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Dropdown

<sl-dropdown> | SlDropdown
Since 2.0 stable

Dropdowns expose additional content that “drops down” in a panel.

Dropdowns consist of a trigger and a panel. By default, activating the trigger will expose the panel and interacting outside of the panel will close it.

Dropdowns are designed to work well with menus to provide a list of options the user can select from. However, dropdowns can also be used in lower-level applications (e.g. color picker). The API gives you complete control over showing, hiding, and positioning the panel.

Dropdown Dropdown Item 1 Dropdown Item 2 Dropdown Item 3 Checkbox Disabled Prefix Suffix Icon 
<sl-dropdown>
  <sl-button slot="trigger" caret>Dropdown</sl-button>
  <sl-menu>
    <sl-menu-item>Dropdown Item 1</sl-menu-item>
    <sl-menu-item>Dropdown Item 2</sl-menu-item>
    <sl-menu-item>Dropdown Item 3</sl-menu-item>
    <sl-divider></sl-divider>
    <sl-menu-item type="checkbox" checked>Checkbox</sl-menu-item>
    <sl-menu-item disabled>Disabled</sl-menu-item>
    <sl-divider></sl-divider>
    <sl-menu-item>
      Prefix
      <sl-icon slot="prefix" name="gift"></sl-icon>
    </sl-menu-item>
    <sl-menu-item>
      Suffix Icon
      <sl-icon slot="suffix" name="heart"></sl-icon>
    </sl-menu-item>
  </sl-menu>
</sl-dropdown>

import SlButton from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/button';
import SlDivider from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/divider';
import SlDropdown from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/dropdown';
import SlIcon from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/icon';
import SlMenu from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/menu';
import SlMenuItem from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/menu-item';

const App = () => (
  <SlDropdown>
    <SlButton slot="trigger" caret>
      Dropdown
    </SlButton>
    <SlMenu>
      <SlMenuItem>Dropdown Item 1</SlMenuItem>
      <SlMenuItem>Dropdown Item 2</SlMenuItem>
      <SlMenuItem>Dropdown Item 3</SlMenuItem>
      <SlDivider />
      <SlMenuItem type="checkbox" checked>
        Checkbox
      </SlMenuItem>
      <SlMenuItem disabled>Disabled</SlMenuItem>
      <SlDivider />
      <SlMenuItem>
        Prefix
        <SlIcon slot="prefix" name="gift" />
      </SlMenuItem>
      <SlMenuItem>
        Suffix Icon
        <SlIcon slot="suffix" name="heart" />
      </SlMenuItem>
    </SlMenu>
  </SlDropdown>
);

Examples

Getting the Selected Item

When dropdowns are used with menus, you can listen for the sl-select event to determine which menu item was selected. The menu item element will be exposed in event.detail.item. You can set value props to make it easier to identify commands.

Edit Cut Copy Paste 
<div class="dropdown-selection">
  <sl-dropdown>
    <sl-button slot="trigger" caret>Edit</sl-button>
    <sl-menu>
      <sl-menu-item value="cut">Cut</sl-menu-item>
      <sl-menu-item value="copy">Copy</sl-menu-item>
      <sl-menu-item value="paste">Paste</sl-menu-item>
    </sl-menu>
  </sl-dropdown>
</div>

<script>
  const container = document.querySelector('.dropdown-selection');
  const dropdown = container.querySelector('sl-dropdown');

  dropdown.addEventListener('sl-select', event => {
    const selectedItem = event.detail.item;
    console.log(selectedItem.value);
  });
</script>

import SlButton from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/button';
import SlDropdown from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/dropdown';
import SlMenu from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/menu';
import SlMenuItem from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/menu-item';

const App = () => {
  function handleSelect(event) {
    const selectedItem = event.detail.item;
    console.log(selectedItem.value);
  }

  return (
    <SlDropdown>
      <SlButton slot="trigger" caret>
        Edit
      </SlButton>
      <SlMenu onSlSelect={handleSelect}>
        <SlMenuItem value="cut">Cut</SlMenuItem>
        <SlMenuItem value="copy">Copy</SlMenuItem>
        <SlMenuItem value="paste">Paste</SlMenuItem>
      </SlMenu>
    </SlDropdown>
  );
};

Alternatively, you can listen for the click event on individual menu items. Note that, using this approach, disabled menu items will still emit a click event.

Edit Cut Copy Paste 
<div class="dropdown-selection-alt">
  <sl-dropdown>
    <sl-button slot="trigger" caret>Edit</sl-button>
    <sl-menu>
      <sl-menu-item value="cut">Cut</sl-menu-item>
      <sl-menu-item value="copy">Copy</sl-menu-item>
      <sl-menu-item value="paste">Paste</sl-menu-item>
    </sl-menu>
  </sl-dropdown>
</div>

<script>
  const container = document.querySelector('.dropdown-selection-alt');
  const cut = container.querySelector('sl-menu-item[value="cut"]');
  const copy = container.querySelector('sl-menu-item[value="copy"]');
  const paste = container.querySelector('sl-menu-item[value="paste"]');

  cut.addEventListener('click', () => console.log('cut'));
  copy.addEventListener('click', () => console.log('copy'));
  paste.addEventListener('click', () => console.log('paste'));
</script>

import SlButton from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/button';
import SlDropdown from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/dropdown';
import SlMenu from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/menu';
import SlMenuItem from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/menu-item';

const App = () => {
  function handleCut() {
    console.log('cut');
  }

  function handleCopy() {
    console.log('copy');
  }

  function handlePaste() {
    console.log('paste');
  }

  return (
    <SlDropdown>
      <SlButton slot="trigger" caret>
        Edit
      </SlButton>
      <SlMenu>
        <SlMenuItem onClick={handleCut}>Cut</SlMenuItem>
        <SlMenuItem onClick={handleCopy}>Copy</SlMenuItem>
        <SlMenuItem onClick={handlePaste}>Paste</SlMenuItem>
      </SlMenu>
    </SlDropdown>
  );
};

Placement

The preferred placement of the dropdown can be set with the placement attribute. Note that the actual position may vary to ensure the panel remains in the viewport.

Edit Cut Copy Paste Find Replace 
<sl-dropdown placement="top-start">
  <sl-button slot="trigger" caret>Edit</sl-button>
  <sl-menu>
    <sl-menu-item>Cut</sl-menu-item>
    <sl-menu-item>Copy</sl-menu-item>
    <sl-menu-item>Paste</sl-menu-item>
    <sl-divider></sl-divider>
    <sl-menu-item>Find</sl-menu-item>
    <sl-menu-item>Replace</sl-menu-item>
  </sl-menu>
</sl-dropdown>

import SlButton from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/button';
import SlDivider from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/divider';
import SlDropdown from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/dropdown';
import SlMenu from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/menu';
import SlMenuItem from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/menu-item';

const App = () => (
  <SlDropdown placement="top-start">
    <SlButton slot="trigger" caret>
      Edit
    </SlButton>
    <SlMenu>
      <SlMenuItem>Cut</SlMenuItem>
      <SlMenuItem>Copy</SlMenuItem>
      <SlMenuItem>Paste</SlMenuItem>
      <SlDivider />
      <SlMenuItem>Find</SlMenuItem>
      <SlMenuItem>Replace</SlMenuItem>
    </SlMenu>
  </SlDropdown>
);

Distance

The distance from the panel to the trigger can be customized using the distance attribute. This value is specified in pixels.

Edit Cut Copy Paste Find Replace 
<sl-dropdown distance="30">
  <sl-button slot="trigger" caret>Edit</sl-button>
  <sl-menu>
    <sl-menu-item>Cut</sl-menu-item>
    <sl-menu-item>Copy</sl-menu-item>
    <sl-menu-item>Paste</sl-menu-item>
    <sl-divider></sl-divider>
    <sl-menu-item>Find</sl-menu-item>
    <sl-menu-item>Replace</sl-menu-item>
  </sl-menu>
</sl-dropdown>

import SlButton from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/button';
import SlDivider from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/divider';
import SlDropdown from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/dropdown';
import SlMenu from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/menu';
import SlMenuItem from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/menu-item';

const App = () => (
  <SlDropdown distance={30}>
    <SlButton slot="trigger" caret>
      Edit
    </SlButton>
    <SlMenu>
      <SlMenuItem>Cut</SlMenuItem>
      <SlMenuItem>Copy</SlMenuItem>
      <SlMenuItem>Paste</SlMenuItem>
      <SlDivider />
      <SlMenuItem>Find</SlMenuItem>
      <SlMenuItem>Replace</SlMenuItem>
    </SlMenu>
  </SlDropdown>
);

Skidding

The offset of the panel along the trigger can be customized using the skidding attribute. This value is specified in pixels.

Edit Cut Copy Paste Find Replace 
<sl-dropdown skidding="30">
  <sl-button slot="trigger" caret>Edit</sl-button>
  <sl-menu>
    <sl-menu-item>Cut</sl-menu-item>
    <sl-menu-item>Copy</sl-menu-item>
    <sl-menu-item>Paste</sl-menu-item>
    <sl-divider></sl-divider>
    <sl-menu-item>Find</sl-menu-item>
    <sl-menu-item>Replace</sl-menu-item>
  </sl-menu>
</sl-dropdown>

import SlButton from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/button';
import SlDivider from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/divider';
import SlDropdown from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/dropdown';
import SlMenu from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/menu';
import SlMenuItem from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/menu-item';

const App = () => (
  <SlDropdown skidding={30}>
    <SlButton slot="trigger" caret>
      Edit
    </SlButton>
    <SlMenu>
      <SlMenuItem>Cut</SlMenuItem>
      <SlMenuItem>Copy</SlMenuItem>
      <SlMenuItem>Paste</SlMenuItem>
      <SlDivider />
      <SlMenuItem>Find</SlMenuItem>
      <SlMenuItem>Replace</SlMenuItem>
    </SlMenu>
  </SlDropdown>
);

To create a submenu, nest an <sl-menu slot="submenu"> element in a menu item.

Edit Undo Redo Cut Copy Paste Find Find… Find Next Find Previous Transformations Make uppercase Make lowercase Capitalize 
<sl-dropdown>
  <sl-button slot="trigger" caret>Edit</sl-button>

  <sl-menu style="max-width: 200px;">
    <sl-menu-item value="undo">Undo</sl-menu-item>
    <sl-menu-item value="redo">Redo</sl-menu-item>
    <sl-divider></sl-divider>
    <sl-menu-item value="cut">Cut</sl-menu-item>
    <sl-menu-item value="copy">Copy</sl-menu-item>
    <sl-menu-item value="paste">Paste</sl-menu-item>
    <sl-divider></sl-divider>
    <sl-menu-item>
      Find
      <sl-menu slot="submenu">
        <sl-menu-item value="find">Find…</sl-menu-item>
        <sl-menu-item value="find-previous">Find Next</sl-menu-item>
        <sl-menu-item value="find-next">Find Previous</sl-menu-item>
      </sl-menu>
    </sl-menu-item>
    <sl-menu-item>
      Transformations
      <sl-menu slot="submenu">
        <sl-menu-item value="uppercase">Make uppercase</sl-menu-item>
        <sl-menu-item value="lowercase">Make lowercase</sl-menu-item>
        <sl-menu-item value="capitalize">Capitalize</sl-menu-item>
      </sl-menu>
    </sl-menu-item>
  </sl-menu>
</sl-dropdown>

import SlButton from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/button';
import SlDivider from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/divider';
import SlDropdown from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/dropdown';
import SlMenu from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/menu';
import SlMenuItem from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/menu-item';

const css = `
  .dropdown-hoist {
    border: solid 2px var(--sl-panel-border-color);
    padding: var(--sl-spacing-medium);
    overflow: hidden;
  }
`;

const App = () => (
  <>
    <SlDropdown>
      <SlButton slot="trigger" caret>Edit</SlButton>

      <SlMenu style="max-width: 200px;">
        <SlMenuItem value="undo">Undo</SlMenuItem>
        <SlMenuItem value="redo">Redo</SlMenuItem>
        <SlDivider />
        <SlMenuItem value="cut">Cut</SlMenuItem>
        <SlMenuItem value="copy">Copy</SlMenuItem>
        <SlMenuItem value="paste">Paste</SlMenuItem>
        <SlDivider />
        <SlMenuItem>
          Find
          <SlMenu slot="submenu">
            <SlMenuItem value="find">Find…</SlMenuItem>
            <SlMenuItem value="find-previous">Find Next</SlMenuItem>
            <SlMenuItem value="find-next">Find Previous</SlMenuItem>
          </SlMenu>
        </SlMenuItem>
        <SlMenuItem>
          Transformations
          <SlMenu slot="submenu">
            <SlMenuItem value="uppercase">Make uppercase</SlMenuItem>
            <SlMenuItem value="lowercase">Make lowercase</SlMenuItem>
            <SlMenuItem value="capitalize">Capitalize</SlMenuItem>
          </SlMenu>
        </SlMenuItem>
      </SlMenu>
    </SlDropdown>
  </>
);

Hoisting

Dropdown panels will be clipped if they’re inside a container that has overflow: auto|hidden. The hoist attribute forces the panel to use a fixed positioning strategy, allowing it to break out of the container. In this case, the panel will be positioned relative to its containing block, which is usually the viewport unless an ancestor uses a transform, perspective, or filter. Refer to this page for more details.

No Hoist Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Hoist Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 
<div class="dropdown-hoist">
  <sl-dropdown>
    <sl-button slot="trigger" caret>No Hoist</sl-button>
    <sl-menu>
      <sl-menu-item>Item 1</sl-menu-item>
      <sl-menu-item>Item 2</sl-menu-item>
      <sl-menu-item>Item 3</sl-menu-item>
    </sl-menu>
  </sl-dropdown>

  <sl-dropdown hoist>
    <sl-button slot="trigger" caret>Hoist</sl-button>
    <sl-menu>
      <sl-menu-item>Item 1</sl-menu-item>
      <sl-menu-item>Item 2</sl-menu-item>
      <sl-menu-item>Item 3</sl-menu-item>
    </sl-menu>
  </sl-dropdown>
</div>

<style>
  .dropdown-hoist {
    position: relative;
    border: solid 2px var(--sl-panel-border-color);
    padding: var(--sl-spacing-medium);
    overflow: hidden;
  }
</style>

import SlButton from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/button';
import SlDivider from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/divider';
import SlDropdown from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/dropdown';
import SlMenu from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/menu';
import SlMenuItem from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/menu-item';

const css = `
  .dropdown-hoist {
    border: solid 2px var(--sl-panel-border-color);
    padding: var(--sl-spacing-medium);
    overflow: hidden;
  }
`;

const App = () => (
  <>
    <div className="dropdown-hoist">
      <SlDropdown>
        <SlButton slot="trigger" caret>
          No Hoist
        </SlButton>
        <SlMenu>
          <SlMenuItem>Item 1</SlMenuItem>
          <SlMenuItem>Item 2</SlMenuItem>
          <SlMenuItem>Item 3</SlMenuItem>
        </SlMenu>
      </SlDropdown>

      <SlDropdown hoist>
        <SlButton slot="trigger" caret>
          Hoist
        </SlButton>
        <SlMenu>
          <SlMenuItem>Item 1</SlMenuItem>
          <SlMenuItem>Item 2</SlMenuItem>
          <SlMenuItem>Item 3</SlMenuItem>
        </SlMenu>
      </SlDropdown>
    </div>

    <style>{css}</style>
  </>
);

Importing

If you’re using the autoloader or the traditional loader, you can ignore this section. Otherwise, feel free to use any of the following snippets to cherry pick this component.

Script Import Bundler React

To import this component from the CDN using a script tag: 

<script type="module" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/@shoelace-style/shoelace@2.18.0/cdn/components/dropdown/dropdown.js"></script>

To import this component from the CDN using a JavaScript import: 

import 'https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/@shoelace-style/shoelace@2.18.0/cdn/components/dropdown/dropdown.js';

To import this component using a bundler:

import '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/components/dropdown/dropdown.js';

To import this component as a React component:

import SlDropdown from '@shoelace-style/shoelace/dist/react/dropdown';

Slots

Name Description
(default) The dropdown’s main content.
trigger The dropdown’s trigger, usually a <sl-button> element.

Learn more about using slots.

Properties

Name Description Reflects Type Default
open Indicates whether or not the dropdown is open. You can toggle this attribute to show and hide the dropdown, or you can use the show() and hide() methods and this attribute will reflect the dropdown’s open state. boolean false
placement The preferred placement of the dropdown panel. Note that the actual placement may vary as needed to keep the panel inside of the viewport. 'top' | 'top-start' | 'top-end' | 'bottom' | 'bottom-start' | 'bottom-end' | 'right' | 'right-start' | 'right-end' | 'left' | 'left-start' | 'left-end' 'bottom-start'
disabled Disables the dropdown so the panel will not open. boolean false
stayOpenOnSelect
stay-open-on-select 		By default, the dropdown is closed when an item is selected. This attribute will keep it open instead. Useful for dropdowns that allow for multiple interactions. boolean false
containingElement The dropdown will close when the user interacts outside of this element (e.g. clicking). Useful for composing other components that use a dropdown internally. HTMLElement | undefined -
distance The distance in pixels from which to offset the panel away from its trigger. number 0
skidding The distance in pixels from which to offset the panel along its trigger. number 0
hoist Enable this option to prevent the panel from being clipped when the component is placed inside a container with overflow: auto|scroll. Hoisting uses a fixed positioning strategy that works in many, but not all, scenarios. boolean false
sync Syncs the popup width or height to that of the trigger element. 'width' | 'height' | 'both' | undefined undefined
updateComplete A read-only promise that resolves when the component has finished updating.

Learn more about attributes and properties.

Events

Name React Event Description Event Detail
sl-show onSlShow Emitted when the dropdown opens. -
sl-after-show onSlAfterShow Emitted after the dropdown opens and all animations are complete. -
sl-hide onSlHide Emitted when the dropdown closes. -
sl-after-hide onSlAfterHide Emitted after the dropdown closes and all animations are complete. -

Learn more about events.

Methods

Name Description Arguments
show() Shows the dropdown panel. -
hide() Hides the dropdown panel -
reposition() Instructs the dropdown menu to reposition. Useful when the position or size of the trigger changes when the menu is activated. -

Learn more about methods.

Parts

Name Description
base The component’s base wrapper, an <sl-popup> element.
base__popup The popup’s exported popup part. Use this to target the tooltip’s popup container.
trigger The container that wraps the trigger.
panel The panel that gets shown when the dropdown is open.

Learn more about customizing CSS parts.

Animations

Name Description
dropdown.show The animation to use when showing the dropdown.
dropdown.hide The animation to use when hiding the dropdown.

Learn more about customizing animations.

Dependencies

This component automatically imports the following dependencies.

  • <sl-popup>