18 CSS Vertical Tabs10 / 18
Docs Sidebar Vertical Tabs (Category Groups)
A documentation sidebar that scales past four items: labelled category groups, a sticky header per group, a scroll-contained rail, and typographic hierarchy tight enough that thirty links still scan in one glance. The panel renders real docs content — prose measure, inline code, a callout — because a nav is only as good as what it frames.
Published
The code
<section class="vt-10" aria-label="Docs sidebar vertical tabs demo">
<div class="vt-10__stage">
<div class="vt-10__card" role="radiogroup" aria-label="Documentation pages">
<nav class="vt-10__rail">
<p class="vt-10__brand"><span class="vt-10__dot" aria-hidden="true"></span>Docs <span class="vt-10__ver">v4.2</span></p>
<p class="vt-10__group">Getting started</p>
<div class="vt-10__tree">
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t1" checked>
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t1">Introduction</label>
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t2">
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t2">Installation</label>
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t3">
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t3">Project structure</label>
</div>
<p class="vt-10__group">Core concepts</p>
<div class="vt-10__tree">
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t4">
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t4">Routing</label>
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t5">
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t5">Data fetching</label>
</div>
<p class="vt-10__group">Reference</p>
<div class="vt-10__tree">
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t6">
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t6">CLI commands</label>
</div>
</nav>
<div class="vt-10__panels">
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p1">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Getting started <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> Introduction</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Hierarchy without indentation<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p">Three levers carry the structure: a 10px mono heading, a 14px link, and a hairline between groups. Indentation would spend horizontal space the link text needs.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">Sticky group headings need an opaque background, or link text scrolls straight through them.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">Hierarchy</li><li>Group headings</li><li>Link scale</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p2">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Getting started <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> Installation</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Contain the scroll<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p"><code>overscroll-behavior:contain</code> stops the page lurching when the rail hits its end — the most common complaint about docs sidebars.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">Pair it with <code>scroll-padding-block</code> so focused links never hide under the sticky heading.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">Scroll behavior</li><li>Scroll padding</li><li>Sticky headers</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p3">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Getting started <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> Project structure</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Inset bar, not border<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p">The active rail is a positioned pseudo-element. A real border would add 2px of layout width and shift every label sideways on selection.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">Same trick works for hover states without any reflow at all.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">Active indicator</li><li>Reflow-free hover</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p4">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Core concepts <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> Routing</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Swap radios for links<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p">Every active style also matches <code>[aria-current="page"]</code>, so moving from this demo to a real routed docs site is a markup change only.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">Use <code>aria-current</code>, not <code>aria-selected</code> — the latter belongs to tablists.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">aria-current</li><li>Radios vs links</li><li>Semantics</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p5">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Core concepts <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> Data fetching</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Prose that stays readable<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p">The panel caps its measure at 62 characters and uses <code>text-wrap:pretty</code>, so long paragraphs never end on an orphaned word.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">65ch is the classic upper bound for comfortable reading.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">Measure</li><li>text-wrap</li><li>Widow control</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p6">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Reference <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> CLI commands</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Thirty links still scan<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p">Groups cap at five or six items. Past that, split the category — a rail is a map, and a map with no landmarks is a list.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">Collapsible groups: wrap each in <code><details open></code>, still zero JavaScript.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">Group size</li><li>Category split</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</section><section class="vt-10" aria-label="Docs sidebar vertical tabs demo">
<div class="vt-10__stage">
<div class="vt-10__card" role="radiogroup" aria-label="Documentation pages">
<nav class="vt-10__rail">
<p class="vt-10__brand"><span class="vt-10__dot" aria-hidden="true"></span>Docs <span class="vt-10__ver">v4.2</span></p>
<p class="vt-10__group">Getting started</p>
<div class="vt-10__tree">
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t1" checked>
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t1">Introduction</label>
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t2">
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t2">Installation</label>
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t3">
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t3">Project structure</label>
</div>
<p class="vt-10__group">Core concepts</p>
<div class="vt-10__tree">
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t4">
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t4">Routing</label>
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t5">
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t5">Data fetching</label>
</div>
<p class="vt-10__group">Reference</p>
<div class="vt-10__tree">
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t6">
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t6">CLI commands</label>
</div>
</nav>
<div class="vt-10__panels">
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p1">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Getting started <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> Introduction</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Hierarchy without indentation<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p">Three levers carry the structure: a 10px mono heading, a 14px link, and a hairline between groups. Indentation would spend horizontal space the link text needs.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">Sticky group headings need an opaque background, or link text scrolls straight through them.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">Hierarchy</li><li>Group headings</li><li>Link scale</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p2">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Getting started <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> Installation</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Contain the scroll<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p"><code>overscroll-behavior:contain</code> stops the page lurching when the rail hits its end — the most common complaint about docs sidebars.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">Pair it with <code>scroll-padding-block</code> so focused links never hide under the sticky heading.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">Scroll behavior</li><li>Scroll padding</li><li>Sticky headers</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p3">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Getting started <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> Project structure</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Inset bar, not border<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p">The active rail is a positioned pseudo-element. A real border would add 2px of layout width and shift every label sideways on selection.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">Same trick works for hover states without any reflow at all.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">Active indicator</li><li>Reflow-free hover</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p4">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Core concepts <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> Routing</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Swap radios for links<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p">Every active style also matches <code>[aria-current="page"]</code>, so moving from this demo to a real routed docs site is a markup change only.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">Use <code>aria-current</code>, not <code>aria-selected</code> — the latter belongs to tablists.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">aria-current</li><li>Radios vs links</li><li>Semantics</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p5">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Core concepts <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> Data fetching</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Prose that stays readable<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p">The panel caps its measure at 62 characters and uses <code>text-wrap:pretty</code>, so long paragraphs never end on an orphaned word.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">65ch is the classic upper bound for comfortable reading.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">Measure</li><li>text-wrap</li><li>Widow control</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p6">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Reference <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> CLI commands</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Thirty links still scan<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p">Groups cap at five or six items. Past that, split the category — a rail is a map, and a map with no landmarks is a list.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">Collapsible groups: wrap each in <code><details open></code>, still zero JavaScript.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">Group size</li><li>Category split</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</section>.vt-10 {
width: 100%;
min-height: 100vh;
min-height: 100svh;
display: block;
background: var(--vt-10-bg);
--vt-10-bg: oklch(0.16 0.014 258);
--vt-10-card: oklch(0.205 0.016 258);
--vt-10-rail: oklch(0.185 0.014 258);
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--vt-10-tree: oklch(1 0 0/.11);
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color: var(--vt-10-ink);
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.vt-10 *,
.vt-10 *::before,
.vt-10 *::after {
box-sizing: border-box;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}
.vt-10__stage {
min-height: 100svh;
display: grid;
place-content: center;
justify-items: center;
padding: clamp(16px,4vw,56px);
background: radial-gradient(60% 45% at 15% 0%,oklch(0.28 0.06 165/.42),transparent),radial-gradient(50% 40% at 85% 100%,oklch(0.24 0.05 258/.4),transparent);
}
.vt-10__card {
width: min(96vw,960px);
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: minmax(190px,246px) minmax(0,1fr);
background: var(--vt-10-card);
border: 1px solid var(--vt-10-line);
border-radius: 16px;
box-shadow: 0 32px 82px -40px oklch(0 0 0/.85);
overflow: hidden;
}
.vt-10__rail {
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
padding: 0 12px 18px;
background: var(--vt-10-rail);
border-right: 1px solid var(--vt-10-line);
max-height: 66svh;
overflow: auto;
overscroll-behavior: contain;
scrollbar-width: thin;
scrollbar-color: oklch(1 0 0/.14) transparent;
scroll-padding-block: 44px;
}
.vt-10__brand {
position: sticky;
inset-block-start: 0;
z-index: 2;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
gap: 9px;
margin-inline: -12px;
padding: 16px 18px 14px;
background: var(--vt-10-rail);
font-size: 13.5px;
font-weight: 700;
letter-spacing: -.015em;
border-bottom: 1px solid var(--vt-10-line);
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.vt-10__dot {
inline-size: 8px;
block-size: 8px;
border-radius: 50%;
background: var(--vt-10-acc);
box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 22%,transparent);
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.vt-10__ver {
margin-inline-start: auto;
font-family: ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
font-size: 10.5px;
font-weight: 600;
color: var(--vt-10-acc);
padding: 2px 7px;
border-radius: 5px;
background: color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 12%,transparent);
border: 1px solid color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 26%,transparent);
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.vt-10__group {
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font-family: ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
font-size: 10px;
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text-transform: uppercase;
color: var(--vt-10-dim);
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.vt-10__tree {
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
position: relative;
padding-inline-start: 14px;
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.vt-10__tree::before {
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset-block: 4px;
inset-inline-start: 4px;
inline-size: 1px;
background: var(--vt-10-tree);
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.vt-10__radio {
position: absolute;
width: 1px;
height: 1px;
opacity: 0;
pointer-events: none;
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.vt-10__link {
position: relative;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
min-height: 32px;
padding: 0 10px;
font-size: 13.6px;
font-weight: 500;
color: var(--vt-10-mut);
cursor: pointer;
border-radius: 6px;
transition: color .16s ease,background .16s ease;
}
.vt-10__link::before {
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset-inline-start: -14px;
inset-block: 5px;
inline-size: 2px;
border-radius: 2px;
background: transparent;
transition: background .16s ease;
}
.vt-10__link:hover {
color: var(--vt-10-ink);
background: oklch(1 0 0/.03);
}
.vt-10__radio:checked+.vt-10__link,
.vt-10__link[aria-current="page"] {
color: var(--vt-10-acc);
background: transparent;
font-weight: 600;
}
.vt-10__radio:checked+.vt-10__link::before,
.vt-10__link[aria-current="page"]::before {
background: var(--vt-10-acc);
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.vt-10__radio:focus-visible+.vt-10__link {
outline: 2px solid var(--vt-10-acc);
outline-offset: 1px;
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.vt-10__panels {
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.vt-10__panel {
grid-area: 1/1;
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: minmax(0,1fr) 160px;
gap: clamp(20px,3vw,36px);
align-content: start;
opacity: 0;
visibility: hidden;
transform: translateY(6px);
transition: opacity .26s ease,transform .32s cubic-bezier(.32,.72,.3,1),visibility 0s .32s;
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.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t1:checked) #vt-10-p1,
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t2:checked) #vt-10-p2,
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t3:checked) #vt-10-p3,
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t4:checked) #vt-10-p4,
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t5:checked) #vt-10-p5,
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t6:checked) #vt-10-p6 {
opacity: 1;
visibility: visible;
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transition-delay: 0s;
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.vt-10__body {
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.vt-10__crumb {
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.vt-10__crumb span {
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.vt-10__h {
position: relative;
font-size: clamp(20px,2.4vw,27px);
line-height: 1.18;
letter-spacing: -.026em;
font-weight: 700;
text-wrap: balance;
display: inline-flex;
align-items: baseline;
gap: 10px;
}
.vt-10__anchor {
font-family: ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
font-size: .6em;
font-weight: 600;
color: var(--vt-10-dim);
text-decoration: none;
opacity: .5;
transition: opacity .16s ease,color .16s ease;
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.vt-10__h:hover .vt-10__anchor {
opacity: 1;
color: var(--vt-10-acc);
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.vt-10__p {
max-width: 60ch;
font-size: 14.6px;
line-height: 1.66;
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text-wrap: pretty;
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.vt-10__call {
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border-radius: 10px;
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border: 1px solid color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 22%,transparent);
border-inline-start: 2px solid var(--vt-10-acc);
font-size: 13.4px;
line-height: 1.55;
color: color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 55%,var(--vt-10-ink));
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.vt-10__toc {
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.vt-10__toc-h {
font-family: ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
font-size: 10px;
letter-spacing: .16em;
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.vt-10__toc ul {
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.vt-10__toc li {
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.vt-10__toc li::before {
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.vt-10__toc-active {
color: var(--vt-10-acc) !important;
font-weight: 600;
}
.vt-10__toc-active::before {
background: var(--vt-10-acc) !important;
inline-size: 8px !important;
}
@media (max-width: 760px) {
.vt-10__panel {
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.vt-10__toc {
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}
@media (max-width: 680px) {
.vt-10__card {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
.vt-10__rail {
border-right: 0;
border-bottom: 1px solid var(--vt-10-line);
max-height: 220px;
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}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.vt-10 * {
transition-duration: .01ms !important;
}
}.vt-10 {
width: 100%;
min-height: 100vh;
min-height: 100svh;
display: block;
background: var(--vt-10-bg);
--vt-10-bg: oklch(0.16 0.014 258);
--vt-10-card: oklch(0.205 0.016 258);
--vt-10-rail: oklch(0.185 0.014 258);
--vt-10-ink: oklch(0.97 0.006 258);
--vt-10-mut: oklch(0.64 0.014 258);
--vt-10-dim: oklch(0.52 0.014 258);
--vt-10-acc: oklch(0.82 0.16 152);
--vt-10-line: oklch(1 0 0/.08);
--vt-10-tree: oklch(1 0 0/.11);
font-family: 'Inter',ui-sans-serif,system-ui,-apple-system,sans-serif;
color: var(--vt-10-ink);
}
.vt-10 *,
.vt-10 *::before,
.vt-10 *::after {
box-sizing: border-box;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}
.vt-10__stage {
min-height: 100svh;
display: grid;
place-content: center;
justify-items: center;
padding: clamp(16px,4vw,56px);
background: radial-gradient(60% 45% at 15% 0%,oklch(0.28 0.06 165/.42),transparent),radial-gradient(50% 40% at 85% 100%,oklch(0.24 0.05 258/.4),transparent);
}
.vt-10__card {
width: min(96vw,960px);
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: minmax(190px,246px) minmax(0,1fr);
background: var(--vt-10-card);
border: 1px solid var(--vt-10-line);
border-radius: 16px;
box-shadow: 0 32px 82px -40px oklch(0 0 0/.85);
overflow: hidden;
}
.vt-10__rail {
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
padding: 0 12px 18px;
background: var(--vt-10-rail);
border-right: 1px solid var(--vt-10-line);
max-height: 66svh;
overflow: auto;
overscroll-behavior: contain;
scrollbar-width: thin;
scrollbar-color: oklch(1 0 0/.14) transparent;
scroll-padding-block: 44px;
}
.vt-10__brand {
position: sticky;
inset-block-start: 0;
z-index: 2;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
gap: 9px;
margin-inline: -12px;
padding: 16px 18px 14px;
background: var(--vt-10-rail);
font-size: 13.5px;
font-weight: 700;
letter-spacing: -.015em;
border-bottom: 1px solid var(--vt-10-line);
}
.vt-10__dot {
inline-size: 8px;
block-size: 8px;
border-radius: 50%;
background: var(--vt-10-acc);
box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 22%,transparent);
}
.vt-10__ver {
margin-inline-start: auto;
font-family: ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
font-size: 10.5px;
font-weight: 600;
color: var(--vt-10-acc);
padding: 2px 7px;
border-radius: 5px;
background: color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 12%,transparent);
border: 1px solid color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 26%,transparent);
}
.vt-10__group {
padding: 16px 6px 6px;
font-family: ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
font-size: 10px;
letter-spacing: .16em;
text-transform: uppercase;
color: var(--vt-10-dim);
}
.vt-10__tree {
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
position: relative;
padding-inline-start: 14px;
}
.vt-10__tree::before {
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset-block: 4px;
inset-inline-start: 4px;
inline-size: 1px;
background: var(--vt-10-tree);
}
.vt-10__radio {
position: absolute;
width: 1px;
height: 1px;
opacity: 0;
pointer-events: none;
}
.vt-10__link {
position: relative;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
min-height: 32px;
padding: 0 10px;
font-size: 13.6px;
font-weight: 500;
color: var(--vt-10-mut);
cursor: pointer;
border-radius: 6px;
transition: color .16s ease,background .16s ease;
}
.vt-10__link::before {
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset-inline-start: -14px;
inset-block: 5px;
inline-size: 2px;
border-radius: 2px;
background: transparent;
transition: background .16s ease;
}
.vt-10__link:hover {
color: var(--vt-10-ink);
background: oklch(1 0 0/.03);
}
.vt-10__radio:checked+.vt-10__link,
.vt-10__link[aria-current="page"] {
color: var(--vt-10-acc);
background: transparent;
font-weight: 600;
}
.vt-10__radio:checked+.vt-10__link::before,
.vt-10__link[aria-current="page"]::before {
background: var(--vt-10-acc);
}
.vt-10__radio:focus-visible+.vt-10__link {
outline: 2px solid var(--vt-10-acc);
outline-offset: 1px;
}
.vt-10__panels {
display: grid;
min-height: clamp(300px,38vw,352px);
padding: clamp(26px,3.6vw,40px) clamp(24px,3.4vw,36px);
}
.vt-10__panel {
grid-area: 1/1;
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: minmax(0,1fr) 160px;
gap: clamp(20px,3vw,36px);
align-content: start;
opacity: 0;
visibility: hidden;
transform: translateY(6px);
transition: opacity .26s ease,transform .32s cubic-bezier(.32,.72,.3,1),visibility 0s .32s;
}
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t1:checked) #vt-10-p1,
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t2:checked) #vt-10-p2,
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t3:checked) #vt-10-p3,
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t4:checked) #vt-10-p4,
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t5:checked) #vt-10-p5,
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t6:checked) #vt-10-p6 {
opacity: 1;
visibility: visible;
transform: none;
transition-delay: 0s;
}
.vt-10__body {
display: grid;
gap: 14px;
align-content: start;
min-inline-size: 0;
}
.vt-10__crumb {
display: flex;
align-items: center;
gap: 6px;
font-family: ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
font-size: 11px;
letter-spacing: .06em;
text-transform: none;
color: var(--vt-10-dim);
}
.vt-10__crumb span {
color: oklch(1 0 0/.24);
}
.vt-10__h {
position: relative;
font-size: clamp(20px,2.4vw,27px);
line-height: 1.18;
letter-spacing: -.026em;
font-weight: 700;
text-wrap: balance;
display: inline-flex;
align-items: baseline;
gap: 10px;
}
.vt-10__anchor {
font-family: ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
font-size: .6em;
font-weight: 600;
color: var(--vt-10-dim);
text-decoration: none;
opacity: .5;
transition: opacity .16s ease,color .16s ease;
}
.vt-10__h:hover .vt-10__anchor {
opacity: 1;
color: var(--vt-10-acc);
}
.vt-10__p {
max-width: 60ch;
font-size: 14.6px;
line-height: 1.66;
color: var(--vt-10-mut);
text-wrap: pretty;
}
.vt-10__call {
max-width: 60ch;
padding: 12px 15px;
border-radius: 10px;
background: color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 8%,transparent);
border: 1px solid color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 22%,transparent);
border-inline-start: 2px solid var(--vt-10-acc);
font-size: 13.4px;
line-height: 1.55;
color: color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 55%,var(--vt-10-ink));
}
.vt-10 code {
font-family: ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
font-size: .86em;
background: oklch(1 0 0/.08);
padding: 2px 6px;
border-radius: 4px;
overflow-wrap: anywhere;
}
.vt-10__toc {
position: sticky;
inset-block-start: 0;
align-self: start;
display: grid;
gap: 10px;
padding-inline-start: 16px;
border-inline-start: 1px solid var(--vt-10-line);
}
.vt-10__toc-h {
font-family: ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
font-size: 10px;
letter-spacing: .16em;
text-transform: uppercase;
color: var(--vt-10-dim);
}
.vt-10__toc ul {
list-style: none;
display: grid;
gap: 6px;
}
.vt-10__toc li {
position: relative;
font-size: 12.6px;
line-height: 1.5;
color: var(--vt-10-mut);
padding-inline-start: 12px;
}
.vt-10__toc li::before {
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset-inline-start: 0;
inset-block-start: .55em;
inline-size: 6px;
block-size: 1px;
background: var(--vt-10-tree);
}
.vt-10__toc-active {
color: var(--vt-10-acc) !important;
font-weight: 600;
}
.vt-10__toc-active::before {
background: var(--vt-10-acc) !important;
inline-size: 8px !important;
}
@media (max-width: 760px) {
.vt-10__panel {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
.vt-10__toc {
display: none;
}
}
@media (max-width: 680px) {
.vt-10__card {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
.vt-10__rail {
border-right: 0;
border-bottom: 1px solid var(--vt-10-line);
max-height: 220px;
}
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.vt-10 * {
transition-duration: .01ms !important;
}
}Here's a working CSS Vertical Tab from CodeFronts. Use it as-is or adapt to your framework. All classes are scoped under a unique prefix so the code won't collide with your existing styles. MIT licensed.
Demo: Docs Sidebar Vertical Tabs (Category Groups)
Source: https://codefronts.com/navigation/css-vertical-tabs/docs-sidebar-vertical-tabs-category-groups/
A documentation sidebar that scales past four items: labelled category groups, a sticky header per group, a scroll-contained rail, and typographic hierarchy tight enough that thirty links still scan in one glance. The panel renders real docs content — prose measure, inline code, a callout — because a nav is only as good as what it frames.
## HTML
```html
<section class="vt-10" aria-label="Docs sidebar vertical tabs demo">
<div class="vt-10__stage">
<div class="vt-10__card" role="radiogroup" aria-label="Documentation pages">
<nav class="vt-10__rail">
<p class="vt-10__brand"><span class="vt-10__dot" aria-hidden="true"></span>Docs <span class="vt-10__ver">v4.2</span></p>
<p class="vt-10__group">Getting started</p>
<div class="vt-10__tree">
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t1" checked>
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t1">Introduction</label>
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t2">
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t2">Installation</label>
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t3">
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t3">Project structure</label>
</div>
<p class="vt-10__group">Core concepts</p>
<div class="vt-10__tree">
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t4">
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t4">Routing</label>
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t5">
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t5">Data fetching</label>
</div>
<p class="vt-10__group">Reference</p>
<div class="vt-10__tree">
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t6">
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t6">CLI commands</label>
</div>
</nav>
<div class="vt-10__panels">
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p1">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Getting started <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> Introduction</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Hierarchy without indentation<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p">Three levers carry the structure: a 10px mono heading, a 14px link, and a hairline between groups. Indentation would spend horizontal space the link text needs.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">Sticky group headings need an opaque background, or link text scrolls straight through them.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">Hierarchy</li><li>Group headings</li><li>Link scale</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p2">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Getting started <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> Installation</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Contain the scroll<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p"><code>overscroll-behavior:contain</code> stops the page lurching when the rail hits its end — the most common complaint about docs sidebars.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">Pair it with <code>scroll-padding-block</code> so focused links never hide under the sticky heading.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">Scroll behavior</li><li>Scroll padding</li><li>Sticky headers</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p3">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Getting started <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> Project structure</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Inset bar, not border<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p">The active rail is a positioned pseudo-element. A real border would add 2px of layout width and shift every label sideways on selection.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">Same trick works for hover states without any reflow at all.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">Active indicator</li><li>Reflow-free hover</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p4">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Core concepts <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> Routing</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Swap radios for links<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p">Every active style also matches <code>[aria-current="page"]</code>, so moving from this demo to a real routed docs site is a markup change only.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">Use <code>aria-current</code>, not <code>aria-selected</code> — the latter belongs to tablists.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">aria-current</li><li>Radios vs links</li><li>Semantics</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p5">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Core concepts <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> Data fetching</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Prose that stays readable<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p">The panel caps its measure at 62 characters and uses <code>text-wrap:pretty</code>, so long paragraphs never end on an orphaned word.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">65ch is the classic upper bound for comfortable reading.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">Measure</li><li>text-wrap</li><li>Widow control</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p6">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Reference <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> CLI commands</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Thirty links still scan<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p">Groups cap at five or six items. Past that, split the category — a rail is a map, and a map with no landmarks is a list.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">Collapsible groups: wrap each in <code><details open></code>, still zero JavaScript.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">Group size</li><li>Category split</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</section>
```
## CSS
```css
.vt-10 {
width: 100%;
min-height: 100vh;
min-height: 100svh;
display: block;
background: var(--vt-10-bg);
--vt-10-bg: oklch(0.16 0.014 258);
--vt-10-card: oklch(0.205 0.016 258);
--vt-10-rail: oklch(0.185 0.014 258);
--vt-10-ink: oklch(0.97 0.006 258);
--vt-10-mut: oklch(0.64 0.014 258);
--vt-10-dim: oklch(0.52 0.014 258);
--vt-10-acc: oklch(0.82 0.16 152);
--vt-10-line: oklch(1 0 0/.08);
--vt-10-tree: oklch(1 0 0/.11);
font-family: 'Inter',ui-sans-serif,system-ui,-apple-system,sans-serif;
color: var(--vt-10-ink);
}
.vt-10 *,
.vt-10 *::before,
.vt-10 *::after {
box-sizing: border-box;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}
.vt-10__stage {
min-height: 100svh;
display: grid;
place-content: center;
justify-items: center;
padding: clamp(16px,4vw,56px);
background: radial-gradient(60% 45% at 15% 0%,oklch(0.28 0.06 165/.42),transparent),radial-gradient(50% 40% at 85% 100%,oklch(0.24 0.05 258/.4),transparent);
}
.vt-10__card {
width: min(96vw,960px);
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: minmax(190px,246px) minmax(0,1fr);
background: var(--vt-10-card);
border: 1px solid var(--vt-10-line);
border-radius: 16px;
box-shadow: 0 32px 82px -40px oklch(0 0 0/.85);
overflow: hidden;
}
.vt-10__rail {
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
padding: 0 12px 18px;
background: var(--vt-10-rail);
border-right: 1px solid var(--vt-10-line);
max-height: 66svh;
overflow: auto;
overscroll-behavior: contain;
scrollbar-width: thin;
scrollbar-color: oklch(1 0 0/.14) transparent;
scroll-padding-block: 44px;
}
.vt-10__brand {
position: sticky;
inset-block-start: 0;
z-index: 2;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
gap: 9px;
margin-inline: -12px;
padding: 16px 18px 14px;
background: var(--vt-10-rail);
font-size: 13.5px;
font-weight: 700;
letter-spacing: -.015em;
border-bottom: 1px solid var(--vt-10-line);
}
.vt-10__dot {
inline-size: 8px;
block-size: 8px;
border-radius: 50%;
background: var(--vt-10-acc);
box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 22%,transparent);
}
.vt-10__ver {
margin-inline-start: auto;
font-family: ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
font-size: 10.5px;
font-weight: 600;
color: var(--vt-10-acc);
padding: 2px 7px;
border-radius: 5px;
background: color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 12%,transparent);
border: 1px solid color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 26%,transparent);
}
.vt-10__group {
padding: 16px 6px 6px;
font-family: ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
font-size: 10px;
letter-spacing: .16em;
text-transform: uppercase;
color: var(--vt-10-dim);
}
.vt-10__tree {
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
position: relative;
padding-inline-start: 14px;
}
.vt-10__tree::before {
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset-block: 4px;
inset-inline-start: 4px;
inline-size: 1px;
background: var(--vt-10-tree);
}
.vt-10__radio {
position: absolute;
width: 1px;
height: 1px;
opacity: 0;
pointer-events: none;
}
.vt-10__link {
position: relative;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
min-height: 32px;
padding: 0 10px;
font-size: 13.6px;
font-weight: 500;
color: var(--vt-10-mut);
cursor: pointer;
border-radius: 6px;
transition: color .16s ease,background .16s ease;
}
.vt-10__link::before {
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset-inline-start: -14px;
inset-block: 5px;
inline-size: 2px;
border-radius: 2px;
background: transparent;
transition: background .16s ease;
}
.vt-10__link:hover {
color: var(--vt-10-ink);
background: oklch(1 0 0/.03);
}
.vt-10__radio:checked+.vt-10__link,
.vt-10__link[aria-current="page"] {
color: var(--vt-10-acc);
background: transparent;
font-weight: 600;
}
.vt-10__radio:checked+.vt-10__link::before,
.vt-10__link[aria-current="page"]::before {
background: var(--vt-10-acc);
}
.vt-10__radio:focus-visible+.vt-10__link {
outline: 2px solid var(--vt-10-acc);
outline-offset: 1px;
}
.vt-10__panels {
display: grid;
min-height: clamp(300px,38vw,352px);
padding: clamp(26px,3.6vw,40px) clamp(24px,3.4vw,36px);
}
.vt-10__panel {
grid-area: 1/1;
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: minmax(0,1fr) 160px;
gap: clamp(20px,3vw,36px);
align-content: start;
opacity: 0;
visibility: hidden;
transform: translateY(6px);
transition: opacity .26s ease,transform .32s cubic-bezier(.32,.72,.3,1),visibility 0s .32s;
}
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t1:checked) #vt-10-p1,
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t2:checked) #vt-10-p2,
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t3:checked) #vt-10-p3,
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t4:checked) #vt-10-p4,
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t5:checked) #vt-10-p5,
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t6:checked) #vt-10-p6 {
opacity: 1;
visibility: visible;
transform: none;
transition-delay: 0s;
}
.vt-10__body {
display: grid;
gap: 14px;
align-content: start;
min-inline-size: 0;
}
.vt-10__crumb {
display: flex;
align-items: center;
gap: 6px;
font-family: ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
font-size: 11px;
letter-spacing: .06em;
text-transform: none;
color: var(--vt-10-dim);
}
.vt-10__crumb span {
color: oklch(1 0 0/.24);
}
.vt-10__h {
position: relative;
font-size: clamp(20px,2.4vw,27px);
line-height: 1.18;
letter-spacing: -.026em;
font-weight: 700;
text-wrap: balance;
display: inline-flex;
align-items: baseline;
gap: 10px;
}
.vt-10__anchor {
font-family: ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
font-size: .6em;
font-weight: 600;
color: var(--vt-10-dim);
text-decoration: none;
opacity: .5;
transition: opacity .16s ease,color .16s ease;
}
.vt-10__h:hover .vt-10__anchor {
opacity: 1;
color: var(--vt-10-acc);
}
.vt-10__p {
max-width: 60ch;
font-size: 14.6px;
line-height: 1.66;
color: var(--vt-10-mut);
text-wrap: pretty;
}
.vt-10__call {
max-width: 60ch;
padding: 12px 15px;
border-radius: 10px;
background: color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 8%,transparent);
border: 1px solid color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 22%,transparent);
border-inline-start: 2px solid var(--vt-10-acc);
font-size: 13.4px;
line-height: 1.55;
color: color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 55%,var(--vt-10-ink));
}
.vt-10 code {
font-family: ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
font-size: .86em;
background: oklch(1 0 0/.08);
padding: 2px 6px;
border-radius: 4px;
overflow-wrap: anywhere;
}
.vt-10__toc {
position: sticky;
inset-block-start: 0;
align-self: start;
display: grid;
gap: 10px;
padding-inline-start: 16px;
border-inline-start: 1px solid var(--vt-10-line);
}
.vt-10__toc-h {
font-family: ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
font-size: 10px;
letter-spacing: .16em;
text-transform: uppercase;
color: var(--vt-10-dim);
}
.vt-10__toc ul {
list-style: none;
display: grid;
gap: 6px;
}
.vt-10__toc li {
position: relative;
font-size: 12.6px;
line-height: 1.5;
color: var(--vt-10-mut);
padding-inline-start: 12px;
}
.vt-10__toc li::before {
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset-inline-start: 0;
inset-block-start: .55em;
inline-size: 6px;
block-size: 1px;
background: var(--vt-10-tree);
}
.vt-10__toc-active {
color: var(--vt-10-acc) !important;
font-weight: 600;
}
.vt-10__toc-active::before {
background: var(--vt-10-acc) !important;
inline-size: 8px !important;
}
@media (max-width: 760px) {
.vt-10__panel {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
.vt-10__toc {
display: none;
}
}
@media (max-width: 680px) {
.vt-10__card {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
.vt-10__rail {
border-right: 0;
border-bottom: 1px solid var(--vt-10-line);
max-height: 220px;
}
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.vt-10 * {
transition-duration: .01ms !important;
}
}
```Paste this into ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, or any coding assistant. The block below is pre-framed with everything the AI needs to integrate this demo into your project — markup, styles, scoping notes, and the source URL. Hit Copy and paste straight into your chat.
Here's a working CSS Vertical Tab from CodeFronts. Use it as-is or adapt to your framework. All classes are scoped under a unique prefix so the code won't collide with your existing styles. MIT licensed.
Demo: Docs Sidebar Vertical Tabs (Category Groups)
Source: https://codefronts.com/navigation/css-vertical-tabs/docs-sidebar-vertical-tabs-category-groups/
A documentation sidebar that scales past four items: labelled category groups, a sticky header per group, a scroll-contained rail, and typographic hierarchy tight enough that thirty links still scan in one glance. The panel renders real docs content — prose measure, inline code, a callout — because a nav is only as good as what it frames.
## HTML
```html
<section class="vt-10" aria-label="Docs sidebar vertical tabs demo">
<div class="vt-10__stage">
<div class="vt-10__card" role="radiogroup" aria-label="Documentation pages">
<nav class="vt-10__rail">
<p class="vt-10__brand"><span class="vt-10__dot" aria-hidden="true"></span>Docs <span class="vt-10__ver">v4.2</span></p>
<p class="vt-10__group">Getting started</p>
<div class="vt-10__tree">
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t1" checked>
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t1">Introduction</label>
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t2">
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t2">Installation</label>
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t3">
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t3">Project structure</label>
</div>
<p class="vt-10__group">Core concepts</p>
<div class="vt-10__tree">
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t4">
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t4">Routing</label>
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t5">
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t5">Data fetching</label>
</div>
<p class="vt-10__group">Reference</p>
<div class="vt-10__tree">
<input class="vt-10__radio" type="radio" name="vt-10" id="vt-10-t6">
<label class="vt-10__link" for="vt-10-t6">CLI commands</label>
</div>
</nav>
<div class="vt-10__panels">
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p1">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Getting started <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> Introduction</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Hierarchy without indentation<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p">Three levers carry the structure: a 10px mono heading, a 14px link, and a hairline between groups. Indentation would spend horizontal space the link text needs.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">Sticky group headings need an opaque background, or link text scrolls straight through them.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">Hierarchy</li><li>Group headings</li><li>Link scale</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p2">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Getting started <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> Installation</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Contain the scroll<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p"><code>overscroll-behavior:contain</code> stops the page lurching when the rail hits its end — the most common complaint about docs sidebars.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">Pair it with <code>scroll-padding-block</code> so focused links never hide under the sticky heading.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">Scroll behavior</li><li>Scroll padding</li><li>Sticky headers</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p3">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Getting started <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> Project structure</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Inset bar, not border<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p">The active rail is a positioned pseudo-element. A real border would add 2px of layout width and shift every label sideways on selection.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">Same trick works for hover states without any reflow at all.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">Active indicator</li><li>Reflow-free hover</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p4">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Core concepts <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> Routing</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Swap radios for links<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p">Every active style also matches <code>[aria-current="page"]</code>, so moving from this demo to a real routed docs site is a markup change only.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">Use <code>aria-current</code>, not <code>aria-selected</code> — the latter belongs to tablists.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">aria-current</li><li>Radios vs links</li><li>Semantics</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p5">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Core concepts <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> Data fetching</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Prose that stays readable<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p">The panel caps its measure at 62 characters and uses <code>text-wrap:pretty</code>, so long paragraphs never end on an orphaned word.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">65ch is the classic upper bound for comfortable reading.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">Measure</li><li>text-wrap</li><li>Widow control</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
<article class="vt-10__panel" id="vt-10-p6">
<div class="vt-10__body">
<p class="vt-10__crumb">Reference <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> CLI commands</p>
<h3 class="vt-10__h">Thirty links still scan<a class="vt-10__anchor" aria-label="Anchor link" href="#">#</a></h3>
<p class="vt-10__p">Groups cap at five or six items. Past that, split the category — a rail is a map, and a map with no landmarks is a list.</p>
<div class="vt-10__call">Collapsible groups: wrap each in <code><details open></code>, still zero JavaScript.</div>
</div>
<aside class="vt-10__toc" aria-label="On this page">
<p class="vt-10__toc-h">On this page</p>
<ul><li class="vt-10__toc-active">Group size</li><li>Category split</li></ul>
</aside>
</article>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</section>
```
## CSS
```css
.vt-10 {
width: 100%;
min-height: 100vh;
min-height: 100svh;
display: block;
background: var(--vt-10-bg);
--vt-10-bg: oklch(0.16 0.014 258);
--vt-10-card: oklch(0.205 0.016 258);
--vt-10-rail: oklch(0.185 0.014 258);
--vt-10-ink: oklch(0.97 0.006 258);
--vt-10-mut: oklch(0.64 0.014 258);
--vt-10-dim: oklch(0.52 0.014 258);
--vt-10-acc: oklch(0.82 0.16 152);
--vt-10-line: oklch(1 0 0/.08);
--vt-10-tree: oklch(1 0 0/.11);
font-family: 'Inter',ui-sans-serif,system-ui,-apple-system,sans-serif;
color: var(--vt-10-ink);
}
.vt-10 *,
.vt-10 *::before,
.vt-10 *::after {
box-sizing: border-box;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}
.vt-10__stage {
min-height: 100svh;
display: grid;
place-content: center;
justify-items: center;
padding: clamp(16px,4vw,56px);
background: radial-gradient(60% 45% at 15% 0%,oklch(0.28 0.06 165/.42),transparent),radial-gradient(50% 40% at 85% 100%,oklch(0.24 0.05 258/.4),transparent);
}
.vt-10__card {
width: min(96vw,960px);
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: minmax(190px,246px) minmax(0,1fr);
background: var(--vt-10-card);
border: 1px solid var(--vt-10-line);
border-radius: 16px;
box-shadow: 0 32px 82px -40px oklch(0 0 0/.85);
overflow: hidden;
}
.vt-10__rail {
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
padding: 0 12px 18px;
background: var(--vt-10-rail);
border-right: 1px solid var(--vt-10-line);
max-height: 66svh;
overflow: auto;
overscroll-behavior: contain;
scrollbar-width: thin;
scrollbar-color: oklch(1 0 0/.14) transparent;
scroll-padding-block: 44px;
}
.vt-10__brand {
position: sticky;
inset-block-start: 0;
z-index: 2;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
gap: 9px;
margin-inline: -12px;
padding: 16px 18px 14px;
background: var(--vt-10-rail);
font-size: 13.5px;
font-weight: 700;
letter-spacing: -.015em;
border-bottom: 1px solid var(--vt-10-line);
}
.vt-10__dot {
inline-size: 8px;
block-size: 8px;
border-radius: 50%;
background: var(--vt-10-acc);
box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 22%,transparent);
}
.vt-10__ver {
margin-inline-start: auto;
font-family: ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
font-size: 10.5px;
font-weight: 600;
color: var(--vt-10-acc);
padding: 2px 7px;
border-radius: 5px;
background: color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 12%,transparent);
border: 1px solid color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 26%,transparent);
}
.vt-10__group {
padding: 16px 6px 6px;
font-family: ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
font-size: 10px;
letter-spacing: .16em;
text-transform: uppercase;
color: var(--vt-10-dim);
}
.vt-10__tree {
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
position: relative;
padding-inline-start: 14px;
}
.vt-10__tree::before {
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset-block: 4px;
inset-inline-start: 4px;
inline-size: 1px;
background: var(--vt-10-tree);
}
.vt-10__radio {
position: absolute;
width: 1px;
height: 1px;
opacity: 0;
pointer-events: none;
}
.vt-10__link {
position: relative;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
min-height: 32px;
padding: 0 10px;
font-size: 13.6px;
font-weight: 500;
color: var(--vt-10-mut);
cursor: pointer;
border-radius: 6px;
transition: color .16s ease,background .16s ease;
}
.vt-10__link::before {
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset-inline-start: -14px;
inset-block: 5px;
inline-size: 2px;
border-radius: 2px;
background: transparent;
transition: background .16s ease;
}
.vt-10__link:hover {
color: var(--vt-10-ink);
background: oklch(1 0 0/.03);
}
.vt-10__radio:checked+.vt-10__link,
.vt-10__link[aria-current="page"] {
color: var(--vt-10-acc);
background: transparent;
font-weight: 600;
}
.vt-10__radio:checked+.vt-10__link::before,
.vt-10__link[aria-current="page"]::before {
background: var(--vt-10-acc);
}
.vt-10__radio:focus-visible+.vt-10__link {
outline: 2px solid var(--vt-10-acc);
outline-offset: 1px;
}
.vt-10__panels {
display: grid;
min-height: clamp(300px,38vw,352px);
padding: clamp(26px,3.6vw,40px) clamp(24px,3.4vw,36px);
}
.vt-10__panel {
grid-area: 1/1;
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: minmax(0,1fr) 160px;
gap: clamp(20px,3vw,36px);
align-content: start;
opacity: 0;
visibility: hidden;
transform: translateY(6px);
transition: opacity .26s ease,transform .32s cubic-bezier(.32,.72,.3,1),visibility 0s .32s;
}
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t1:checked) #vt-10-p1,
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t2:checked) #vt-10-p2,
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t3:checked) #vt-10-p3,
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t4:checked) #vt-10-p4,
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t5:checked) #vt-10-p5,
.vt-10__card:has(#vt-10-t6:checked) #vt-10-p6 {
opacity: 1;
visibility: visible;
transform: none;
transition-delay: 0s;
}
.vt-10__body {
display: grid;
gap: 14px;
align-content: start;
min-inline-size: 0;
}
.vt-10__crumb {
display: flex;
align-items: center;
gap: 6px;
font-family: ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
font-size: 11px;
letter-spacing: .06em;
text-transform: none;
color: var(--vt-10-dim);
}
.vt-10__crumb span {
color: oklch(1 0 0/.24);
}
.vt-10__h {
position: relative;
font-size: clamp(20px,2.4vw,27px);
line-height: 1.18;
letter-spacing: -.026em;
font-weight: 700;
text-wrap: balance;
display: inline-flex;
align-items: baseline;
gap: 10px;
}
.vt-10__anchor {
font-family: ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
font-size: .6em;
font-weight: 600;
color: var(--vt-10-dim);
text-decoration: none;
opacity: .5;
transition: opacity .16s ease,color .16s ease;
}
.vt-10__h:hover .vt-10__anchor {
opacity: 1;
color: var(--vt-10-acc);
}
.vt-10__p {
max-width: 60ch;
font-size: 14.6px;
line-height: 1.66;
color: var(--vt-10-mut);
text-wrap: pretty;
}
.vt-10__call {
max-width: 60ch;
padding: 12px 15px;
border-radius: 10px;
background: color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 8%,transparent);
border: 1px solid color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 22%,transparent);
border-inline-start: 2px solid var(--vt-10-acc);
font-size: 13.4px;
line-height: 1.55;
color: color-mix(in oklch,var(--vt-10-acc) 55%,var(--vt-10-ink));
}
.vt-10 code {
font-family: ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
font-size: .86em;
background: oklch(1 0 0/.08);
padding: 2px 6px;
border-radius: 4px;
overflow-wrap: anywhere;
}
.vt-10__toc {
position: sticky;
inset-block-start: 0;
align-self: start;
display: grid;
gap: 10px;
padding-inline-start: 16px;
border-inline-start: 1px solid var(--vt-10-line);
}
.vt-10__toc-h {
font-family: ui-monospace,Menlo,Consolas,monospace;
font-size: 10px;
letter-spacing: .16em;
text-transform: uppercase;
color: var(--vt-10-dim);
}
.vt-10__toc ul {
list-style: none;
display: grid;
gap: 6px;
}
.vt-10__toc li {
position: relative;
font-size: 12.6px;
line-height: 1.5;
color: var(--vt-10-mut);
padding-inline-start: 12px;
}
.vt-10__toc li::before {
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset-inline-start: 0;
inset-block-start: .55em;
inline-size: 6px;
block-size: 1px;
background: var(--vt-10-tree);
}
.vt-10__toc-active {
color: var(--vt-10-acc) !important;
font-weight: 600;
}
.vt-10__toc-active::before {
background: var(--vt-10-acc) !important;
inline-size: 8px !important;
}
@media (max-width: 760px) {
.vt-10__panel {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
.vt-10__toc {
display: none;
}
}
@media (max-width: 680px) {
.vt-10__card {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
.vt-10__rail {
border-right: 0;
border-bottom: 1px solid var(--vt-10-line);
max-height: 220px;
}
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.vt-10 * {
transition-duration: .01ms !important;
}
}
```How this works
Grouped navigation is a list-of-lists problem, and the mistake is reaching for nested <ul> plus indentation. Flat groups with sticky headings read better and behave better when the rail scrolls:
.rail{ overflow:auto; overscroll-behavior:contain;
scrollbar-width:thin; scroll-padding-block:36px }
.group-title{ position:sticky; inset-block-start:0; z-index:1;
background:var(--rail); backdrop-filter:blur(6px) }overscroll-behavior:contain stops the page from scrolling once the rail hits its end — "scroll chaining" is the single most irritating bug in docs sidebars. scroll-padding-block reserves room so a keyboard-focused link never lands underneath the sticky heading it belongs to.
Hierarchy comes from three levers, none of them indentation: a 10px uppercase mono heading, a 14px medium link, and a 1px hairline that only appears between groups. Indentation eats horizontal space that link text needs, and at four levels deep it stops communicating anything.
The active link gets a 2px leading rail (box-shadow:inset 2px 0, which unlike a border adds no layout width) and a tinted background. In a real docs site you would set aria-current="page" on it — the CSS here already targets that attribute alongside :checked, so swapping the radios for real links is a markup-only change.
Make it yours
- Collapsible groups: wrap each group in
<details open>and the sticky heading becomes a<summary>— still zero JS. - Search box: pin an input above the rail with
position:sticky;inset-block-start:0;z-index:2and give the group headingsinset-block-start:46px. - Version switcher: same pattern as the brand block at the top; keep it outside the scroll container so it stays visible.
- Real routing: replace each input/label pair with
<a href>and mark the current one witharia-current="page"— the active styles already match that selector.
Gotchas — read before shipping
position:stickyinside a scroll container sticks to that container, not the viewport — which is what you want here, but it silently does nothing if any ancestor hasoverflow:hidden.- Without
overscroll-behavior:contain, reaching the end of the rail scrolls the whole page. Users read that as the sidebar being broken. - Don't indent by group depth. Past two levels the links have no room left and the hierarchy is carried by the headings anyway.
- A sticky heading needs an opaque or blurred background — a transparent one lets link text scroll through it and the whole rail turns to mush.
aria-current="page"is the correct signal for the active doc, notaria-selected— that one belongs to tabs, and screen readers announce them very differently.
Browser support
| Chrome | Safari | Firefox | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 114+ | 17.5+ | 121+ | 114+ |
Floor set by :has(), oklch(), color-mix(), text-wrap as this demo is written. The core technique itself goes back further — Chrome 111+.
Sticky positioning, overscroll-behavior and scroll-padding are supported in every current engine (overscroll-behavior landed in Safari 16). backdrop-filter on the sticky heading is progressive — it falls back to the solid background beneath it.