Javascript menu development

Menu development in Javascript

Menus are a fundamental part of any website, as they allow users to easily navigate between the different pages and sections of the website. There are several ways to develop menus in Javascript, from creating simple menus with HTML links to more complex menus with animations and visual effects.

Creating simple menus with HTML links

A simple way to create a menu in Javascript is to use HTML links. To do so, simply create an unordered list (<ul>) and add the links as list items (<li>). You can then use Javascript to add CSS classes to menu items when the user hovers over them, thus creating a hover effect.

<ul id="menu">
  <li><a href="#">Homepage</a></li>
  <li><a href="#">About Us</a></li>
  <li><a href="#">Contact</a></li>
</ul>

<script>
  var menuItems = document.querySelectorAll('#menu li');

  for (var i = 0; i < menuItems.length; i++) {
    menuItems[i].addEventListener('mouseover', function() {
      this.classList.add('hover');
    });
    
    menuItems[i].addEventListener('mouseout', function() {
      this.classList.remove('hover');
    });
  }
</script>

In the example above, Javascript adds the hover class to menu items when the user hovers over them, and removes the class when the mouse leaves. The hover class can be styled with CSS to create a visual effect.

Creating more complex menus with animations and visual effects

To create more complex menus with animations and visual effects, it is possible to use Javascript libraries such as jQuery and Bootstrap. These libraries provide a variety of out-of-the-box components, including menus.

For example, Bootstrap offers the navbar component, which allows you to create a responsive menu with animations and visual effects. To use the navbar, simply include the Bootstrap CSS and Javascript libraries on the website and add the HTML code for the menu.

<nav class="navbar navbar-expand-lg navbar-light bg-light">
  <a class="navbar-brand" href="#">My Site</a>
  <button class="navbar-toggler" type="button" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#navbarNav" aria-controls="navbarNav" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Toggle navigation">
    <span class="navbar-toggler-icon"></span>
  </button>
  <div class="collapse navbar-collapse" id="navbarNav">
    <ul class="navbar-nav">
      <li class="nav-item active">
        <a class="nav-link" href="#">Homepage</a>
      </li>
      <li class="nav-item">
        <a class="nav-link" href="#">About Us</a>
      </li>
      <li class="nav-item">
        <a class="nav-link" href="#">Contact</a>
      </li>
    </ul>
  </div>
</nav>

In the example above, Bootstrap adds CSS and Javascript classes to the menu to create animations and visual effects. The menu is also responsive, meaning it automatically adapts to different screen sizes.

In summary, there are several ways to develop menus in Javascript, from creating simple menus with HTML links to more complex menus with animations and visual effects. The choice of method depends on the needs of the site and the skills of the developer.

Next page of the Free Ebook:

19Development of image galleries in Javascript

4 minutes