Sidebars are a common UI element used in web design to display additional content, navigation menus, or supplementary information alongside the main content of a webpage. They provide a convenient way to organize and present related content without cluttering the main viewport.

The sidebars in the system are often created by creating a div element that has the class am-left-sidebar and can typically expand or collapse by using link elements that hold classes such as am-toggle-left-sidebar navbar-toggle collapsed

The div element usually contains a list of sidebar elements, class sidebar-elements is used in combination with link elements that can be used to navigate the screen. When a sidebar gets too filled, we use lists of options that can expand and collapse.

Sometimes the sidebar can be used to hold other commanding options, such as filters for a table in the main content pane or buttons to manipulate the page content in other ways.

Getting Started

Implementing a sidebar typically involves the following steps:

1. Define the structure of your sidebar in HTML. This may include navigation links, widgets, or other relevant content.
2. Use CSS to style the sidebar according to your design requirements. You can customize its appearance, dimensions, positioning, and behavior to align with the overall aesthetic of the page.
3. Add interactive elements, animations, or dynamic content loading capabilities.

Customization

Sidebars offer a wide range of customization options to tailor their appearance and behavior to suit your specific needs. Here are some common customization techniques:

• Adjust the width and position of the sidebar relative to the main content area.
• Incorporate collapsible or expandable sections to conserve space and provide a cleaner user interface.
• Implement responsive design principles to ensure the sidebar adapts gracefully to different screen sizes and devices.

Best Practices and Considerations

When designing and implementing sidebars, keep the following best practices and considerations in mind:

• Content Relevance: Ensure that the content displayed in the sidebar is relevant to the main content of the webpage and adds value to the user experience.
• Performance: Optimize the performance of your sidebar by minimizing unnecessary animations, reducing HTTP requests, and lazy-loading content when appropriate.
• Consistency: Maintain consistency in the design and layout of your sidebar across different pages of your website to provide a cohesive user experience.