# nord-dropdown > Dropdown menu displays a list of actions or selectable options for > a user. Dropdown uses popout component internally to create > the overlay functionality. ## 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](/components/dropdown-item/) and [dropdown group](/components/dropdown-group/) components. > **Don't:** - Don't use for form inputs or selects, use the [select component](/components/select/) or [input component](/components/input/) 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](/components/dropdown-item/) and [dropdown group](/components/dropdown-group/) components. Consider using the [popout component](/components/popout/) when creating custom UI. - Don't use `always-floating` property for long lists or complex content that benefits from full-screen focus. --- ## 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): > **Do:** Create user > **Don't:** 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: > **Do:** Edit row > **Don't:** Editing options Avoid unnecessary words and articles in dropdown items, such as “the”, “an” or “a”: > **Do:** Change theme > **Don't:** Change the theme Avoid ending dropdown items in punctuation: > **Do:** Switch user > **Don't:** Switch user. Avoid all caps for dropdown items: > **Do:** Rename > **Don't:** RENAME Keep dropdown items to a single line of text: > **Do:** Change theme > **Don't:** Change the theme of the veterinary application. --- ## Additional considerations - Consider using the `alwaysFloating` property for compact dropdown menus that work well in a small floating container. ## Examples ### Always Floating ```html Menu My profile Account Settings Change password ``` ### Badge As Toggle ```html Discharged Waiting for consultation Consultation Arrived Upcoming Cancelled ``` ### Basic ```html Menu View profile Settings Show keyboard shortcuts Help & Support API Sign out ``` ### Clinic Switcher ```html B Bath Clinic B Bath Clinic O Ocean Beach Clinic P Park Animal Hospital B Balboa Pet Hospital Add another clinic Customize style Sign out from all clinics ``` ### Complex ```html Menu View profile Settings Show keyboard shortcuts Help & Support API Sign out ``` ### Grouping ```html Menu View profile Settings Show keyboard shortcuts Help & Support API Sign out ``` ### Inline Size ```html Small Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Medium Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Large Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 ``` ### Maximum Block Size ```html Default Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Item 4 Item 5 Item 6 Item 7 Item 8 Item 9 Item 10 Item 11 Item 12 Item 13 Item 14 Item 15 Custom Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Item 4 Item 5 Item 6 Item 7 Item 8 Item 9 Item 10 Item 11 Item 12 Item 13 Item 14 Item 15 ``` ### Position And Alignment ```html Default View profile Save changes align="start" View profile Save changes align="end" View profile Save changes position="block-end" View profile Save changes position="block-start" View profile Save changes position="inline-start" View profile Save changes position="inline-end" View profile Save changes align="start" position="block-end" View profile Save changes align="start" position="block-start" View profile Save changes align="start" position="inline-start" View profile Save changes align="start" position="inline-end" View profile Save changes align="end" position="block-end" View profile Save changes align="end" position="block-start" View profile Save changes align="end" position="inline-start" View profile Save changes align="end" position="inline-end" View profile Save changes position="auto" View profile Save changes align="start" position="auto" View profile Save changes align="end" position="auto" View profile Save changes ``` ### Position ```html Open top right View profile Settings Show keyboard shortcuts Help & Support Sign out ``` ### With Offset ```html side-offset Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 align-offset Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 ``` ### With Header ```html Laura Williams

Signed in as Laura Williams

My profile Account Settings Change password Keyboard commands
Cmd+K
 Help & Support Sign out ``` ### With Messages ```html Notifications (7)

Notifications (7)

Mark all as read Ariel Salminen arrived to clinic with Pixie cat. Just now at Nord Clinic New feature available! We’ve introduced a quick way to navigate between app views, actions, and more using a new command menu. 12 minutes ago Nina Hallikainen arrived to clinic with Durante dog. 20 minutes ago at Nord Clinic David Darnes arrived to clinic with Norfryd cat. 2 hours ago at Nord Clinic Nick Williams arrived to clinic with Moog cat. 2 hours ago at Nord Clinic Eric Habich arrived to clinic with Zero cat. 4 hours ago at Nord Clinic Elvin van Eede arrived to clinic with Amoeba cat. 12 hours ago at Nord Clinic See all notifications ``` ### With Submenu ```html Menu Share Copy link Send by email Get QR code Export Export as PDF Export as CSV Export as JSON Delete Archive Archive this Archive all Archive older than 30 days ``` ### Docs Overview ```html Menu My profile Account settings Change password ``` ### Docs Basic ```html Menu Waiting for consultation Consultation Arrived Cancelled ``` ### Docs Grouped ```html Account My profile Account settings Sign out ``` ### Docs Expand ```html
Assign to team member Laura Williams John Silva Sarah Chen
``` ### Docs Submenu ```html Menu Share Copy link Send by email Get QR code Delete ``` ## API Reference ### Properties - **expand** (`boolean`, default: `false`) — Controls whether the toggle slot expands to fill the width of its container. Note that this only stretches the slot itself — the slotted toggle must also expand to fill it, e.g. a <nord-button slot="toggle"> needs its own expand attribute as well. - **size** (`'s' | 'm' | 'l'`, default: `'m'`) — The size of the dropdown. This affects the minimum and maximum inline-size of the dropdown. - **always-floating** (`boolean`, default: `false`) — Set to true to always display the dropdown as a floating overlay, even on smaller viewports. - **open** (`boolean`, default: `false`) — Controls whether the component is open or not. - **align** (`'start' | 'end'`, default: `'start'`) — 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. - **position** (`'block-end' | 'block-start' | 'inline-start' | 'inline-end' | 'auto'`, default: `'block-end'`) — 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. You can also set it to auto for automatic positioning depending on which side has the most space available. - **side-offset** (`number`, default: `8`) — Distance in pixels from the toggle (or anchor) along the main axis — the gap between the floating element and the side it opens against. Fed into Floating UI's offset middleware as mainAxis. Defaults to 8. - **align-offset** (`number`, default: `0`) — Offset in pixels along the alignment axis — slides the floating element toward the start or end of the toggle (or anchor). Fed into Floating UI's offset middleware as alignmentAxis. Defaults to 0. ### Events - **open** (`NordEvent`) — Dispatched when the popout is opened. - **close** (`NordEvent`) — Dispatched when the popout is closed. ### Slots - **(default)** — The dropdown content. - **toggle** — Used to place the toggle for dropdown. - **header** — Optional slot that holds a header for the dropdown. - **header-end** — Optional slot that positions content at the end of the header. Useful for actions or additional info. ### Methods - **hide** — `hide(moveFocusToButton?: boolean) => Promise` — Hide the dropdown programmatically. This method delegates to the Dropdown's internal Popout component. See Popout's hide() method for more details. - **show** — `show() => Promise` — Show the dropdown programmatically. This method delegates to the Dropdown's internal Popout component. See Popout's show() method for more details. ### CSS Custom Properties - `--n-dropdown-size` (default: `250px`) — Controls the inline size, or width, of the dropdown. Will resize up to 1.5 times to account for larger content. - `--n-dropdown-max-block-size` (default: `460px`) — Controls the maximum block size, or height, of the dropdown. Larger content will get a scrollbar. ### Dependencies - `popout` - `icon` - `dropdown-item`