Responsive Navbar and Hamburger Menu
Study a production-minded responsive navigation pattern: full desktop links, a menu button on narrow screens, explicit aria-expanded state, touch-friendly menu items, and a small JavaScript toggle that closes after a navigation selection.
Live result
Run the original project
Complete source
Read and copy the code
Inside the project
How it works
- A native button owns the menu state and exposes it through aria-expanded rather than using a non-semantic clickable div.
- CSS shows the horizontal navigation at desktop sizes and switches the link group into a compact stacked panel below the defined breakpoint.
- The event handler updates the state and collapses the menu after a link is selected, which prevents a stale open panel on small screens.
Try it yourself
Run and customize it
- 01Resize the preview below the breakpoint to reveal the hamburger menu.
- 02Use the menu button and confirm that aria-expanded changes as the panel opens and closes.
- 03Replace the sample link URLs and brand name, then test keyboard tab order in your own project.
Learning goals
What to study in this source
- Build responsive navigation without hiding semantic links behind an inaccessible control.
- Connect a button's aria-expanded value to the visual open state of the associated menu.
- Use a breakpoint to switch interaction patterns only when the full link row no longer fits comfortably.
Next experiments
Useful ways to customize it
- Add an Escape-key handler and click-outside behavior if the menu will contain deeper interactions.
- Use a current-page indicator for active navigation rather than relying on color alone.
- Pair the layout with a CSS Grid or Flexbox content area to create a full responsive landing page.
Common questions
Responsive Navbar and Hamburger Menu FAQs
Does a responsive hamburger menu need JavaScript?
A pure CSS menu can work in limited cases, but a small JavaScript handler is often clearer for an interactive button because it can reliably update aria-expanded, close the menu after navigation, and support future keyboard behavior.
Why should the hamburger control be a button?
A native button has keyboard support, focus handling, and expected semantics by default. It is more accessible and less error-prone than adding click handlers and keyboard emulation to a div or span.
What does aria-expanded do in a navigation menu?
aria-expanded communicates whether a control's associated expandable region is currently open or closed. Updating it alongside the visual menu state gives assistive technology the same information that sighted users receive from the interface.
What breakpoint should a mobile navbar use?
Use the point where your actual brand and navigation links no longer fit with comfortable spacing, not an arbitrary device label. This example uses a compact breakpoint that you can tune after replacing the sample content.
How should I test a responsive navbar?
Test the desktop row, narrow menu, keyboard focus order, open and close behavior, link selection, and long labels. Also verify that the menu does not cover critical content or create horizontal overflow at small widths.
More source code
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