Enable drop-down navigation menu

Stanford Sites provides the option for main navigation drop-down menus.

Drop-down menus are designed with “split button” functionality so users can access both the landing page and the drop-down menu through the main site navigation. This allows content editors to develop high-impact landing pages for users that are new to the site, while providing direct access to nested content for users already familiar with the site. 

Best practice: Learn more about When and How to Use Drop-Down Menus to support effective communication and user experience.

Using the drop-down

Users can click on the menu link title (in the example below, Research) to access the landing page (/research), or click on the toggle icon to open and close the drop-down menu.

Access Landing Page by clicking "Research"

Access drop-down by clicking toggle icon

Drop-down with additional nesting

Menu links are organized according to the structure you set at [your site url]/admin/structure/menu/manage/main and additional menu link nesting is supported. Only menu links with nested content will display a toggle icon.

Enabling drop-down menus

Site managers now have the ability to enable drop-down menus within the site settings config page.

1. In the Administrative Toolbar, select Manage (if needed), then hover over Configuration > System > Site Settings.
   
2. Check the box next to Use drop-down menus to enable the drop-down menu.
   
3. Adjust the drop-down menu depth if desired.
   1. Select a drop-down menu depth, e.g. 2.
      
      
      The drop-down menu will look like this:
      
   2. Stanford Sites defaults to the maximum number of levels with an empty field. The same drop-down menu will appear like this:
      
4. Click Save.