Morningstar Design System

List Groups

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
Hover
Focus 
<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 ">
        <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"> Help </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>
Disabled List Item 
<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>

Single Selection

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

Single Selection 
<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>
  • Use the check--s Icon to indicate a choice made by a user.
Color change and icon indicate selected item.

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

Default 
<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>
  • Indicate the active item or current page with caret-right--s Icon.
Color change and icon indicate current location.

Subsection

Use to nest list items within an expandable parent section.

Subsection 
<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-64486">
        <label for="mds-list-group__toggle-input-64486" 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-56942" checked>
        <label for="mds-list-group__toggle-input-56942" 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 mds-list-group__item--active">
                <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>
  • Use when creating a complex navigation with two or more items per subsection.
  • 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

Add a heading to a list group to communicate the theme of the list.

With Heading 
<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>
  • 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 
<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>
  • 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 
<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>
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 a modifier class to make the list group smaller (mds-list-group--small) or larger (mds-list-group--large).

Small
Medium (Default)
Large 
<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>

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

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.
  • 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

Accessibility

All Link accessibility guidelines apply to list groups.

Code Reference

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.
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