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How to create a vertical navigation menu in Bootstrap? (Sidebar Example)
How to create a vertical navigation menu in Bootstrap? (Sidebar Example)
When using Bootstrap to create a vertical navigation menu, you need to use .nav.flex-column to achieve vertical stacking, and use the grid system (such as col-md-3) to layout the sidebar. You can choose offcanvas to achieve mobile folding without customizing CSS.

To create a vertical navigation menu in Bootstrap (a sidebar), use Bootstrap's Nav and Navbar components with flex utilities — no custom CSS needed for basic layout. Focus on structure, responsive behavior, and active state handling.
Use Bootstrap's Nav Component with Flex Direction
Bootstrap's .nav class works vertically when combined with .flex-column . Wrap links in a <ul></ul> and apply utility classes for clean stacking.
- Start with
<ul class="nav flex-column"></ul>— this makes items stack top-to-bottom - Add
<li class="nav-item">for each item, and<a class="nav-link"></a>inside - Use
activeon the current link to highlight it visually
Make It Sidebar-Ready with Layout Utilities
A sidebar usually sits beside main content. Use Bootstrap's grid or spacing utilities to position it — avoid floats or absolute positioning.
- Wrap sidebar and main content in
<div class="row"> <li> Apply <code>col-md-3(or similar) to the nav container, andcol-md-9to main content - Add
sticky-topto the nav if you want it to stay visible while scrolling - In Bootstrap 5.2, use
<div class="offcanvas offcanvas-start"> with a button to show/hide<li> For older versions, wrap the nav in <code><div class="collapse navbar-collapse"> inside a <code><nav class="navbar"></nav> - Always include
data-bs-toggle="offcanvas"ordata-bs-toggle="collapse"on the trigger button - Add
border-endto the sidebar to separate it from content - Use
py-3orpx-2on.navfor better vertical/horizontal spacing - For icons, insert SVG or Font Awesome inside
.nav-link— keep them inline withme-2
Add Collapse Behavior for Mobile (Optional)
On small screens, collapse the sidebar behind a toggle button using Bootstrap's offcanvas (v5.2) or collapse (v4/v5.1).
Style & Enhance (Minimal Customization)
Bootstrap provides solid defaults, but small tweaks improve usability.
Basically just structure the nav with flex-column , slot it into the grid, and optionally add offcanvas for mobile. No heavy overrides required.
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