Vue Bootstrap Dropdown Component

Dropdown with Bootstrap Styling

Bootstrap 5 components designed for Vue.js

This component is part of the CoreUI for Vue.js UI components library, which offers all Bootstrap components designed to work seamlessly with Vue.js.

If you want to use Bootstrap 5 in a Vue.js environment while also needing advanced components that Bootstrap does not offer and dedicated developer support, then this library is the best solution for you.

Learn how to use CoreUI’s Vue Dropdown component with Bootstrap styles for flexible, framework-consistent UI.

On this page

Overview

Dropdowns are toggleable, contextual overlays for displaying lists of links and more.

Dropdowns are built on a third party library, Popper.js, which provides dynamic positioning and viewport detection. Popper.js isn’t used to position dropdowns in navbars though as dynamic positioning isn’t required.

Examples

Bind the dropdown’s toggle and the dropdown menu inside <CDropdown>, or different element that declares position: relative;. Dropdowns can be triggered from <a> or <button> elements to better fit your possible requirements.

Single button

Here’s how you can put them to work with either <button> elements:

vue

<template>
  <CDropdown>
    <CDropdownToggle color="primary">Dropdown Button</CDropdownToggle>
    <CDropdownMenu>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
    </CDropdownMenu>
  </CDropdown>
</template>

<script setup>
import { CDropdown, CDropdownToggle, CDropdownMenu, CDropdownItem } from '@coreui/vue'
</script>

And with <a> elements:

vue

<template>
  <CDropdown color="secondary" toggler-text="Dropdown button">
    <CDropdownToggle as="a" color="primary">Dropdown Button</CDropdownToggle>
    <CDropdownMenu>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
    </CDropdownMenu>
  </CDropdown>
</template>

<script setup>
import { CDropdown, CDropdownToggle, CDropdownMenu, CDropdownItem } from '@coreui/vue'
</script>

The best part is you can do this with any button variant, too:

vue

<template>
  <template
    v-for="item in ['primary', 'secondary', 'success', 'info', 'warning', 'danger']"
    :key="item"
  >
    <CDropdown :color="item" :toggler-text="item" variant="btn-group">
      <CDropdownToggle :color="item">{{ item }}</CDropdownToggle>
      <CDropdownMenu>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      </CDropdownMenu>
    </CDropdown>
  </template>
</template>

<script setup>
import { CDropdown, CDropdownToggle, CDropdownMenu, CDropdownItem } from '@coreui/vue'
</script>

Split button

Similarly, create split button dropdowns with virtually the same markup as single button dropdowns, but with the addition of boolean prop split for proper spacing around the dropdown caret.

We use this extra class to reduce the horizontal padding on either side of the caret by 25% and remove the margin-left that’s attached for normal button dropdowns. Those additional changes hold the caret centered in the split button and implement a more properly sized hit area next to the main button.

vue

<template>
  <template
    v-for="item in ['primary', 'secondary', 'success', 'info', 'warning', 'danger']"
    :key="item"
  >
    <CDropdown :color="item" :toggler-text="item" variant="btn-group">
      <CButton :color="item">{{ item }}</CButton>
      <CDropdownToggle :color="item" split>{{ item }}</CDropdownToggle>
      <CDropdownMenu>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      </CDropdownMenu>
    </CDropdown>
  </template>
</template>

<script setup>
import { CDropdown, CButton, CDropdownToggle, CDropdownMenu, CDropdownItem } from '@coreui/vue'
</script>

Sizing

Button dropdowns work with buttons of all sizes, including default and split dropdown buttons.

vue

<template>
  <CDropdown variant="btn-group">
    <CDropdownToggle color="secondary" size="lg">Large button</CDropdownToggle>
    <CDropdownMenu>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownDivider />
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Separated link</CDropdownItem>
    </CDropdownMenu>
  </CDropdown>
  <CDropdown variant="btn-group">
    <CButton color="secondary" size="lg">Large split button</CButton>
    <CDropdownToggle color="secondary" size="lg" split>Large button</CDropdownToggle>
    <CDropdownMenu>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownDivider />
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Separated link</CDropdownItem>
    </CDropdownMenu>
  </CDropdown>
</template>

<script setup>
import {
  CDropdown,
  CDropdownToggle,
  CDropdownMenu,
  CDropdownItem,
  CDropdownDivider,
  CButton,
} from '@coreui/vue'
</script>

vue

<template>
  <CDropdown variant="btn-group">
    <CDropdownToggle color="secondary" size="sm">Small button</CDropdownToggle>
    <CDropdownMenu>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownDivider />
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Separated link</CDropdownItem>
    </CDropdownMenu>
  </CDropdown>
  <CDropdown variant="btn-group">
    <CButton color="secondary" size="sm">Small split button</CButton>
    <CDropdownToggle color="secondary" size="sm" split>Small button</CDropdownToggle>
    <CDropdownMenu>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownDivider />
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Separated link</CDropdownItem>
    </CDropdownMenu>
  </CDropdown>
</template>

<script setup>
import {
  CDropdown,
  CDropdownToggle,
  CDropdownMenu,
  CDropdownItem,
  CDropdownDivider,
  CButton,
} from '@coreui/vue'
</script>

Dark dropdowns

Opt into darker dropdowns to match a dark navbar or custom style by set dark property. No changes are required to the dropdown items.

vue

<template>
  <CDropdown color="secondary" dark>
    <CDropdownToggle color="primary">Dropdown Button</CDropdownToggle>
    <CDropdownMenu>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownDivider />
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Separated link</CDropdownItem>
    </CDropdownMenu>
  </CDropdown>
</template>

<script setup>
import {
  CDropdown,
  CDropdownToggle,
  CDropdownMenu,
  CDropdownItem,
  CDropdownDivider,
} from '@coreui/vue'
</script>

And putting it to use in a navbar:

vue

<template>
  <CNavbar expand="lg" color-scheme="dark" class="bg-dark">
    <CContainer fluid>
      <CNavbarBrand href="#">Navbar</CNavbarBrand>
      <CNavbarNav>
        <CDropdown dark variant="nav-item">
          <CDropdownToggle color="dark" :nav-link="false">Dropdown Button</CDropdownToggle>
          <CDropdownMenu>
            <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
            <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
            <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
            <CDropdownDivider />
            <CDropdownItem href="#">Separated link</CDropdownItem>
          </CDropdownMenu>
        </CDropdown>
      </CNavbarNav>
    </CContainer>
  </CNavbar>
</template>

<script setup>
import {
  CNavbar,
  CContainer,
  CNavbarBrand,
  CNavbarNav,
  CDropdown,
  CDropdownToggle,
  CDropdownMenu,
  CDropdownItem,
  CDropdownDivider,
} from '@coreui/vue'
</script>

Directions

Directions are mirrored when using CoreUI in RTL, meaning .dropstart will appear on the right side.

Centered

Make the dropdown menu centered below the toggle by adding direction="center" to the <CDropdown> component.

vue

<template>
  <CDropdown color="secondary" direction="center">
    <CDropdownToggle color="secondary">Centered dropdown</CDropdownToggle>
    <CDropdownMenu>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownDivider />
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Separated link</CDropdownItem>
    </CDropdownMenu>
  </CDropdown>
</template>

<script setup>
import {
  CDropdown,
  CDropdownToggle,
  CDropdownMenu,
  CDropdownItem,
  CDropdownDivider,
} from '@coreui/vue'
</script>

Dropup

Trigger dropdown menus above elements by adding direction="dropup" to the <CDropdown> component.

vue

<template>
  <CDropdown color="secondary" direction="dropup">
    <CDropdownToggle color="secondary">Dropup</CDropdownToggle>
    <CDropdownMenu>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownDivider />
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Separated link</CDropdownItem>
    </CDropdownMenu>
  </CDropdown>
  <CDropdown color="secondary" direction="dropup">
    <CButton color="secondary">Split dropup</CButton>
    <CDropdownToggle color="secondary" split />
    <CDropdownMenu>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownDivider />
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Separated link</CDropdownItem>
    </CDropdownMenu>
  </CDropdown>
</template>

<script setup>
import {
  CDropdown,
  CDropdownToggle,
  CDropdownMenu,
  CDropdownItem,
  CDropdownDivider,
  CButton,
} from '@coreui/vue'
</script>

Dropup centered

Make the dropup menu centered above the toggle by adding direction="dropup-center" to the <CDropdown> component.

vue

<template>
  <CDropdown color="secondary" direction="dropup-center">
    <CDropdownToggle color="secondary">Centered dropup</CDropdownToggle>
    <CDropdownMenu>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownDivider />
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Separated link</CDropdownItem>
    </CDropdownMenu>
  </CDropdown>
</template>

<script setup>
import {
  CDropdown,
  CDropdownToggle,
  CDropdownMenu,
  CDropdownItem,
  CDropdownDivider,
} from '@coreui/vue'
</script>

Dropend

Trigger dropdown menus at the right of the elements by adding direction="dropend" to the <CDropdown> component.

vue

<template>
  <CDropdown color="secondary" direction="dropend">
    <CDropdownToggle color="secondary">Dropend</CDropdownToggle>
    <CDropdownMenu>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownDivider />
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Separated link</CDropdownItem>
    </CDropdownMenu>
  </CDropdown>
  <CDropdown color="secondary" direction="dropend">
    <CButton color="secondary">Split dropend</CButton>
    <CDropdownToggle color="secondary" split split-label="Toggle Dropend" />
    <CDropdownMenu>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownDivider />
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Separated link</CDropdownItem>
    </CDropdownMenu>
  </CDropdown>
</template>

<script setup>
import {
  CDropdown,
  CDropdownToggle,
  CDropdownMenu,
  CDropdownItem,
  CDropdownDivider,
  CButton,
} from '@coreui/vue'
</script>

Dropstart

Trigger dropdown menus at the left of the elements by adding direction="dropstart" to the <CDropdown> component.

vue

<template>
  <CDropdown color="secondary" direction="dropstart">
    <CDropdownToggle color="secondary">Dropstart</CDropdownToggle>
    <CDropdownMenu>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownDivider />
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Separated link</CDropdownItem>
    </CDropdownMenu>
  </CDropdown>
  <CButtonGroup>
    <CDropdown color="secondary" direction="dropstart">
      <CDropdownToggle color="secondary" split split-label="Toggle Dropstart" />
      <CDropdownMenu>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
        <CDropdownDivider />
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Separated link</CDropdownItem>
      </CDropdownMenu>
    </CDropdown>
    <CButton color="secondary">Split dropstart</CButton>
  </CButtonGroup>
</template>

<script setup>
import {
  CDropdown,
  CDropdownToggle,
  CDropdownMenu,
  CDropdownItem,
  CDropdownDivider,
  CButtonGroup,
  CButton,
} from '@coreui/vue'
</script>

Responsive alignment

If you use responsive alignment, dynamic positioning is disabled.

To align right the dropdown menu with the given breakpoint or larger, add aligment="xs|sm|md|lg|xl|xxl: end".

vue

<template>
  <CDropdown color="secondary" :alignment="{ lg: 'end' }">
    <CDropdownToggle color="secondary"
      >Left-aligned but right aligned when large screen</CDropdownToggle
    >
    <CDropdownMenu>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownDivider />
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Separated link</CDropdownItem>
    </CDropdownMenu>
  </CDropdown>
</template>

<script setup>
import {
  CDropdown,
  CDropdownToggle,
  CDropdownMenu,
  CDropdownItem,
  CDropdownDivider,
} from '@coreui/vue'
</script>

To align left the dropdown menu with the given breakpoint or larger, add aligment="xs|sm|md|lg|xl|xxl: start".

vue

<template>
  <CDropdown color="secondary" :alignment="{ xs: 'end', lg: 'start' }">
    <CDropdownToggle color="secondary"
      >Right-aligned but left aligned when large screen</CDropdownToggle
    >
    <CDropdownMenu>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      <CDropdownDivider />
      <CDropdownItem href="#">Separated link</CDropdownItem>
    </CDropdownMenu>
  </CDropdown>
</template>

<script setup>
import {
  CDropdown,
  CDropdownToggle,
  CDropdownMenu,
  CDropdownItem,
  CDropdownDivider,
} from '@coreui/vue'
</script>

Headers

Add a header to label sections of actions in any dropdown menu.

In the following example we use div instead of <CDropdownMenu> to show <CDropdownMenu> content.

vue

<template>
  <div class="dropdown-menu">
    <CDropdownHeader>Dropdown header</CDropdownHeader>
    <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
    <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
  </div>
</template>

<script setup>
import { CDropdownHeader, CDropdownItem } from '@coreui/vue'
</script>

Dividers

Separate groups of related menu items with a divider.

In the following example we use div instead of <CDropdownMenu> to show <CDropdownMenu> content.

vue

<template>
  <div class="dropdown-menu">
    <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
    <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
    <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
    <CDropdownDivider />
    <CDropdownItem href="#">Separated link</CDropdownItem>
  </div>
</template>

<script setup>
import { CDropdownItem, CDropdownDivider } from '@coreui/vue'
</script>

Text

Place any freeform text within a dropdown menu with text. Note that you’ll likely need additional sizing styles to constrain the menu width.

vue

<template>
  <div class="border rounded p-4 text-body-secondary" style="max-width: 200px">
    <p>Some example text that's free-flowing within the dropdown menu.</p>
    <p class="mb-0">And this is more example text.</p>
  </div>
</template>

<script setup></script>

Forms

Put a form within a dropdown menu, or make it into a dropdown menu.

vue

<template>
  <div class="dropdown-menu">
    <CForm class="px-4 py-4">
      <div class="mb-3">
        <CFormLabel for="exampleDropdownFormEmail1">Email address</CFormLabel>
        <CFormInput id="exampleDropdownFormEmail1" type="email" placeholder="[email protected]" />
      </div>
      <div class="mb-3">
        <CFormLabel for="exampleDropdownFormPassword1">Password</CFormLabel>
        <CFormInput id="exampleDropdownFormPassword1" type="password" placeholder="Password" />
      </div>
      <div class="mb-3">
        <CFormCheck id="dropdownCheck" label="Remember me" />
      </div>
      <CButton color="primary" type="submit">Sign in</CButton>
    </CForm>
    <CDropdownDivider />
    <CDropdownItem href="#">New around here? Sign up</CDropdownItem>
    <CDropdownItem href="#">Forgot password?</CDropdownItem>
  </div>
</template>

<script setup>
import {
  CForm,
  CFormLabel,
  CFormInput,
  CFormCheck,
  CButton,
  CDropdownDivider,
  CDropdownItem,
} from '@coreui/vue'
</script>

Use offset to displace the dropdown from its default position. The value is a string with two numbers separated by a comma, e.g. :offset="[10, 20]". Use teleport property to render dropdowns in body instead of the parent element. This helps to avoid any overflow or z-index issues.

vue

<template>
  <div class="d-flex gap-1">
    <CDropdown :offset="[10, 20]">
      <CDropdownToggle color="secondary">Offset</CDropdownToggle>
      <CDropdownMenu>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      </CDropdownMenu>
    </CDropdown>
    <CDropdown teleport>
      <CDropdownToggle color="secondary" aria-controls="dropdownMenuInTeleport">
        Teleport
      </CDropdownToggle>
      <CDropdownMenu id="dropdownMenuInTeleport">
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      </CDropdownMenu>
    </CDropdown>
    <CDropdown reference="parent">
      <CButton color="secondary">Reference</CButton>
      <CDropdownToggle color="secondary" split />
      <CDropdownMenu>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      </CDropdownMenu>
    </CDropdown>
  </div>
</template>

<script setup>
import { CDropdown, CDropdownToggle, CDropdownMenu, CDropdownItem, CButton } from '@coreui/vue'
</script>

Auto close behavior

By default, dropdowns are closed when clicking outside of the dropdown menu or the toggle button. You can change this behavior with the autoClose property. Set autoClose to:

true - Close on clicks inside or outside of the Vue.js dropdown menu.
false - Disable auto-close; close manually by setting the :visible="false" (also not closed by Escape).
'inside' - Close only when clicking inside the Vue.js dropdown menu.
'outside' - Close only when clicking outside the Vue.js dropdown menu.

vue

<template>
  <div class="d-flex gap-1">
    <CDropdown>
      <CDropdownToggle color="secondary">Default dropdown</CDropdownToggle>
      <CDropdownMenu>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      </CDropdownMenu>
    </CDropdown>
    <CDropdown auto-close="inside">
      <CDropdownToggle color="secondary">Clickable inside</CDropdownToggle>
      <CDropdownMenu>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      </CDropdownMenu>
    </CDropdown>
    <CDropdown auto-close="outside">
      <CDropdownToggle color="secondary">Clickable outside</CDropdownToggle>
      <CDropdownMenu>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      </CDropdownMenu>
    </CDropdown>
    <CDropdown :auto-close="false">
      <CDropdownToggle color="secondary">Manual close</CDropdownToggle>
      <CDropdownMenu>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Action</CDropdownItem>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Another action</CDropdownItem>
        <CDropdownItem href="#">Something else here</CDropdownItem>
      </CDropdownMenu>
    </CDropdown>
  </div>
</template>

<script setup>
import { CDropdown, CDropdownToggle, CDropdownMenu, CDropdownItem } from '@coreui/vue'
</script>

Vue Bootstrap Dropdown Component

Dropdown with Bootstrap Styling

Bootstrap 5 components designed for Vue.js

Overview

Examples

Single button

Split button

Sizing

Dark dropdowns

Directions

Centered

Dropup

Dropup centered

Dropend

Dropstart

Responsive alignment

Menu content

Headers

Dividers

Text

Forms

Dropdown options

Auto close behavior