Lists can be used for various purposes, including displaying items, navigational menus, or highlighting features. The List component provides a flexible container for organizing related items in a vertical layout. It can be customized to display items with icons, buttons, avatars, and other interactive elements. This component is essential for organizing content in a structured, accessible format.

Usage Scenarios
  • Data Display : Present structured data like files, tasks, or messages using Lists.
  • Navigational Menus : Combine List Items with Buttons or Links for intuitive menus.
  • Interactive Content : Add action buttons to List Items for task management or settings.

Design Guidelines

Consistency

  • Maintain a uniform structure across all List Items.
  • Use consistent padding and alignment for easy readability.

Interactive Elements

  • Use ListItemButton for click actions.
  • Ensure hover states and focus indicators are visually prominent.

Accessibility

  • Provide descriptive labels for screen readers.
  • Ensure all items are navigable via keyboard.

General Guidelines

1. Purpose & Context

  • Clearly define the purpose of the List (e.g., data grouping, navigation, task management).
  • Use Lists where a vertical layout enhances user understanding or accessibility.

2. Spacing & Alignment

  • Maintain consistent vertical spacing between items.
  • Align text, icons, and avatars for a clean, organized appearance.
  • Consistent spacing and alignment ensure list items are visually pleasing and easy to scan. Items should be aligned to the left, with adequate padding between elements.

3. Interactive Design

  • For interactive Lists, use actionable items like ListItemButton and ensure buttons or links have proper visual cues (hover/focus states).
  • Add affordances like icons or colors to signify item state (e.g., completed, active, or disabled).

4. Accessibility

  • Label all List Items using aria-label or aria-labelledby attributes for screen readers.
  • Ensure all interactive elements within a List are keyboard-navigable and have clear focus indicators.

Component-Specific Guidance

1. List

  • Use the List component as a wrapper for items, ensuring adequate padding and structure.
  • Keep Lists concise; avoid excessive scrolling by grouping items with ListSubheader.

2. List Item

  • Limit content to 1-2 lines of text for readability.
  • Use secondary text sparingly to avoid visual clutter.

3. List Item Button

  • Ensure actionable buttons have a clear purpose, communicated via labels or icons.
  • Avoid excessive buttons in a single List to prevent overwhelming users.

4. List Item Icon

  • Icons should be meaningful and contextually relevant (e.g., CheckIcon for completed tasks, NotificationsIcon for notifications).
  • Align and size icons appropriately relative to the text.

5. List Item Avatar

  • Use avatars to represent users or entities visually.
  • Provide accessible alternatives (e.g., initials or placeholders) when images are unavailable.

6. List Item Text

  • Maintain a clear hierarchy between primaryText (main content) and secondaryText (supporting details).
  • Ensure text is legible and does not dominate the layout.

7. List Subheader

  • Subheaders should describe the group of items succinctly.
  • Avoid excessive nesting of subheaders to prevent user confusion.