# AX - Navigation
## Overview
**AX - Navigation** is an Experience Cloud component that displays a customizable navigation bar with links and menus on Experience Sites pages.
Use it to create custom navigation structures beyond the standard Experience Cloud navigation—like secondary menus, contextual navigation, or action-specific link groups. Configure menu items, styling, dropdowns, and link destinations in Experience Builder without code.
Perfect for custom page navigation, contextual menus, quick action links, or anywhere your portal needs navigation beyond the default site header.
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This component [leverages slots](https://docs.avonnicomponents.com/experience-cloud/getting-started/learning-the-basics#understanding-slots) for advanced customization, making it ideal for LWR sites. Aura sites do not support this level of customization.
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{% hint style="info" %}
The Avonni Navigation component is designed with greater flexibility in mind. Unlike the standard Salesforce navigation, it allows for more complex menu structures. You can create multiple-level menus – think of these as layers or steps. For example, you can have main items (Level 1), sub-items under these (Level 2), and even sub-sub items (Level 3). This layered approach makes it easier to organize and present a large amount of information in a structured and accessible way.
Moreover, Avonni offers a broader range of styling options. This allows you to closely customize your navigation menu's appearance to your brand's style. You have more than just primary color and font options. Avonni allows for deeper customization, enabling you to create a navigation experience that's visually appealing and feels like a natural extension of your brand.
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## Properties
{% tabs %}
{% tab title="🎚️ General Configuration" %}
| Name | Description |
| -------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **`Orientatation`** | Choose between 'horizontal' for a traditional top navigation bar or 'vertical' for a sidebar-style navigation. |
| **`Show Site Logo`** | Toggle to display the site logo within the navigation component. |
| **`Fixed Top`** | Enable to keep the navigation bar at the top of the viewport as users scroll down the page. |
| **`Enable Mobile Menu`** | Activate a mobile-optimized menu for better navigation on smaller screens. |
| **`Open Menu on Hover`** | Configure drop-down menus to open when the user hovers over a menu item, rather than requiring a click. |
| **`Shaded`** | Add a subtle shading effect to the navigation bar for visual depth. |
| **`Show Dropdown Nubbin`** | Show a small arrow-like graphic that points to the menu item when its drop-down is open. |
| **`Show Item Indicator`** | Toggle on to display visual indicators that signal more content is available under a menu item. |
| {% endtab %} | |
{% tab title="🗄️ Data Source configuration" %}
**Manual Data Source:** Use this to create your navigation structure, defining each item and its properties.
| Name | Description |
| ----------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **`Label`** | Choose between 'horizontal' for a traditional top navigation bar or 'vertical' for a sidebar-style navigation. |
| **`Description`** | Toggle to display the site logo within the navigation component. |
| **`Tag`** | Enable to keep the navigation bar at the top of the viewport as users scroll down the page. |
| **`Tooltip`** | Activate a mobile-optimized menu for better navigation on smaller screens. |
| **`Avatar Variant`** | Configure drop-down menus to open when the user hovers over a menu item, rather than requiring a click. |
| **`Avatar Icon Name`** | Add a subtle shading effect to the navigation bar for visual depth. |
| **`Avatar Icon Size`** | Show a small arrow-like graphic that points to the menu item when its drop-down is open. |
| **`Avatar Image Source`** | Toggle on to display visual indicators that signal more content is available under a menu item. |
| **`Sub Items and Sub-sub-Items Label`** | The text displayed for the sub-item. |
| **`Sub Items and Sub-sub-Items Link To`** |
The URL or site page that the sub-item links to.
This can be nested further into "Sub-sub items" with the same settings for another level of depth
|
| {% endtab %} | |
{% tab title="🎨 Styling" %}
### General Navigation Settings
| Name | Description |
| ------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **`Size`** | Customize the overall dimensions of the navigation menu. |
| **`Background Color`** | Set the background color to match your site's theme. |
| **`Site Logo Max Width`** | Define the maximum width for the site logo for consistent branding. |
| **`Border Bottom Size/Color`** | Customize the size and color of the bottom border for a distinct look. |
### Navigation Item Settings
| Name | Description |
| ------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **`Item Width, Min/Max Width`** | Specify the width dimensions for each navigation item. |
| **`Item Background Color`** | Set different background colors for active and hover states. |
| **`Item Label`** | Extensive customization options for label text, including color, font size, family, weight, and shadow, with separate settings for active and hover states. |
| **`Item Description`** | Customize the text color, font size, family, weight, and shadow for item descriptions. |
| **`Item Border`** | Adjust border size and color with additional settings for active state. |
### Sub-item and Menu Styling
| Name | Description |
| ------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **`Sub Item Background Color (Selected)`** | Choose a background color for selected sub-items. |
| **`Sub Item Spacing (Block/Inline)`** | Adjust the spacing around sub-items. |
| **`Sub Item Label`** | Options for customizing the text color, font size, family, weight, and shadow, including hover state settings. |
| **`Menu Dimensions`** | Set the menu size, with min and max width/height settings. |
| **`Menu Column Width`** | Define the width for columns in the menu. |
| **`Menu Spacing (Block/Inline)`** | Adjust spacing within the menu. |
| **`Menu Border`** | Customize color, size, style, and radius of the menu border. |
| **`Menu Icon`** | Set colors for normal, active, and hover states. |
| **`Menu Group / Column Label`** | Extensive text customization options for group and column labels. |
### Drawer Menu Styling
| Name | Description |
| ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **`Drawer Background Color`** | Different settings for the item opened and secondary background colors. |
| **`Drawer Main/Secondary Title`** | Customize the text color, font size, family, weight, and shadow for main and secondary titles. |
| **`Drawer Secondary Description`** | Options for text color, font size, family, weight, and shadow. |
### Mobile Drawer Styling
| Name | Description |
| ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **`Mobile Drawer Main/Secondary Title`** | Customization options similar to the desktop drawer, tailored for mobile viewing. |
| **`Mobile Drawer Secondary Description`** | Adjust text color, font size, family, weight, and shadow for descriptions in the mobile drawer. |
| {% endtab %} | |
| {% endtabs %} | |
## Menu Appearance
The **`Menu Variant`** setting within the Avonni Navigation Component for Salesforce Experience Cloud determines the overall style and behavior of the menu.
{% hint style="info" %}
If your data source is set to manual and your menu includes sub-items, you can use the '**`Menu Variant`**' feature.
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Here are the typical significations of the menu variants:
### Base
The **`base`** variant represents the standard style for a navigation menu. It is straightforward, with menu items listed typically in a row for a horizontal orientation or a column for a vertical orientation. This variant is clean and minimalist, making it a good choice for most sites where a classic look is desired.
### Drawer
The **`drawer`** The variant implies a menu that slides in from the side, akin to an opened drawer. This style is often used for vertical menus, especially in mobile views or when screen real estate is premium. It keeps the navigation tucked away and accessible via a menu icon (often a "hamburger" icon) until needed.
Drawer variant example
### Columns
With the **`columns`** variant, dropdown menus are displayed in columns, allowing for a multi-level, structured layout within the dropdown itself. This is particularly useful for organizing complex navigation with many items or categories, making it easier for users to browse the options.
Column Variant example
### Tabs
The **`tabs`** variant converts the top-level menu items into tabbed navigation. This style is often used when different sections of a site need to be demarcated and accessible directly from the navigation bar. It provides a familiar interface for users, similar to tabs in a binder or a web browser.
Each of these variants can help define your site's navigation experience, so it’s important to choose one that aligns with your site’s design principles and enhances the user journey.
