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Navigation

Navigation helps users understand where they are and how to get where they want to go. It should be predictable, accessible, and responsive.

PatternUse casePosition
Top navigationPrimary sections (3–6 items)Sticky top of viewport
SidebarDeep hierarchies, docsFixed left, 240–280px
BreadcrumbsDeep page contextBelow header, above content
TabsRelated views in one pageBelow heading
PaginationLong lists, search resultsBelow content, centered
  • Active nav items use brand color + font-semibold
  • Current page in sidebar gets a brand-tinted background (brand-50)
  • Breadcrumb last item is plain text (not a link), using text-gray-900
  • Active tab has a bottom border (2px brand color)
  • Top nav: collapses to hamburger menu below 768px
  • Sidebar: becomes a slide-out drawer on mobile
  • Tabs: horizontal scroll when overflowing (not wrap)
  • Breadcrumbs: truncate middle items with ... on small screens
  • Keep top-level navigation items to 3–6 items
  • Sidebar labels should be short and scannable
  • Breadcrumb links should mirror the actual URL structure
  • Use aria-current="page" for the current navigation item
  • Ensure all nav items are keyboard accessible (Tab, Enter)