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.

This component leverages slots for advanced customization, making it ideal for LWR sites. Aura sites do not support this level of customization.

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.

Configuration

General Configuration

Orientation chooses horizontal (a traditional top navigation bar) or vertical (sidebar-style navigation).

Show Site Logo toggles display of the site logo within the navigation component.

Fixed Top keeps the navigation bar at the top of the viewport as users scroll down the page.

Enable Mobile Menu activates a mobile-optimized menu for better navigation on smaller screens.

Open Menu on Hover opens drop-down menus when the user hovers over a menu item, rather than requiring a click.

Shaded adds a subtle shading effect to the navigation bar for visual depth.

Show Dropdown Nubbin shows a small arrow-like graphic that points to the menu item when its drop-down is open.

Show Item Indicator displays visual indicators that signal more content is available under a menu item; Indicator Attributes control that indicator's position (before or after the item).

Api Name is a unique identifier used to reference the component. Mobile Menu Variant chooses how the menu renders on small screens (drawer or dropdown), and Link To – Site Logo defines an interaction triggered when the site logo is clicked.

Data Source

Use the Manual Data Source to create your navigation structure, defining each item and its properties:

Label is the text displayed for the item, and Description is optional secondary text shown with it.

Tag adds a small badge to the item, and Tooltip sets the text shown when hovering over it.

Avatar Variant, Avatar Icon Name, Avatar Icon Size, and Avatar Image Source configure an optional avatar on the item — its shape, fallback icon, size, and image source.

Sub Items and Sub-sub-Items Label is the text displayed for a sub-item, and Sub Items and Sub-sub-Items Link To is the URL or site page it links to. Items can be nested a further level into "sub-sub items" with the same settings.

Menu Appearance

The Menu Variant setting within the Avonni Navigation Component for Salesforce Experience Cloud determines the overall style and behavior of the menu.

If your data source is set to manual and your menu includes sub-items, you can use the 'Menu Variant' feature.

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.

Tabs variant example

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.