Expand & Collapse Widgets
Explore three different approaches to reveal and conceal supplemental content, each sharing a unified “details” container class while employing unique interaction patterns.
Native <details> Element
The semantic <details> element shows how browsers natively handle disclosure widgets, complete with built-in keyboard support and toggling.
Discover how the native widget behaves
The native disclosure widget pairs a summary with additional content, letting browsers deliver accessibility, animation, and state synchronization out of the box.
- Works without any JavaScript.
- Automatically tracks open/closed state for assistive technology.
- Allows nested interactive elements inside the revealed region.
Use this option when you want a lightweight, standards-based solution that gracefully degrades across environments.
Button-Powered Collapse
Custom toggles can target a dedicated content container, offering full control over animation, state, and presentation details.
Why choose a scripted collapse?
Programmatic control lets you synchronize multiple widgets, inject analytics, or coordinate animations with other interface elements. This panel demonstrates how a button can toggle any arbitrary container.
The approach typically involves:
- Storing a reference to the target container via
data-target. - Toggling the
hiddenattribute to reveal or conceal the block. - Updating the button’s
aria-expandedstate and label to keep screen readers in sync.
Because the controlled area is just a <div class="details">, you can house complex layouts, media, or forms without interfering with the toggle logic.
Accordion with Coordinated Panels
Accordions restrict visibility to a single expanded panel at a time, helping users focus on one topic while maintaining a tidy layout.
User interviews uncovered recurring friction points around navigation clarity and perceived latency. Addressing these areas produced measurable improvements in perceived usability scores.
- Navigation clarity: +24% task completion rate.
- Perceived performance: -0.8s average wait time.
- Retention: +18% return visits within seven days.
A simplified card layout paired with progressive disclosure keeps primary actions obvious while letting power users access deeper configuration options when needed.
Key improvements include:
- Clear hierarchy anchored by a single primary action per section.
- Contextual help embedded within each card, minimizing cognitive load.
- Animated transitions tuned to 160ms for a snappy, responsive feel.
Following launch, the team tracked improvements through analytics, surveys, and session replays to ensure the experience met its targets:
- Task success: 91% (up from 67%).
- Support tickets: reduced by 38% week-over-week.
- Net Promoter Score: climbed 12 points within the first release cycle.
These metrics confirmed that the accordion helped communicate dense content without overwhelming users.