There’s an element you’ll find in almost every website or web application in one way or another. And that’s the Drop Down effect or “element”, usually sharing its name with the HTML select element, also known as select tag or select box.
The select element is an HTML tag that allows us to select one or multiple options, usually in forms.
While the Drop Down effect or “element” can also make reference to the visual effect that allows us to navigate submenus in headers, sidebars, or other menu-kind of elements.
In this article, we’ll be focusing on both. These are simple and easy to integrate into your design, with pure HTML, CSS and some JavaScript.
15 Amazing JavaScript Drop Down Menus
1. Pure javascript drop-down menu example
Here’s a great example of what a simple Dropdown menu looks like.
The JavaScript code is super simple. It just binds the click event to the main visible element so once clicked, it will show the submenu.
A very simple yet effective way to create a super simple collapsable menu.
2. Simple Vanilla JS dropdown menu
Here’s a custom select box element made out of HTML, CSS, and pure JavaScript.
This kind of dropdown menu mimics the behavior of an HTML Select input by allowing users to select a single option.
The custom style makes it look minimalists and clean. It uses white and blue colors and subtle use of shadows to avoid using hard borders.
3. Custom Drop Down menu javascript code
A beautiful list of 8 different dropdown menus with different styles.
Four of them react on click while the other 4 do it in mouse hover.
All drop down elements are integrated with pure Vanilla Javascript and require no external vendor library.
5. Drop Down Hover Menu With Submenus Using JS
A great example of a menu dropdown with multiple submenus.
This dropdown menu will display the main items when moving the mouse over it. And, on top of that, the cool thing about this menu is that it provides you with a way of adding submenus within the items on the list.
A great solution to a very common problem that developers face when designing menu headers.
6. Beautiful javascript drop down menu
This is a beautiful collapsable menu for a sidebar element. Ideal for menus that contain items grouped in different categories.
The menu uses group headings that toggle the collapsable items on the submenu when clicking on them.
It can be a very good option for large side menus with plenty of options. It helps limiting the options for the visitor.
7. Animated JavaScript Dropdown Menu
A gorgeous example of a submenu that showcases a dropdown with social media icons.
Adding images or icons is usually a great way to improve the user experience on any website. It makes it way faster for users to visualize the items and select the one they need.
This dropdown menu doesn’t use any external library, making it ideal for those who don’t want to depend on any particular framework.
8. Alpine JavaScript Dropdown
If you use the Alpine.js framework, this select box might be for you.
Here’s a basic example of how to integrate an HTML select box with JavaScript logic using Alpine.js.
It also uses TailwindCSS for styling. (Which, might not be ideal for all, but has a simple solution )
9. React MultiLevel Dropdown Menu
If you are looking for a dropdown menu to work as a context menu for your web application, then this example is for you.
A beautifully implemented menu that admits icons, grouping categories, and submenus within the menu.
It uses React and the vendor library Popper.js.
10. Bootstrap Dropdown Menu
If Bootstrap is your thing, then you should consider using this menu.
This bootstrap dropdown is perfect for buttons that provide users with multiple actions to choose from.
It admits grouping categories and switch toggles on the list.
11. Multiple Basic jQuery Dropdown Menus
If using jQuery is ok with you, then check out this beauty!
This is a great example of how a dropdown can contain, not only list of items, but also text or images.
This example shows how you can configure this dropdown menu to display on hover and on click, left or right aligned, on the top or at the bottom.
The select box uses a very simple styling making it ideal for minimalistic and white-themed websites.
13. Header Responsive Dropdown Hover Menu Bar
This example is a work of art.
Not only do we have a responsive menu, but a responsive dropdown menu where every single detail has been taken into account.
On the desktop, the submenus will get displayed on mouse hover. On responsive, on click.
I personally love the effect that the menu has on the desktop, and the simplicity it is on responsive mode. Which makes it perfect for all kinds of devices!
14. jQuery Dropdown Menu
Here’s another example of a jQuery dropdown, but this time, mimicking the behavior of an HTML select box.
Because the dropdown uses jQuery, it also allows you to retrieve the selected value of the select box in JavaScript. This way, you can make use of it in your logic.
15. CSS Animated Sidebar Dropdown Menu
This is a pure CSS dropdown menu that won’t involve any JavaScript.
Perhaps is not what you were looking for, but definitely, something to consider if you are looking for a sidebar menu.
The menu includes categories, icons for those, and arrows indicating the state of the submenu.
Conclusion
If you have a webpage, chances are you’ll have to include some kind of drop-down effect or select element on it. And if you use JavaScript, you’ll very likely want to bind it with your JavaScript logic.
In this article, we’ve shown you what we think are beautiful drop down menus. Menus that you will easily be able to integrate with your JavaScript code. You can use React, Vue, Angular, or pure simple vanilla JavaScript.
Some, like the drop down effects for headers and menus, will not require much logic from the JavaScript point of view, while others using the HTML select input
will do.
In order to use them, simply choose the dropdown menu that you like the most and copy the code to apply it to your website.
