Menubar

The React Menubar component is a horizontal menu placed at the top of an application. Each menu item opens a dropdown with options, separators, and nested submenus.

It helps you group related actions, so users can find and use features more easily. For example, apps often use a menubar for File, Edit, or Settings menus.

Built with React Aria Components and styled using Tailwind CSS, it supports keyboard navigation, accessibility, and works across different screen sizes.

Installation

Install the component using the Tailgrids CLI.

npx @tailgrids/cli add menubar

Anatomy

Import the component parts and combine them to create a structured menu bar.

import {
  Menubar,
  MenubarMenu,
  MenubarTrigger,
  MenubarContent,
  MenubarItem,
  MenubarSeparator,
  MenubarShortcut,
  MenubarSub,
  MenubarSubTrigger,
  MenubarSubContent,
  MenubarGroup,
  MenubarLabel,
  MenubarCheckboxItem,
  MenubarRadioItem
} from "@/components/menubar";

export const MenubarExample = () => (
  <Menubar>
    <MenubarMenu>
      <MenubarTrigger />
      <MenubarContent>
        <MenubarItem />
        <MenubarSeparator />
        <MenubarSub>
          <MenubarSubTrigger />
          <MenubarSubContent />
        </MenubarSub>
      </MenubarContent>
    </MenubarMenu>
  </Menubar>
);

Examples

Basic Menubar

The primary usage involving multiple menus with simple items and separators.

With Submenus

Demonstrates nested navigation using MenubarSub, MenubarSubTrigger, and MenubarSubContent.

Checkbox and Radio Items

Use MenubarCheckboxItem and MenubarRadioItem for toggleable settings or single-choice options within groups.

With Shortcuts

Display keyboard shortcuts using the MenubarShortcut component for a more professional desktop-like feel.

API Reference

Menubar

The root container for the menu bar.

Prop	Type	Default	Description
`loopFocus`	`boolean`	`true`	Whether to loop keyboard focus back to the first item when the end of the list is reached.
`modal`	`boolean`	`true`	Whether the menubar is modal.
`disabled`	`boolean`	`false`	Whether the whole menubar is disabled.
`orientation`	`'horizontal' \| 'vertical'`	`'horizontal'`	The orientation of the menubar.
`className`	`string`	-	Additional CSS classes.
`children`	`React.ReactNode`	-	`MenubarMenu` elements.

MenubarMenu

Wraps a trigger and its corresponding dropdown content.

Prop	Type	Default	Description
`defaultOpen`	`boolean`	`false`	Whether the menu is initially open.
`open`	`boolean`	-	Whether the menu is currently open (controlled mode).
`onOpenChange`	`function`	-	Event handler called when the menu is opened or closed.
`highlightItemOnHover`	`boolean`	`true`	Whether moving the pointer over items should highlight them.
`closeParentOnEsc`	`boolean`	`false`	When in a submenu, determines whether pressing Escape closes the entire menu or only the current child menu.
`loopFocus`	`boolean`	`true`	Whether to loop focus back to the first item when using arrow keys.
`modal`	`boolean`	`true`	Determines if the menu enters a modal state when open.

MenubarTrigger

The button that opens the menu.

Prop	Type	Default	Description
`disabled`	`boolean`	`false`	Whether the trigger should ignore user interaction.
`openOnHover`	`boolean`	-	Whether the menu should also open when the trigger is hovered.
`delay`	`number`	`100`	How long (ms) to wait before the menu may be opened on hover.
`closeDelay`	`number`	`0`	How long (ms) to wait before closing the menu opened on hover.
`className`	`string`	-	Additional CSS classes.

Data Attribute	Values	Description
`data-popup-open`	-	Present when the associated menu is open.
`data-pressed`	-	Present when the trigger is being pressed.

MenubarContent

The container for the menu items.

Prop	Type	Default	Description
`align`	`'start' \| 'center' \| 'end'`	`'start'`	How to align the popup relative to the specified side.
`alignOffset`	`number`	`0`	Additional offset along the alignment axis in pixels.
`side`	`'top' \| 'bottom' \| 'left' \| 'right' \| 'inline-start' \| 'inline-end'`	`'bottom'`	Which side of the anchor element to align the popup against.
`sideOffset`	`number`	`4`	Distance between the anchor and the popup in pixels.
`className`	`string`	-	Additional CSS classes.

Data Attribute	Values	Description
`data-open`	-	Present when the menu is open.
`data-closed`	-	Present when the menu is closed.
`data-side`	`'top' \| 'bottom' \| 'left' \| 'right' \| 'inline-start' \| 'inline-end'`	The side the popup is currently positioned on.
`data-align`	`'start' \| 'center' \| 'end'`	The alignment of the popup relative to the side.

MenubarItem

Represents a single action within a menu.

Prop	Type	Default	Description
`label`	`string`	-	Overrides the text label for keyboard navigation.
`onClick`	`function`	-	The click handler for the menu item.
`closeOnClick`	`boolean`	`true`	Whether to close the menu when the item is clicked.
`disabled`	`boolean`	`false`	Whether the item should ignore user interaction.
`className`	`string`	-	Additional CSS classes.

Data Attribute	Values	Description
`data-highlighted`	-	Present when the item is focused or hovered.
`data-disabled`	-	Present when the item is disabled.

MenubarCheckboxItem

A menu item that can be toggled on or off.

Prop	Type	Default	Description
`checked`	`boolean`	-	Whether the checkbox item is currently ticked.
`defaultChecked`	`boolean`	`false`	Whether the checkbox item is initially ticked.
`onCheckedChange`	`function`	-	Event handler called when the checked state changes.
`disabled`	`boolean`	`false`	Whether the item should ignore user interaction.
`className`	`string`	-	Additional CSS classes.

Data Attribute	Values	Description
`data-checked`	-	Present when the item is checked.
`data-unchecked`	-	Present when the item is unchecked.
`data-highlighted`	-	Present when the item is focused or hovered.
`data-disabled`	-	Present when the item is disabled.

MenubarRadioItem

An item for a single selection within a radio group.

Prop	Type	Default	Description
`value`	`any`	-	Required. The value associated with the item.
`onClick`	`function`	-	The click handler for the item.
`disabled`	`boolean`	`false`	Whether the item should ignore user interaction.
`className`	`string`	-	Additional CSS classes.

Data Attribute	Values	Description
`data-checked`	-	Present when the item is selected.
`data-unchecked`	-	Present when the item is not selected.
`data-highlighted`	-	Present when the item is focused or hovered.
`data-disabled`	-	Present when the item is disabled.

MenubarSub

The root for a nested submenu.

Prop	Type	Default	Description
`open`	`boolean`	-	Whether the submenu is currently open.
`defaultOpen`	`boolean`	`false`	Whether the submenu is initially open.
`onOpenChange`	`function`	-	Event handler called when the submenu is opened or closed.
`highlightItemOnHover`	`boolean`	`true`	Whether moving the pointer over items should highlight them.

MenubarSubTrigger

A menu item that opens a submenu.

Prop	Type	Default	Description
`disabled`	`boolean`	`false`	Whether the trigger should ignore user interaction.
`openOnHover`	`boolean`	-	Whether the menu should also open when the trigger is hovered.
`delay`	`number`	`100`	How long (ms) to wait before the menu may be opened on hover.
`className`	`string`	-	Additional CSS classes.

Data Attribute	Values	Description
`data-popup-open`	-	Present when the associated submenu is open.
`data-highlighted`	-	Present when the trigger is focused or hovered.
`data-disabled`	-	Present when the trigger is disabled.

MenubarSubContent

The container for submenu items.

Prop	Type	Default	Description
`align`	`'start' \| 'center' \| 'end'`	`'start'`	How to align the popup relative to the specified side.
`sideOffset`	`number`	`4`	Distance between the anchor and the popup in pixels.
`alignOffset`	`number`	`-5`	Additional offset along the alignment axis in pixels.
`side`	`'top' \| 'bottom' \| 'left' \| 'right' \| 'inline-start' \| 'inline-end'`	`'bottom'`	Which side of the anchor element to align the popup against.
`disableAnchorTracking`	`boolean`	`false`	Whether to disable the popup from tracking layout shift of its anchor.
`className`	`string`	-	Additional CSS classes.

Data Attribute	Values	Description
`data-open`	-	Present when the submenu is open.
`data-closed`	-	Present when the submenu is closed.
`data-side`	`'top' \| 'bottom' \| 'left' \| 'right' \| 'inline-start' \| 'inline-end'`	The side the popup is currently positioned on.
`data-align`	`'start' \| 'center' \| 'end'`	The alignment of the popup relative to the side.

MenubarGroup

Groups related menu items.

Prop	Type	Description
`className`	`string`	Additional CSS classes
`children`	`React.ReactNode`	Group content

MenubarRadioGroup

Groups related radio items.

Prop	Type	Default	Description
`value`	`any`	-	The controlled value of the selected radio item.
`defaultValue`	`any`	-	The uncontrolled value of the initially selected item.
`onValueChange`	`function`	-	Callback called when the selected value changes.

MenubarSeparator

A horizontal line that separates menu items.

Prop	Type	Default	Description
`orientation`	`'horizontal' \| 'vertical'`	`'horizontal'`	The orientation of the line.
`className`	`string`	-	Additional CSS classes.

MenubarShortcut

Displays a keyboard shortcut for a menu item.

Prop	Type	Description
`className`	`string`	Additional CSS classes
`children`	`React.ReactNode`	Shortcut text

MenubarLabel

Used to provide a header for a group of menu items.

Prop	Type	Description
`className`	`string`	Additional CSS classes
`children`	`React.ReactNode`	Label text

See Base UI Menubar and Menu for more information.

Accessibility

Semantic structure: The component follows the menubar pattern using roles like menubar, menu, and menuitem, allowing assistive technologies to interpret the structure.
Keyboard support: Users can navigate menus using Arrow keys, open items with Enter or Space, and close menus with Escape.
Focus management: Focus moves between triggers, menu items, and nested submenus, enabling navigation without a mouse.
Screen reader support: States like checked or active items are exposed through the underlying accessibility behavior, including nested menus and grouped items.
Trigger behavior: Menu triggers open dropdowns and submenus, and can be used with both keyboard and hover interactions.
Disabled items: Disabled menu items are skipped during keyboard navigation and are not interactive.

Menubar

CLI

Manual

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