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shadcn.io is an independent project built on shadcn/ui

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Multi-level Nested Navigation Navigation Menu for React

A Products dropdown with Development and Infrastructure, each listing subcategories and indented links under them.

The bar shows Products. The panel has two columns, Development and Infrastructure. Each lists subcategories such as Frontend and Hosting, with more links indented under them.

Keep the third level indented in the same panel so you do not need flyout menus. A Tree View fits when that nesting is the page, not a header. In React, Base UI moves between the triggers with Tab.

Preview

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Installation

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Anatomy

Navigation Menu anatomy: list, trigger, indicator, content, link

Usage

<div className="w-full max-w-md rounded-md border bg-background p-px">
  <NavigationMenu>
    <NavigationMenuList>
      <NavigationMenuItem>
        <NavigationMenuTrigger>Products</NavigationMenuTrigger>
        <NavigationMenuContent>
          <div className="grid w-[600px] max-w-full grid-cols-2 gap-4 p-2">
            {categories.map((category) => (
              <div className="flex flex-col gap-1" key={category.title}>
                <h4 className="mb-2 px-2 font-semibold text-sm">
                  {category.title}
                </h4>
                {category.subcategories.map((subcategory) => (
                  <div
                    className="flex flex-col gap-1"
                    key={subcategory.title}
                  >
                    <NavigationMenuLink
                      className="justify-between font-medium"
                      render={<Link href="#" />}
                    >
                      {subcategory.title}
                      <ChevronRightIcon
                        aria-hidden="true"
                        className="size-4 rtl:rotate-180"
                      />
                    </NavigationMenuLink>
                    <div className="ms-4 flex flex-col gap-1 border-s ps-4">
                      {subcategory.items.map((item) => (
                        <NavigationMenuLink
                          key={item}
{/* The rest of the file is under Installation. */}

FAQ

How are the levels shown?

Categories are headings, subcategories are links with a chevron, and their items sit below in a column with ms-4, ps-4 and a start border, so the nesting reads in both directions.

Can the subcategories open their own flyouts?

Not in this demo: every level is visible at once, which is easier to use than nested hover menus. For deeper trees, link the subcategory to its own page.

What happens on narrow screens?

The panel is w-[600px] with max-w-full, so it never grows past the screen, but its columns get tight. Below the md breakpoint, show the same links in a Sheet or a Drawer instead.

How do the links use my router?

Each link is your router's link rendered through NavigationMenuLink, so it keeps the menu's styles and focus handling. NavigationMenuLink takes the Next.js Link through render, as in render={<Link href="#" />}.

How does the menu work from the keyboard?

Tab moves between the triggers and the links, Enter or Space opens a trigger's panel, and Escape closes it and returns focus to the trigger. The root is a nav, so screen readers list it as a navigation landmark.

How do I mark the current page?

Set aria-current="page" on the NavigationMenuLink that matches the route, and style it with the aria-[current=page]: variant. active on NavigationMenuLink sets it for you.

API Reference

Navigation Menu

No extra props in this demo. The rest is on the Navigation Menu page.

All 20 navigation menu examples