Slide into Style: 10 Must-Have React Sidebar NPM Packages

Sidebars are essential for enhancing navigation and user experience in web applications. In React, there are numerous libraries available that offer robust and customizable sidebar solutions. Here’s a curated list of the 10 best React sidebar NPM packages, along with usage examples.

1. react-mui-sidebar

• NPM: react-mui-sidebar
• Description: Built with Material-UI, react-mui-sidebar provides a sleek and modern sidebar component that integrates seamlessly with other Material-UI components.
• Screenshot:

• Usage:

npm install react-mui-sidebar

import React from "react";

import { Sidebar, Menu, MenuItem, Submenu, Logo } from "react-mui-sidebar";

const App = () => {
  return (
    <Sidebar width={"270px"}>
      <Logo img="https://adminmart.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/logo-admin-mart-news.png">
        AdminMart
      </Logo>
      <Menu subHeading="HOME">
        <MenuItem link="/" badge="true">
          Modern
        </MenuItem>
        <MenuItem>eCommerce</MenuItem>
        <MenuItem>Analytical</MenuItem>
      </Menu>
      <Menu subHeading="APPS">
        <MenuItem>Chat</MenuItem>
        <MenuItem>Calendar</MenuItem>
      </Menu>
      <Menu subHeading="OTHERS">
        <Submenu title="Menu Level">
          <MenuItem>Post</MenuItem>
          <MenuItem>Details</MenuItem>
          <Submenu title="Level 2">
            <MenuItem>new</MenuItem>
            <MenuItem>Hello</MenuItem>
          </Submenu>
        </Submenu>

        <MenuItem>Chip</MenuItem>
        <MenuItem target="_blank" link="google.com">
          External Link
        </MenuItem>
      </Menu>
    </Sidebar>
  );
};

export default App;

2. react-sidebar

• NPM: react-sidebar
• Description: This package allows you to create a responsive sidebar that can slide in and out from the left or right.
• Usage:

npm install react-sidebar

import React, { useState } from 'react';
import Sidebar from 'react-sidebar';

const App = () => {
  const [sidebarOpen, setSidebarOpen] = useState(false);

  return (
    <Sidebar
      sidebar={<b>Sidebar content</b>}
      open={sidebarOpen}
      onSetOpen={setSidebarOpen}
    >
      <button onClick={() => setSidebarOpen(true)}>Open Sidebar</button>
    </Sidebar>
  );
};

export default App;

3. react-burger-menu

• NPM: react-burger-menu
• Description: Provides a collection of animated sidebar styles that can be triggered with a hamburger icon.
• Usage:

npm install react-burger-menu

import React from 'react';
import { slide as Menu } from 'react-burger-menu';

const App = () => {
  return (
    <Menu>
      <a className="menu-item" href="/">Home</a>
      <a className="menu-item" href="/about">About</a>
      <a className="menu-item" href="/contact">Contact</a>
    </Menu>
  );
};

export default App;

4. react-sidenav

• NPM: react-sidenav
• Description: A lightweight sidebar component that comes with a collapsible feature.
• Usage:

npm install react-sidenav

import React from 'react';
import { SideNav, Nav, NavItem } from 'react-sidenav';

const App = () => {
  return (
    <SideNav>
      <Nav>
        <NavItem>Home</NavItem>
        <NavItem>About</NavItem>
        <NavItem>Contact</NavItem>
      </Nav>
    </SideNav>
  );
};

export default App;

5. react-sidebar-component

• NPM: react-sidebar-component
• Description: Provides a customizable sidebar that supports both fixed and sliding options.
• Usage:

npm install react-sidebar-component

import React from 'react';
import Sidebar from 'react-sidebar-component';

const App = () => {
  return (
    <Sidebar>
      <ul>
        <li>Home</li>
        <li>About</li>
        <li>Contact</li>
      </ul>
    </Sidebar>
  );
};

export default App;

6. react-drawer

• NPM: react-drawer
• Description: A minimalist sidebar component that supports swipe gestures for mobile devices.
• Usage:

npm install react-drawer

import React from 'react';
import Drawer from 'react-drawer';
import 'react-drawer/lib/react-drawer.css';

const App = () => {
  return (
    <Drawer open={true}>
      <div>Drawer Content</div>
    </Drawer>
  );
};

export default App;

7. react-responsive-sidebar

• NPM: react-responsive-sidebar
• Description: A responsive sidebar that adapts to various screen sizes.
• Usage:

npm install react-responsive-sidebar

import React from 'react';
import ResponsiveSidebar from 'react-responsive-sidebar';

const App = () => {
  return (
    <ResponsiveSidebar>
      <div>Sidebar Content</div>
    </ResponsiveSidebar>
  );
};

export default App;

8. react-navigation-drawer

• NPM: react-navigation-drawer
• Description: A drawer navigation solution part of the React Navigation library, great for React Native apps.
• Usage:

npm install @react-navigation/native @react-navigation/drawer

import React from 'react';
import { NavigationContainer } from '@react-navigation/native';
import { createDrawerNavigator } from '@react-navigation/drawer';

const Drawer = createDrawerNavigator();

const App = () => {
  return (
    <NavigationContainer>
      <Drawer.Navigator>
        <Drawer.Screen name="Home" component={HomeScreen} />
        <Drawer.Screen name="About" component={AboutScreen} />
      </Drawer.Navigator>
    </NavigationContainer>
  );
};

export default App;

9. @mui/material

• NPM: @mui/material
• Description: While not exclusively a sidebar library, Material-UI's robust components include layout tools to create a sidebar.
• Usage:

npm install @mui/material @emotion/react @emotion/styled

import React from 'react';
import { Drawer, List, ListItem } from '@mui/material';

const App = () => {
  return (
    <Drawer variant="permanent">
      <List>
        <ListItem>Home</ListItem>
        <ListItem>About</ListItem>
        <ListItem>Contact</ListItem>
      </List>
    </Drawer>
  );
};

export default App;

10. react-spring

• NPM: react-spring
• Description: This animation library can be utilized to enhance your sidebar's interactivity with smooth transitions.
• Usage:

npm install react-spring

import React from 'react';
import { useSpring, animated } from 'react-spring';

const App = () => {
  const props = useSpring({ opacity: 1, from: { opacity: 0 } });

  return (
    <animated.div style={props}>
      <h1>Sidebar Content</h1>
    </animated.div>
  );
};

export default App;

Conclusion

Choosing the right sidebar package for your React application depends on your design requirements and user experience goals. The packages listed above offer a range of features, styles, and customization options. Whether you prefer a minimalist design or a feature-rich sidebar, there's a solution here for everyone.

Experiment with a few of these options to find the perfect fit for your project and elevate your application's navigation experience!