List Groups

Variations Design Guidelines Code Reference Accessibility

List Groups
updated

HTML/CSS Available
Web Component Beta
Last Updated
2.18.0

List groups create simple vertical lists as well as complex, multi-level collections of Links and other elements.

Variations Design Guidelines Code Reference Accessibility

Variations

Default

Use to offer a vertical list of options.

Default

HTML

Web Component

<ul class="mds-list-group">
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                My Profile
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item  mds-list-group__item--disabled">
        <a href="http://www.morningstar.com" class="mds-list-group__link" aria-disabled="true">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Disabled Item
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Manage Alerts &amp; Subscriptions
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Update Credit Card
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                My Benefits
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Sign Out
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
</ul>

<mds-list-group content='[
  {
    "text": "My Profile",
    "href": "#"
  },
  {
    "disabled": true,
    "text": "Disabled Item",
    "href": "http://www.morningstar.com"
  },
  {
    "text": "Manage Alerts & Subscriptions",
    "href": "#"
  },
  {
    "text": "Update Credit Card",
    "href": "#"
  },
  {
    "text": "My Benefits",
    "href": "#"
  },
  {
    "text": "Sign Out",
    "href": "#"
  }
]'></mds-list-group>

Single Selection

Use to indicate a selected item from a list of options.

Single Selection

HTML

Web Component

<ul class="mds-list-group">
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Small
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item  mds-list-group__item--active">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Medium
            </span>
            <svg class="mds-icon mds-list-group__active-icon" aria-hidden="true">
                <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#check--s">
                </use>
            </svg>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Large
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
</ul>

<mds-list-group content='[
  {
    "text": "Small",
    "href": "#"
  },
  {
    "active": true,
    "iconRight": "check--s",
    "text": "Medium",
    "href": "#"
  },
  {
    "text": "Large",
    "href": "#"
  }
]'></mds-list-group>

Uses the check--s Icon to indicate a choice made by a user.

Use to create navigation, and include an active-item indicator.

Default

HTML

Web Component

<ul class="mds-list-group">
    <li class="mds-list-group__item  mds-list-group__item--active">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Color
            </span>
            <svg class="mds-icon mds-list-group__active-icon" aria-hidden="true">
                <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#caret-right--s">
                </use>
            </svg>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Typography
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Space
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Icons
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Constants
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
</ul>

<mds-list-group variation="navigation" content='[
  {
    "active": true,
    "text": "Color",
    "href": "#"
  },
  {
    "text": "Typography",
    "href": "#"
  },
  {
    "text": "Space",
    "href": "#"
  },
  {
    "text": "Icons",
    "href": "#"
  },
  {
    "text": "Constants",
    "href": "#"
  }
]'></mds-list-group>

Uses the caret-right--s Icon to indicate the active item.

Subsection

Use to nest list items within an expandable parent section.

Subsection

Home
Investment Workbooks
- View All
- Create New
Morningstar Research
- Following
- Bookmarks
- Latest
- Videos
- Topics
- Publications

Subsection

HTML

Web Component

<ul class="mds-list-group">
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Home
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item mds-list-group__item--drawer-toggle">
        <input type="checkbox" class="mds-list-group__toggle-input" id="mds-list-group__toggle-input-72677">
        <label for="mds-list-group__toggle-input-72677" class="mds-list-group__toggle">
            <svg class="mds-icon mds-list-group__toggle-icon" aria-hidden="true">
                <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#triangle-fill-down--s">
                </use>
            </svg>
            <span class="mds-list-group__toggle-text">Investment Workbooks</span>
        </label>
        <ul class="mds-list-group__sublist">
            <li class="mds-list-group__item mds-list-group__item--sublist">
                <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
                    <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                        View All
                    </span>
                </a>
            </li>
            <li class="mds-list-group__item mds-list-group__item--sublist">
                <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
                    <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                        Create New
                    </span>
                </a>
            </li>
        </ul>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item mds-list-group__item--drawer-toggle">
        <input type="checkbox" class="mds-list-group__toggle-input" id="mds-list-group__toggle-input-52128" checked>
        <label for="mds-list-group__toggle-input-52128" class="mds-list-group__toggle">
            <svg class="mds-icon mds-list-group__toggle-icon" aria-hidden="true">
                <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#triangle-fill-down--s">
                </use>
            </svg>
            <span class="mds-list-group__toggle-text">Morningstar Research</span>
        </label>
        <ul class="mds-list-group__sublist">
            <li class="mds-list-group__item mds-list-group__item--sublist">
                <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
                    <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                        Following
                    </span>
                </a>
            </li>
            <li class="mds-list-group__item mds-list-group__item--sublist">
                <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
                    <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                        Bookmarks
                    </span>
                </a>
            </li>
            <li class="mds-list-group__item mds-list-group__item--sublist mds-list-group__item--active mds-list-group__item--separator-before">
                <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
                    <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                        Latest
                    </span>
                    <svg class="mds-icon mds-list-group__active-icon" aria-hidden="true">
                        <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#caret-right--s">
                        </use>
                    </svg>
                </a>
            </li>
            <li class="mds-list-group__item mds-list-group__item--sublist">
                <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
                    <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                        Videos
                    </span>
                </a>
            </li>
            <li class="mds-list-group__item mds-list-group__item--sublist">
                <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
                    <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                        Topics
                    </span>
                </a>
            </li>
            <li class="mds-list-group__item mds-list-group__item--sublist">
                <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
                    <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                        Publications
                    </span>
                </a>
            </li>
        </ul>
    </li>
</ul>

<mds-list-group variation="navigation" content='[
  {
    "href": "#",
    "text": "Home"
  },
  {
    "text": "Investment Workbooks",
    "children": [
      {
        "href": "#",
        "text": "View All"
      },
      {
        "href": "#",
        "text": "Create New"
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "text": "Morningstar Research",
    "toggleActive": true,
    "children": [
      {
        "href": "#",
        "text": "Following"
      },
      {
        "href": "#",
        "text": "Bookmarks"
      },
      {
        "href": "#",
        "text": "Latest",
        "separatorBefore": true,
        "active": true
      },
      {
        "href": "#",
        "text": "Videos"
      },
      {
        "href": "#",
        "text": "Topics"
      },
      {
        "href": "#",
        "text": "Publications"
      }
    ]
  }
]'></mds-list-group>

Use when creating a complex navigation with two or more items per subsection.
Apply the mds-list-group__item--separator-before modifier class to a subsection item (mds-list-group__item--sublist) to create a separator above.
- Never apply this modifier class to a top-level mds-list-group__item.
Parent sections are never links. Instead, their label should describe the subsections within.
Collapse subsections by default.

Do make a subsection that contains a single item in to a top-level item.

Don‘t put a single item in a subsection.

With Heading

Use a heading to communicate the theme of the list.

With Heading

Visual Style
Color
Typography
Space
Components
Buttons
Forms
List Groups

With Heading

HTML

Web Component

<ul class="mds-list-group">
    <li class="mds-list-group__item mds-list-group__item--header">
        Visual Style
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Color
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Typography
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Space
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item mds-list-group__item--header">
        Components
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Buttons
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Forms
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                List Groups
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
</ul>

<mds-list-group content='[
  {
    "text": "Visual Style",
    "header": true
  },
  {
    "href": "#",
    "text": "Color"
  },
  {
    "href": "#",
    "text": "Typography"
  },
  {
    "href": "#",
    "text": "Space"
  },
  {
    "text": "Components",
    "header": true
  },
  {
    "href": "#",
    "text": "Buttons"
  },
  {
    "href": "#",
    "text": "Forms"
  },
  {
    "href": "#",
    "text": "List Groups"
  }
]'></mds-list-group>

Create hierarchy within navigation.
Give context or meaning to items within a list.

Metadata

Use metadata to provide additional information about the list item(s).

Metadata

HTML

Web Component

<ul class="mds-list-group">
    <li class="mds-list-group__item  mds-list-group__item--active">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Workbooks
                <span class="mds-list-group__item-metadata">
                    24
                </span>
            </span>
            <svg class="mds-icon mds-list-group__active-icon" aria-hidden="true">
                <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#caret-right--s">
                </use>
            </svg>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Lists &amp; Screens
                <span class="mds-list-group__item-metadata">
                    15
                </span>
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Column Sets
                <span class="mds-list-group__item-metadata">
                    19
                </span>
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
</ul>

<mds-list-group variation="navigation" content='[
  {
    "active": true,
    "text": "Workbooks",
    "metadata": "24",
    "href": "#"
  },
  {
    "text": "Lists & Screens",
    "metadata": "15",
    "href": "#"
  },
  {
    "text": "Column Sets",
    "metadata": "19",
    "href": "#"
  }
]'></mds-list-group>

Use when quantifying objects contained in the list item, i.e., there are 24 workbooks in the above example.
Use when providing a last-updated date or time stamp.

With Icon

Use to add meaning to items and increase scanability of a list of options.

With Icon

HTML

Web Component

<ul class="mds-list-group mds-list-group--with-icon">
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <svg class="mds-icon mds-list-group__left-icon" aria-hidden="true">
                <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#pencil--s">
                </use>
            </svg>
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Create
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <svg class="mds-icon mds-list-group__left-icon" aria-hidden="true">
                <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#heart--s">
                </use>
            </svg>
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Favorite
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item  mds-list-group__item--disabled">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link" aria-disabled="true">
            <svg class="mds-icon mds-list-group__left-icon" aria-hidden="true">
                <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#download--s">
                </use>
            </svg>
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Download
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <svg class="mds-icon mds-list-group__left-icon" aria-hidden="true">
                <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#question-circle--s">
                </use>
            </svg>
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Help
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
</ul>

<mds-list-group with-icon content='[
  {
    "iconLeft": "pencil--s",
    "text": "Create",
    "href": "#"
  },
  {
    "iconLeft": "heart--s",
    "text": "Favorite",
    "href": "#"
  },
  {
    "disabled": true,
    "iconLeft": "download--s",
    "text": "Download",
    "href": "#"
  },
  {
    "iconLeft": "question-circle--s",
    "text": "Help",
    "href": "#"
  }
]'></mds-list-group>

Do include an icon for each item.

Don‘t use icons for only some items, as this pushes text out of alignment and makes the options more difficult to scan.

Sizing

Sizing affects text size, icon size, and internal padding. The default size is medium, and you can use modifier classes or props to make the list group smaller or larger.

Small

Medium (Default)

Large

Small

Medium (Default)

Large

HTML

Web Component

<ul class="mds-list-group mds-list-group--with-icon mds-list-group--small">
    <li class="mds-list-group__item mds-list-group__item--header">
        Options
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <svg class="mds-icon mds-list-group__left-icon" aria-hidden="true">
                <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#pencil--s">
                </use>
            </svg>
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Create
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <svg class="mds-icon mds-list-group__left-icon" aria-hidden="true">
                <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#heart--s">
                </use>
            </svg>
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Favorite
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <svg class="mds-icon mds-list-group__left-icon" aria-hidden="true">
                <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#download--s">
                </use>
            </svg>
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Download
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
    <li class="mds-list-group__item ">
        <a href="#" class="mds-list-group__link">
            <svg class="mds-icon mds-list-group__left-icon" aria-hidden="true">
                <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#question-circle--s">
                </use>
            </svg>
            <span class="mds-list-group__item-text">
                Help
            </span>
        </a>
    </li>
</ul>

<mds-list-group with-icon size="small" content='[
  {
    "text": "Options",
    "header": true
  },
  {
    "iconLeft": "pencil--s",
    "text": "Create",
    "href": "#"
  },
  {
    "iconLeft": "heart--s",
    "text": "Favorite",
    "href": "#"
  },
  {
    "text": "Download",
    "iconLeft": "download--s",
    "href": "#"
  },
  {
    "text": "Help",
    "iconLeft": "question-circle--s",
    "href": "#"
  }
]'></mds-list-group>

Icon Size

Icon size is predetermined and applied automatically. To avoid undesirable scaling of icon artwork, use the chart below to choose the correct icon size to use in your list group.

List Group Size	Icon Size
Small	Small Icon
Medium	Small Icon
Large	Default Icon

When creating new icons unique to your product, follow the iconography design approach guidelines.

Use When

Creating vertical navigation.
Displaying options within a Menu.

Don’t Use When

Displaying tabular data. Instead, use a Data Table.

Visual Language

When used for a right-hand navigation, omit the selected row icon and indicate the active item using only the active state of the list item.

Behaviors

Afford interactions—hovers and a clickable region—for the entire item block, not just the label.

Editorial

Try to keep list items brief and around the same word count.
Fewer than four words per list item is preferred, but no more than six, if possible.
Similar to the philosophy of Links, list items should deliver exactly what we’re calling them.
If you’re constructing a list of all nouns, try to do the same throughout the list.
If you’re constructing a list of all commands, keep them all in the active tense, for example:
- Open / Save / Copy / Print / Quit
- Create a task / Share with a colleague / Print this report

CSS

Class References

Class	Applies to	Outcome
`mds-list-group--large`	`mds-list-group`	Increases the font size and padding of each list item.
`mds-list-group--small`	`mds-list-group`	Decreases the font size and padding of each list item.
`mds-list-group--with-icon`	`mds-list-group`	Creates space for icons placed to the left of list items.
`mds-list-group__item--separator-before`	`mds-list-group__item--sublist`	Adds a horizontal separator above the sublist item.
`mds-list-group__item--sublist`	`mds-list-group__item`	Adds left margin and decreases font size of a list item to create a parent-child hierarchy.
`mds-list-group__item--header`	`mds-list-group__item`	Creates an eyebrow heading style for the list item.
`mds-list-group__item--active`	`mds-list-group__item`	Changes the color of a list item to denote “selected”, “active”, or “highlighted”.
`mds-list-group__item--disabled`	`mds-list-group__item`	Changes the opacity of list item to make it look inactive and prevents the link from being clicked.
`mds-list-group__item--drawer-toggle`	`mds-list-group__item`	Deprecated toggle class. Do not use.

Web Component

List groups are comprised of two separate web components, each with a dedicated API:

List Group Item - The individual items within a list group, including props for all available configurations.
List Group - Presents a set of list group items as a unified group.

List Group Item

Props

Prop	Type	Validation	Default	Description
`active`	Boolean	Parent list group variation must be set to `selection` or `navigation`	`false`	Sets the active item.
`additionalClass`	String	—	—	A space-separated list of class names that will be appended to the default `mds-list-group__item` class.
`children`	Array	—	—	An array of items to be used as subsection children. Children items use the props from this table, with the exception of `children`, `iconLeft`, `metadata`, and `variation`.
`disabled`	Boolean	—	`false`	Disables the list group item.
`header`	Boolean	Cannot be used within a `children` array.	`false`	Renders the item with heading styling.
`href`	String	—	`#`	An item’s href link.
`iconLeft`	String	One of: `[MDS Icon Name]`, the parent list group’s `withIcon` must be set to `true`.	—	Adds a descriptive icon to the left of the item. See the iconography page for available icons. Do not use inside `children`.
`iconRight`	String	One of: `[MDS Icon Name]`	—	If the parent list group’s `variation` is `selection` or `navigation` and `iconRight` is defined, it will override the default `check--s` or `caret-right--s`. See the iconography page for available icons.
`metadata`	String	Do not use inside `children`.	—	Metadata for the list group item.
`separatorBefore`	Boolean	Must be used inside `children`.	`false`	Adds a separator above a subsection child item.
`text`	String	Required	—	The text of the list group item.
`toggleActive`	Boolean	List group item must include a `children` prop.	`false`	If `true`, expands/open the sublist.

List Group

Props

When setting props as attributes on a custom HTML element, use kebab-case instead of camelCase.

Prop	Type	Validation	Default	Description
`additionalClass`	String	—	`false`	A space-separated list of class names that will be appended to the default `mds-list-group` class.
`content`	Array	Required	—	An array of list group items. See the list group item API props below for details.
`size`	String	One of: `small`, `medium`, `large`	`medium`	Alters the size of the list group.
`variation`	String	One of: `navigation`, `selection`	—	Sets the list group variation.
`withIcon`	Boolean	—	`false`	Enable icons to the left of list group item text.

Usage Examples

Setting the list group items’ text and href via props. Setting the list group size and content via props:

<script>
    // Configured using List Group Item API
    myItems = [{
            text: "Item 1",
            href: "/item-1.html"
        },
        {
            text: "Item 2",
            href: "/item-2.html"
        },
        {
            text: "Item 3",
            href: "/item-3.html"
        }
    ]
</script>
<mds-list-group content="myItems" size="small"></mds-list-group>

Setting the list group items’ text, href, metadata, and active via props. Setting the list group variation and content via props:

<script>
    // Configured using List Group Item API
    myItems = [{
            text: "Item 1",
            href: "/item-1.html",
            metadata: "24",
            active: true
        },
        {
            text: "Item 2",
            href: "/item-2.html",
            metadata: "12"
        },
        {
            text: "Item 3",
            href: "/item-3.html"
            metadata: "6"
        }
    ]
</script>
<mds-list-group content="myItems" variation="navigation"></mds-list-group>

Setting the list group items’ text, iconLeft, and href via props. Setting the list group with-icon and content via props:

<script>
    // Configured using List Group Item API
    myItems = [{
            text: "Item 1",
            href: "/item-1.html",
            iconLeft: "gear--s"
        },
        {
            text: "Item 2",
            href: "/item-2.html",
            iconLeft: " bell--s"
        },
        {
            text: " Item 3",
            href: "/item-3.html",
            iconLeft: "heart--s"
        }
    ]
</script>
<mds-list-group content="myItems" with-icon></mds-list-group>

Setting the list group items’ text, href, children, and separatorBefore via props. Setting the list group content via props:

<script>
    // Configured using List Group Item API
    myItems = [{
            text: "Item 1",
            href: "/item-1.html"
        },
        {
            text: "Item 2",
            href: "/item-2.html"
        },
        {
            text: "Item 3",
            href: "/item-3.html",
            children: [{
                    text: "Child 1",
                    href: "/child-1.html"
                },
                {
                    text: "Child 2",
                    href: "/child-2.html",
                    separatorBefore: true
                }
            ]
        },
    ]
</script>
<mds-list-group content="myItems"></mds-list-group>

Implementation

All Link accessibility guidelines apply to list groups.

Variations

Default

Single Selection

Navigation

Subsection

With Heading

Metadata

With Icon

Sizing

Icon Size

Use When

Don’t Use When

Visual Language

Behaviors

Editorial

Related UX Patterns

CSS

Class References

Web Component

List Group Item

Props

List Group

Props

Usage Examples

Implementation