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Component Lab / navigation-layout / expanding-rail-navigation

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Expanding rail navigation

Keeps destinations icon-compact until hover, focus-within, or explicit pinning expands their labels. A pin control locks the expanded state while destinations update the active marker. Its width-changing rail and persistent pin state differ from the existing compact sidebar.

Lab tested Responsive Dark mode Interactive
Version
1.0.0
Updated
2026-08-02
Dependencies
Zero
Preparing the interactive workbench…

Implementation field notes

Use expanding rail navigation confidently.

The preview and source are only the starting point. Use these notes to decide where the component fits, preserve its accessibility contract, and verify the adapted result.

Good fit for

  • Application shells
  • Section navigation
  • Creative portfolios

This side navigation pattern works best when its purpose is clear in the surrounding page hierarchy.

Accessibility contract

  • Every interactive target is a labelled native control with a visible focus treatment.
  • State changes are communicated through a polite text status and never by color alone.
  • The contained visual effects stop when the user requests reduced motion.

Integration plan

  1. Copy the standalone HTML and scoped CSS into an isolated page.
  2. Adapt primary accent, secondary accent, surface color, text color through the Inspector.
  3. Connect the defensive JavaScript, then test every control with a keyboard.
  4. Review the result at 375, 768, 1024, and 1440 pixels before shipping.

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