Having a multiple column dropdown menu in Squarespace
In this tutorial, you'll learn how to create a multiple column dropdown menu in Squarespace website. This tutorial is specifically designed for Squarespace 7.1.
Navigation is one of the most critical elements of a website. A clean, organized menu not only improves user experience but also helps visitors quickly find what they’re looking for. These menus can transform your site’s usability and design, especially for content-rich or eCommerce websites.
In this blog, we’ll explore the key advantages of having a multiple-column dropdown menu in Squarespace and how it can benefit your site.
Enhanced User Experience: A multiple-column dropdown menu organizes content into visually distinct sections, making it easier for users to navigate through your website. Instead of scrolling through a long, single-column list, visitors can quickly scan grouped links and find what they need without frustration.
Improved Aesthetics: It allows you to display more links without cluttering your navigation bar. With proper spacing, fonts, and color schemes, a multi-column menu can look professional and visually appealing.
Better Organization of Content: For websites with a lot of content, such as blogs, portfolios, or eCommerce stores, multiple-column dropdowns offer an effective way to organize information. By grouping related links under different headings, you can reduce overwhelm and provide clear pathways to specific pages.
Scalability for Growing Websites: As your website grows, you may need to add more links to your navigation menu. A single-column dropdown can become overwhelming and difficult to manage. A multi-column layout, however, allows you to expand your menu without compromising usability or design.
Increased Focus on Key Pages: With multiple columns, you can strategically highlight your most important pages. By giving prime real estate to key links, you can guide visitors toward high-priority areas like best-selling products, promotions, or contact pages.
How to create a multiple column dropdown menu in Squarespace
To implement a multiple column dropdown menu in Squarespace follow the steps below.
Complexity: Easy
Step 1
Copy the code below and from the Squarespace dashboard navigate to Pages > Webtools > Custom CSS and paste the code.
/* multiple column dropdown */
.header-nav-folder-content {
/* Defines the number of columns the content will be split into */
column-count: 2;
/* Sets the space between the columns for better readability */
column-gap: 30px;
/* Adds a vertical line between the columns for visual separation */
column-rule: 3px solid #58A63B;
}Note: This css applies to all the dropdown menus.
Step 2
If you want the above CSS to apply to a specific dropdown, add .header-nav-item--folder:nth-of-type() to the CSS, as shown below. Replace the parentheses with the number that corresponds to the position of the dropdown menu within the top navigation, counting from the left. In this case, it is the fourth, so the CSS would be .header-nav-item--folder:nth-of-type(4), based on the example shown above
/* multiple column dropdown */
.header-nav-item--folder:nth-of-type(4)
.header-nav-folder-content {
/* Defines the number of columns the content will be split into */
column-count: 2;
/* Sets the space between the columns for better readability */
column-gap: 30px;
/* Adds a vertical line between the columns for visual separation */
column-rule: 2px solid #58A63B;
}
Step 3
Use the CSS code below to add some dynamism on hover.
/* multiple column dropdown animation */
.header-nav-folder-content {
/* Sets the initial opacity of the dropdown content to 0, making it invisible */
opacity: 0;
/* Moves the dropdown content 10px upwards, creating a hidden, shifted position */
transform: translateY(-10px);
/* Adds a smooth transition effect for both opacity and position when the element becomes visible */
transition: opacity 0.3s ease, transform 0.3s ease;
}
.header-nav-item--folder:hover .header-nav-folder-content {
/* Makes the dropdown content fully visible when the parent folder item is hovered */
opacity: 1;
/* Resets the vertical position, moving the content back into its original position */
transform: translateY(0);
}
Conclusion
A multiple-column dropdown menu in Squarespace can significantly enhance your website’s navigation, usability, and overall design. It’s an excellent choice for content-rich websites that need a clean and organized way to present a variety of options to visitors. Whether you’re running a blog, portfolio, or eCommerce store, this feature can elevate your site’s functionality and user experience.
See other blogs
If you have any questions or need any help with your Squarespace website design, you can book a 1:1 consultation.
All work in this guide is provided ?“AS IS”. Other than as provided in this agreement, this guide makes no other warranties, express or implied, and hereby disclaims all implied warranties, including any warranty of fitness for a particular purpose.
If you require professional advice, we recommend that you purchase the services of a developer.
