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Learn How To Make A Sidebar menu With Tailwind CSS Like an Expert

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Sidebar menu

What is Tailwind CSS?

Tailwind CSS is a utility-first CSS framework that focuses on creating personalized user interfaces quickly. It can gives you all the building blocks you are able to create personalized designs without having to fight to override irritating opinionated styles. Also, Tailwind CSS is a highly configurable, low-level CSS framework.

The description of Sidebar menu ui component

Sidebar navbar with icons

Why use Tailwind CSS to build a Sidebar menu ui component?

  • It can make the building process of Sidebar menu ui component faster and more easily.
  • Enables building complex responsive layouts and components freely.
  • Minimum lines of CSS code in Sidebar menu component file.

The preview of Sidebar menu ui component

Free download of the Sidebar menu's source code

The source code of Sidebar menu ui component

<div class="flex h-screen w-64 flex-col justify-between bg-zinc-900 text-zinc-300">
  <div class="p-4">
    <!-- items -->
    <div class="mb-4">
      <div class="flex w-full items-center justify-between">
        <a class="flex w-full cursor-pointer items-center rounded-lg px-4 py-2 transition duration-300 ease-in-out hover:bg-zinc-800 hover:text-white">
          <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="16" height="16" fill="currentColor" class="bi bi-house-fill" viewBox="0 0 16 16">
            <path fill-rule="evenodd" d="m8 3.293 6 6V13.5a1.5 1.5 0 0 1-1.5 1.5h-9A1.5 1.5 0 0 1 2 13.5V9.293l6-6zm5-.793V6l-2-2V2.5a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h1a.5.5 0 0 1 .5.5z" />
            <path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M7.293 1.5a1 1 0 0 1 1.414 0l6.647 6.646a.5.5 0 0 1-.708.708L8 2.207 1.354 8.854a.5.5 0 1 1-.708-.708L7.293 1.5z" />
          </svg>
          <span class="ml-3 font-bold">Dashboard</span>
        </a>
      </div>
    </div>
    <!-- item -->
    <div class="mb-4">
      <div class="flex w-full items-center justify-between">
        <a class="flex w-full cursor-pointer items-center rounded-lg px-4 py-2 transition duration-300 ease-in-out hover:bg-zinc-800 hover:text-white">
          <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="16" height="16" fill="currentColor" class="bi bi-cloud-rain-heavy-fill" viewBox="0 0 16 16">
            <path d="M4.176 11.032a.5.5 0 0 1 .292.643l-1.5 4a.5.5 0 0 1-.936-.35l1.5-4a.5.5 0 0 1 .644-.293zm3 0a.5.5 0 0 1 .292.643l-1.5 4a.5.5 0 0 1-.936-.35l1.5-4a.5.5 0 0 1 .644-.293zm3 0a.5.5 0 0 1 .292.643l-1.5 4a.5.5 0 0 1-.936-.35l1.5-4a.5.5 0 0 1 .644-.293zm3 0a.5.5 0 0 1 .292.643l-1.5 4a.5.5 0 0 1-.936-.35l1.5-4a.5.5 0 0 1 .644-.293zm.229-7.005a5.001 5.001 0 0 0-9.499-1.004A3.5 3.5 0 1 0 3.5 10H13a3 3 0 0 0 .405-5.973z" />
          </svg>
          <span class="ml-3 font-bold">Weather</span>
        </a>
      </div>
    </div>
    <!-- item -->
    <div class="mb-4 flex flex-col">
      <!-- Main sidebar items -->
      <div class="flex w-full items-center justify-between">
        <a class="flex w-full cursor-pointer items-center rounded-lg px-4 py-2 transition duration-300 ease-in-out hover:bg-zinc-800 hover:text-white">
          <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="16" height="16" fill="currentColor" class="bi bi-envelope-fill" viewBox="0 0 16 16">
            <path d="M.05 3.555A2 2 0 0 1 2 2h12a2 2 0 0 1 1.95 1.555L8 8.414.05 3.555ZM0 4.697v7.104l5.803-3.558L0 4.697ZM6.761 8.83l-6.57 4.027A2 2 0 0 0 2 14h12a2 2 0 0 0 1.808-1.144l-6.57-4.027L8 9.586l-1.239-.757Zm3.436-.586L16 11.801V4.697l-5.803 3.546Z" />
          </svg>
          <span class="ml-3 font-bold">Inbox</span>
        </a>
        <button class="ml-4 h-full cursor-pointer px-4 py-2 transition duration-300 ease-in-out hover:text-white">
          <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="16" height="16" fill="currentColor" class="bi bi-caret-down-fill" viewBox="0 0 16 16">
            <path d="M7.247 11.14 2.451 5.658C1.885 5.013 2.345 4 3.204 4h9.592a1 1 0 0 1 .753 1.659l-4.796 5.48a1 1 0 0 1-1.506 0z" />
          </svg>
        </button>
      </div>
      <!-- Main sidebar item sub menu -->
      <ul class="ml-6 mt-2 w-full border-l-2 border-zinc-800 pl-6 text-sm">
        <li class="mb-4 transition duration-300 ease-in-out hover:text-white">
          <a href="#">All emails</a>
        </li>
        <li class="mb-4 transition duration-300 ease-in-out hover:text-white">
          <a href="#">Spam emails</a>
        </li>
        <li class="transition duration-300 ease-in-out hover:text-white">
          <a href="#" class="flex items-center">
            Favorites
            <span class="ml-4 flex h-8 w-8 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-zinc-800 text-xs">78</span>
          </a>
        </li>
      </ul>
    </div>
    <!-- item -->
    <div class="mb-4">
      <div class="flex w-full items-center justify-between">
        <a class="flex w-full cursor-pointer items-center rounded-lg px-4 py-2 transition duration-300 ease-in-out hover:bg-zinc-800 hover:text-white">
          <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="16" height="16" fill="currentColor" class="bi bi-archive-fill" viewBox="0 0 16 16">
            <path d="M12.643 15C13.979 15 15 13.845 15 12.5V5H1v7.5C1 13.845 2.021 15 3.357 15h9.286zM5.5 7h5a.5.5 0 0 1 0 1h-5a.5.5 0 0 1 0-1zM.8 1a.8.8 0 0 0-.8.8V3a.8.8 0 0 0 .8.8h14.4A.8.8 0 0 0 16 3V1.8a.8.8 0 0 0-.8-.8H.8z" />
          </svg>
          <span class="ml-3 font-bold">Archive</span>
        </a>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
  <!-- Bottom -->
  <div class="flex items-center border-t-2 border-zinc-700 p-4">
    <img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1649180493506-1074b5f7c9b2?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&auto=format&fit=face&w=1936&q=80" alt="" class="h-12 w-12 rounded-full object-cover" />
    <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZXcplsSliFfK3vGUjCKY2A" class="ml-2 text-sm" target="_blank">Tekku Bit</a>
    <button class="ml-auto cursor-pointer">
      <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" fill="currentColor" class="bi bi-gear" viewBox="0 0 16 16">
        <path d="M8 4.754a3.246 3.246 0 1 0 0 6.492 3.246 3.246 0 0 0 0-6.492zM5.754 8a2.246 2.246 0 1 1 4.492 0 2.246 2.246 0 0 1-4.492 0z" />
        <path d="M9.796 1.343c-.527-1.79-3.065-1.79-3.592 0l-.094.319a.873.873 0 0 1-1.255.52l-.292-.16c-1.64-.892-3.433.902-2.54 2.541l.159.292a.873.873 0 0 1-.52 1.255l-.319.094c-1.79.527-1.79 3.065 0 3.592l.319.094a.873.873 0 0 1 .52 1.255l-.16.292c-.892 1.64.901 3.434 2.541 2.54l.292-.159a.873.873 0 0 1 1.255.52l.094.319c.527 1.79 3.065 1.79 3.592 0l.094-.319a.873.873 0 0 1 1.255-.52l.292.16c1.64.893 3.434-.902 2.54-2.541l-.159-.292a.873.873 0 0 1 .52-1.255l.319-.094c1.79-.527 1.79-3.065 0-3.592l-.319-.094a.873.873 0 0 1-.52-1.255l.16-.292c.893-1.64-.902-3.433-2.541-2.54l-.292.159a.873.873 0 0 1-1.255-.52l-.094-.319zm-2.633.283c.246-.835 1.428-.835 1.674 0l.094.319a1.873 1.873 0 0 0 2.693 1.115l.291-.16c.764-.415 1.6.42 1.184 1.185l-.159.292a1.873 1.873 0 0 0 1.116 2.692l.318.094c.835.246.835 1.428 0 1.674l-.319.094a1.873 1.873 0 0 0-1.115 2.693l.16.291c.415.764-.42 1.6-1.185 1.184l-.291-.159a1.873 1.873 0 0 0-2.693 1.116l-.094.318c-.246.835-1.428.835-1.674 0l-.094-.319a1.873 1.873 0 0 0-2.692-1.115l-.292.16c-.764.415-1.6-.42-1.184-1.185l.159-.291A1.873 1.873 0 0 0 1.945 8.93l-.319-.094c-.835-.246-.835-1.428 0-1.674l.319-.094A1.873 1.873 0 0 0 3.06 4.377l-.16-.292c-.415-.764.42-1.6 1.185-1.184l.292.159a1.873 1.873 0 0 0 2.692-1.115l.094-.319z" />
      </svg>
    </button>
  </div>
</div>

How to build a Sidebar menu with Tailwind CSS?

Install tailwind css of verion 3.0.18

Use the script html tag to import the script of Tailwind CSS of the version 3.0.18

<script src="https://cdn.tailwindcss.com"></script>

All the unility class needed to build a Sidebar menu component

  • flex
  • h-screen
  • w-64
  • flex-col
  • bg-zinc-900
  • text-zinc-300
  • p-4
  • mb-4
  • w-full
  • px-4
  • py-2
  • hover:bg-zinc-800
  • hover:text-white
  • ml-3
  • ml-4
  • h-full
  • ml-6
  • mt-2
  • border-l-2
  • border-zinc-800
  • pl-6
  • text-sm
  • h-8
  • w-8
  • bg-zinc-800
  • text-xs
  • border-t-2
  • border-zinc-700
  • h-12
  • w-12
  • ml-2
  • ml-auto

32 steps to build a Sidebar menu component with Tailwind CSS

  1. Use flex to create a block-level flex container.

  2. Use h-screen to make an element span the entire height of the viewport.

  3. Use w-64 to set an element to a fixed width(16rem).

  4. Use flex to create a block-level flex container.

  5. Control the background color of an element to zinc-900 using the bg-zinc-900 utilities.

  6. Control the text color of an element to zinc-300 using the text-zinc-300 utilities.

  7. Control the padding on all sides of an element to 1rem using the p-4 utilities.

  8. Control the margin on bottom side of an element to 1rem using the mb-4 utilities.

  9. Use w-full to set an element to a 100% based width.

  10. Control the horizontal padding of an element to 1rem using the px-4 utilities.

  11. Control the vertical padding of an element to 0.5rem using the py-2 utilities.

  12. Control the background color of an element to zinc-800 using the hover:bg-zinc-800 utilities on hover.

  13. Control the text color of an element to white on hover using the hover:text-white utilities.

  14. Control the margin on left side of an element to 0.75rem using the ml-3 utilities.

  15. Control the margin on left side of an element to 1rem using the ml-4 utilities.

  16. Use h-full to set an element’s height to 100% of its parent, as long as the parent has a defined height.

  17. Control the margin on left side of an element to 1.5rem using the ml-6 utilities.

  18. Control the margin on top side of an element to 0.5rem using the mt-2 utilities.

  19. Control the border color of an element to l-2 using the border-l-2 utilities.

  20. Control the border color of an element to zinc-800 using the border-zinc-800 utilities.

  21. Set the left padding of the element to 1.5rem using the pl-6 utilities class

  22. Control the text color of an element to sm using the text-sm utilities.

  23. Use h-8 to set an element to a fixed height(2rem).

  24. Use w-8 to set an element to a fixed width(2rem).

  25. Control the background color of an element to zinc-800 using the bg-zinc-800 utilities.

  26. Control the text color of an element to xs using the text-xs utilities.

  27. Control the border color of an element to t-2 using the border-t-2 utilities.

  28. Control the border color of an element to zinc-700 using the border-zinc-700 utilities.

  29. Use h-12 to set an element to a fixed height(3rem).

  30. Use w-12 to set an element to a fixed width(3rem).

  31. Control the margin on left side of an element to 0.5rem using the ml-2 utilities.

  32. Control the margin on left side of an element to auto using the ml-auto utilities.

Conclusion

The above is a step-by-step tutorial on how to use Tailwind CSS to build a Sidebar menu components, learn and follow along to implement your own components.