Mastheads

Mastheads provide a shared foundation for Morningstar web properties by presenting branding and key functionality in a set of standard responsive configurations.

See the Navigation pattern for more information.

Above 768px

Below 768px

Variations

Mastheads consist of one required and two optional elements:

Branding (required).
Left controls (optional), which contain a Flat Button to trigger a hidden menu and a Search Field.
Right controls (optional), which contain calls to action and sign in/user account menu access.

Default

Use to establish the foundation of a product masthead.

Default

<header class="mds-masthead">
    <div class="mds-masthead__inner">
        <div class="mds-masthead__left"> </div>
        <div class="mds-masthead__logo-wrap"> <img class="mds-masthead__logo--wide" src="/images/mastheads/logos/Mstar-Product-logo-50px.svg" alt="Product Name"> <img class="mds-masthead__logo" src="/images/mastheads/logos/Mstar-logo-50px.svg" alt="Product Name"> </div>
        <div class="mds-masthead__right"> </div>
    </div>
</header>

Always include Morningstar branding.
Never create your own lockups for use in production. Instead, request a product logo lockup from the brand team.

Left Controls

Use to contain, at most, a Flat Button to trigger a hidden menu and a Search Field.

Hidden Menu & Search

Hidden Menu

<header class="mds-masthead">
    <div class="mds-masthead__inner">
        <div class="mds-masthead__left">
            <button class="mds-button mds-button--icon-only mds-masthead--hide-wide mds-page-shell--show-off-canvas-navigation" type="button">
                <svg class="mds-icon mds-button__icon mds-button__icon--left" aria-hidden="true">
                    <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#menu-padless"> </use>
                </svg>
            </button>
            <button class="mds-button mds-button--flat mds-masthead--show-wide mds-page-shell--show-off-canvas-navigation" type="button">
                <svg class="mds-icon mds-button__icon mds-button__icon--left" aria-hidden="true">
                    <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#menu-padless"> </use>
                </svg>
                <span class="mds-button__text"> Menu </span>
            </button>
            <button class="mds-button mds-button--icon-only mds-masthead--hide-wide" type="button">
                <svg class="mds-icon mds-button__icon mds-button__icon--left" aria-hidden="true">
                    <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#search-padless"> </use>
                </svg>
            </button>
            <div class="mds-search-field mds-masthead--show-wide" role="search">
                <input type="text" class="mds-search-field__input" aria-label="Search" placeholder="Search...">
                <svg class="mds-icon mds-search-field__search-icon" aria-hidden="true">
                    <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#search--s"> </use>
                </svg>
                <span class="mds-search-field__input-focus-outline"></span>
            </div>
        </div>
        <div class="mds-masthead__logo-wrap"> <img class="mds-masthead__logo--wide" src="/images/mastheads/logos/Mstar-Product-logo-50px.svg" alt="Product Name"> <img class="mds-masthead__logo" src="/images/mastheads/logos/Mstar-logo-50px.svg" alt="Product Name"> </div>
        <div class="mds-masthead__right"> </div>
    </div>
</header>

If your product uses a hidden menu at desktop breakpoints, always use the Flat Button to put the word “Menu” to the right of the menu-padless icon.
Only include Primary Search Fields in the masthead’s left control area.

Right Controls

Use to contain, at most, one call to action and a sign in functionality.

Call to Action & Sign In

Call to Action

<header class="mds-masthead">
    <div class="mds-masthead__inner">
        <div class="mds-masthead__left"> </div>
        <div class="mds-masthead__logo-wrap"> <img class="mds-masthead__logo--wide" src="/images/mastheads/logos/Mstar-Product-logo-50px.svg" alt="Product Name"> <img class="mds-masthead__logo" src="/images/mastheads/logos/Mstar-logo-50px.svg" alt="Product Name"> </div>
        <div class="mds-masthead__right">
            <button class="mds-button mds-button--primary mds-masthead--show-wide" type="button"> Contact Us </button>
            <button class="mds-button mds-button--flat" type="button">
                <svg class="mds-icon mds-button__icon mds-button__icon--left" aria-hidden="true">
                    <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#person-padless"> </use>
                </svg>
                <span class="mds-button__text"> Sign In </span>
            </button>
            <button class="mds-button mds-button--icon-only mds-masthead--hide-wide" type="button">
                <svg class="mds-icon mds-button__icon mds-button__icon--left" aria-hidden="true">
                    <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#person-padless"> </use>
                </svg>
            </button>
            <button class="mds-button mds-button--flat mds-button--flat-icon-m mds-masthead--show-wide" type="button">
                <svg class="mds-icon mds-button__icon mds-button__icon--left" aria-hidden="true">
                    <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#person-padless"> </use>
                </svg>
                <span class="mds-button__text"> Sign In </span>
            </button>
        </div>
    </div>
</header>

Always use a Flat Button to put the words “Sign In” to the right of the person-padless icon.
Always use a Primary Button for the call to action.

Do use the words “Sign In” for sign in functionality.

Don‘t use “Log In” or any other phrasing.

Signed In

<header class="mds-masthead">
    <div class="mds-masthead__inner">
        <div class="mds-masthead__left"> </div>
        <div class="mds-masthead__logo-wrap"> <img class="mds-masthead__logo--wide" src="/images/mastheads/logos/Mstar-Product-logo-50px.svg" alt="Product Name"> <img class="mds-masthead__logo" src="/images/mastheads/logos/Mstar-logo-50px.svg" alt="Product Name"> </div>
        <div class="mds-masthead__right">
            <button class="mds-button mds-button--primary mds-masthead--show-wide" type="button"> Contact Us </button>
            <button class="mds-button mds-button--flat mds-button--flat-icon-m" type="button">
                <svg class="mds-icon mds-button__icon mds-button__icon--left" aria-hidden="true">
                    <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#person-padless"> </use>
                </svg>
                <span class="mds-button__text"> My Account </span>
            </button>
        </div>
    </div>
</header>

When a user is signed in, “Sign In” phrasing should update to “My Account”.

Always place a caret-down--s icon to the right of “My Account” if the button triggers a Menu.

Tall

<header class="mds-masthead mds-masthead--tall">
    <div class="mds-masthead__inner">
        <div class="mds-masthead__left"> </div>
        <div class="mds-masthead__logo-wrap"> <img class="mds-masthead__logo--wide" src="/images/components/mastheads/logos/Mstar-logo-70px.svg" alt="Product Name"> <img class="mds-masthead__logo" src="/images/mastheads/logos/Mstar-logo-50px.svg" alt="Product Name"> </div>
        <div class="mds-masthead__right"> </div>
    </div>
</header>

Only use for the Morningstar.com website.

Responsiveness

Responsive states are triggered at viewports 768px wide and below.

Default & Tall

<header class="mds-masthead">
    <div class="mds-masthead__inner">
        <div class="mds-masthead__left"> </div>
        <div class="mds-masthead__logo-wrap"> <img class="mds-masthead__logo--wide" src="/images/mastheads/logos/Mstar-Product-logo-50px.svg" alt="Product Name"> <img class="mds-masthead__logo" src="/images/mastheads/logos/Mstar-logo-50px.svg" alt="Product Name"> </div>
        <div class="mds-masthead__right"> </div>
    </div>
</header>

Always use the default size of the Morningstar logo at small viewports, never use a product logo lockup.
Default and Tall mastheads use the same style at small viewports.

Controls

Left

<header class="mds-masthead">
    <div class="mds-masthead__inner">
        <div class="mds-masthead__left">
            <button class="mds-button mds-button--icon-only mds-masthead--hide-wide mds-page-shell--show-off-canvas-navigation" type="button">
                <svg class="mds-icon mds-button__icon mds-button__icon--left" aria-hidden="true">
                    <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#menu-padless"> </use>
                </svg>
            </button>
            <button class="mds-button mds-button--icon-only mds-masthead--hide-wide" type="button">
                <svg class="mds-icon mds-button__icon mds-button__icon--left" aria-hidden="true">
                    <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#search-padless"> </use>
                </svg>
            </button>
            <div class="mds-search-field mds-masthead--show-wide" role="search">
                <input type="text" class="mds-search-field__input" aria-label="Search" placeholder="Search...">
                <svg class="mds-icon mds-search-field__search-icon" aria-hidden="true">
                    <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#search--s"> </use>
                </svg>
                <span class="mds-search-field__input-focus-outline"></span>
            </div>
        </div>
        <div class="mds-masthead__logo-wrap"> <img class="mds-masthead__logo--wide" src="/images/mastheads/logos/Mstar-Product-logo-50px.svg" alt="Product Name"> <img class="mds-masthead__logo" src="/images/mastheads/logos/Mstar-logo-50px.svg" alt="Product Name"> </div>
        <div class="mds-masthead__right"> </div>
    </div>
</header>

At 768px and below, reduce menu Flat Button to use the menu-padless Icon-Only Button.
At 768px and below, reduce Search field to use the search-padless Icon-Only Button.

Right

<header class="mds-masthead">
    <div class="mds-masthead__inner">
        <div class="mds-masthead__left"> </div>
        <div class="mds-masthead__logo-wrap"> <img class="mds-masthead__logo--wide" src="/images/mastheads/logos/Mstar-Product-logo-50px.svg" alt="Product Name"> <img class="mds-masthead__logo" src="/images/mastheads/logos/Mstar-logo-50px.svg" alt="Product Name"> </div>
        <div class="mds-masthead__right">
            <button class="mds-button mds-button--icon-only mds-masthead--hide-wide" type="button">
                <svg class="mds-icon mds-button__icon mds-button__icon--left" aria-hidden="true">
                    <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#envelope"> </use>
                </svg>
            </button>
            <button class="mds-button mds-button--icon-only mds-masthead--hide-wide" type="button">
                <svg class="mds-icon mds-button__icon mds-button__icon--left" aria-hidden="true">
                    <use xlink:href="/icons/mds.svg#person-padless"> </use>
                </svg>
            </button>
            <button class="mds-button mds-button--primary mds-masthead--show-wide" type="button"> Contact Us </button>
            <button class="mds-button mds-button--secondary mds-masthead--show-wide" type="button"> Sign In </button>
        </div>
    </div>
</header>

Use the person-padless Icon-Only Button regardless of sign-in status.
At 768px and below, reduce the call to action to an Icon-Only Button.
- If the desktop breakpoint contains a call to action that does not have an appropriate icon analog, then remove that button and consider placing the call to action in the page content, hidden menu, or user’s account menu.

Examples

Default

The Morningstar Design System uses the default masthead with no left or right controls. At the 768px breakpoint, the masthead switches to the responsive variation, left controls are added, consisting of a Flat Button that will trigger the Site Navigation hidden menu.

Explore Live Demo

Morningstar Design System above 768px wide.

Default With Controls

Morningstar Credit Ratings uses the default masthead with a persistent hidden menu Flat Button and Primary Search Field in the left controls, and a sign in Flat Button in the right controls. The masthead switches to the responsive variation at the 768px breakpoint.

Explore Live Demo

Morningstar Credit Ratings above 768px wide.

Tall With Controls

Morningstar.com uses the tall masthead with a Primary Search Field in the left controls, and call to action and sign in Buttons in the right controls. At the 768px breakpoint, the masthead switches to the responsive variation, and a Icon Only Button is added to the left controls that will trigger the Site Navigation hidden menu.

Explore Live Demo

Morningstar.com above 768px wide.

Guidelines

Use When

Establishing a website or application as a Morningstar property by using approved branding elements.
Setting the foundation for Site Navigation.
Providing a user access points for global functionality, like Search and sign in.

Don’t Use When

Your website or application exists within another navigation wrapper, such as an <iframe>. A masthead should always be at the top-most level of your site or app structure.

Visual Language

Always place the masthead at the top-most level of your site or app structure, it should be attached to the top edge of the viewport.

Behaviors

When paired with the Site Navigation component, the masthead holds the menu icon used to trigger the hidden site navigation at viewports 768px and below.

Editorial

When using UI components, like Buttons and Search Fields, within a masthead, always follow those components’ editorial guidelines.
Use “Sign In” “Sign Out” not “Log In” “Log Out”.
Put “Menu” next to the hidden menu icon when there is room.
Refer to Search Fields editorial guidelines for default placeholder text.
Keep calls to action brief, as the longer they are, the more they will distract from branding.

Navigation

Accessibility

Always use a <header> element for the top level wrapper of masthead as shown in the code examples.

Code Reference

CSS Class References

Class	Applies to	Outcome
`mds-masthead--tall`	`mds-masthead`	Uses a taller-than-default size at the widest breakpoint.
`mds-masthead__logo--wide`	`mds-masthead__logo`	By default, `mds-masthead__logo` becomes hidden at 768px. This class creates the inverse behavior, revealing this logo at 768px.
`mds-masthead--hide-wide`	Any element within `mds-masthead`	Hides elements with this class for viewports 768px wide or greater.
`mds-masthead--show-wide`	Any element within `mds-masthead`	Shows elements with this class for viewports 768px wide or greater.
`mds-masthead--hide-extra-wide`	Any element within `mds-masthead`	Hides elements with this class for viewports 1024px wide or greater.
`mds-masthead--show-extra-wide`	Any element within `mds-masthead`	Shows elements with this class for viewports 1024px wide or greater.

Link Template

Variations

Default

Left Controls

Right Controls

Tall

Responsiveness

Default & Tall

Controls

Examples

Default

Default With Controls

Tall With Controls

Guidelines

Use When

Don’t Use When

Visual Language

Behaviors

Editorial

Related UX Patterns

Accessibility

Code Reference

CSS Class References