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

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
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
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.
Do make a subsection that contains a single item in to a top-level item.
Don‘t put a single item in a subsection.
Don‘t put a single item in a subsection.

With Heading

Use a heading to communicate the theme of the list.

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.
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.
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
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

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>