List Groups

HTML/CSS Available
Web Component Upcoming (MDS-4757)
Last Updated
2.0.0

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

Hover

Focus

White Light Dark Black

<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

White Light Dark Black

<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

White Light Dark Black

<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

White Light Dark Black

<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

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

White Light Dark Black

<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-15298">
        <label for="mds-list-group__toggle-input-15298" 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-50857" checked>
        <label for="mds-list-group__toggle-input-50857" 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>

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

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

With Heading

Visual Style
Color
Typography
Space
Components
Buttons
Forms
List Groups

White Light Dark Black

<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

White Light Dark Black

<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

White Light Dark Black

<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.

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

White Light Dark Black

<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

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

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

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.

Link Template

Variations

Default

Single Selection

Navigation

Subsection

With Heading

Metadata

With Icon

Sizing

Icon Size

Guidelines

Use When

Don’t Use When

Visual Language

Behaviors

Editorial

Related UX Patterns

Accessibility

Code Reference

CSS Class References