position`	`position`	Set the position in relation to the toggle (or anchor). Options follow logical properties. `block-start` and `block-end` referring to top and bottom respectively, `inline-start` and `inline-end` referring to left and right respectively.	`"block-end" \| "block-start" \| "inline-start" \| "inline-end"`	`"block-end"`

Slots

Slot name	Description
Default slot	The dropdown content.
`toggle`	Used to place the toggle for dropdown.

Methods

Method name	Parameters	Description
`hide(moveFocusToButton?: boolean) => Promise<TransitionEvent \| void>`	`moveFocusToButton`: A boolean option to move the focus to the original button that opens the dropdown.	Hide the dropdown programmatically. This method delegates to the Dropdown's internal Popout component. See Popout's hide() method for more details.
`show() => Promise<TransitionEvent \| void>`	N/A	Show the dropdown programmatically. This method delegates to the Dropdown's internal Popout component. See Popout's show() method for more details.

CSS Properties

CSS Custom Properties provide more fine grain control over component presentation. We advise utilizing existing properties on the component before using these.

Property	Description	Default
`--n-dropdown-size`	Controls the inline size, or width, of the dropdown. Will resize up to 1.5 times to account for larger content.	`250px`

Usage #

This section includes guidelines for designers and developers about the usage of this component in different contexts.

Do #

Dropdown menus are typically used when you have 5-15 items to choose from. They’re used for navigation or commands, where an action is initiated based on the selection.
When organizing dropdown menu items, sort the list in a logical order by putting the most selected option at the top.
Use for a “more” menu, where the control contains an icon.
Use for user profiles, where the control is an avatar.
Use in conjunction with the dropdown item and dropdown group components.

Don’t #

Don’t use for form inputs or selects, use the select component or input component instead.
Don’t use for hiding primary actions since they should be visible by default.
Don’t nest elements or components other than the dropdown item and dropdown group components. Consider using the popout component when creating custom UI.

Content guidelines #

Dropdown items should be always written in sentence case, not title case. The first word should be capitalized and the rest lowercase (unless a proper noun):

Create user

Create User

Dropdown items should always lead with a strong verb that encourages action. Use the {verb}+{noun} format except in the case of common actions like Save, Close or Cancel:

Edit row

Editing options

Avoid unnecessary words and articles in dropdown items, such as “the”, “an” or “a”:

Change theme

Change the theme

Avoid ending dropdown items in punctuation:

Switch user

Switch user.

Avoid all caps for dropdown items:

Rename

RENAME

Keep dropdown items to a single line of text:

Change theme

Change the theme
of the veterinary application.

Integration

For integration guidelines, please see Web Components documentation. This documentation explains how to implement and use Nord Web Components across different technologies such as Vue.js, React, or Vanilla JavaScript.

Integration Guidelines

Troubleshooting

If you experience any issues while using Nord Web Components, please head over to the Support page for more guidelines and ways to contact us.