Sidebar

Organize and structure site navigation

What it solves

Sidebar is a persistent vertical navigation panel positioned along the left or right edge of the screen, providing access to the main sections and features of an application. Sidebars are the dominant navigation pattern in dashboards, admin panels, documentation sites, and complex web applications. Unlike horizontal navigation menus, sidebars accommodate deep hierarchies through nested, collapsible sections while keeping all navigation visible and accessible without obscuring page content.

When to use

Use Sidebar to provide persistent, structured access to many navigation items organized in a hierarchy. Common scenarios include:

• Admin dashboards with multiple feature areas and settings
• Documentation sites with chapter and section navigation
• Email clients, project management tools, and SaaS applications
• File management interfaces with folder trees
• Analytics platforms with report categories