R
Rishtaara
Bootstrap 5 Fundamentals
Lesson 12 of 24Article18 min

Navs & Navbar

Navs style navigation links. Use <ul class="nav"> with .nav-item and .nav-link. Tabs use .nav-tabs; pills use .nav-pills.

Navs

Navs style navigation links. Use <ul class="nav"> with .nav-item and .nav-link. Tabs use .nav-tabs; pills use .nav-pills.

For tab panels, combine with tab JavaScript (data-bs-toggle="tab"). .flex-column stacks links vertically.

Real-life example: Nav tabs are like folder tabs in a file cabinet — each tab shows a different section without leaving the desk.

Nav tabs and pills
<ul class="nav nav-tabs mb-3">
  <li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link active" href="#">Home</a></li>
  <li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link" href="#">Courses</a></li>
  <li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link" href="#">Contact</a></li>
</ul>

<ul class="nav nav-pills">
  <li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link active" href="#">All</a></li>
  <li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link" href="#">Web</a></li>
  <li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link" href="#">Data</a></li>
</ul>

Navbar

The navbar is the top navigation bar on most sites. Use <nav class="navbar navbar-expand-lg navbar-dark bg-dark">. Inside: .navbar-brand, toggler button for mobile, and .navbar-nav links.

navbar-expand-lg collapses into a hamburger menu below the lg breakpoint.

Real-life example: A navbar is like the main signpost at a mall — logo on the left, department names on the right, and on phone you open the floor map (hamburger menu).

Responsive navbar
<nav class="navbar navbar-expand-lg bg-body-tertiary">
  <div class="container">
    <a class="navbar-brand" href="#">Rishtaara</a>
    <button class="navbar-toggler" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#navMain">
      <span class="navbar-toggler-icon"></span>
    </button>
    <div class="collapse navbar-collapse" id="navMain">
      <ul class="navbar-nav ms-auto">
        <li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link active" href="#">Home</a></li>
        <li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link" href="#">Learn</a></li>
        <li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link" href="#">About</a></li>
      </ul>
    </div>
  </div>
</nav>