---
name: Action list
category: Actions
keywords:
  - ActionList
  - dropdown
  - drop down
  - popover
  - pop over
  - menu
  - drop-down
  - select
  - options
---

# Action list

Action lists render a list of actions or selectable options. This component is usually placed inside a [popover container](https://polaris.shopify.com/components/overlays/popover) to create a dropdown menu or to let merchants select from a list of options.

---

## Best practices

Actions lists should:

- Be used for secondary or less important information and actions since they’re hidden until merchants expose them by opening a popover
- Contain actions that are related to each other

---

## Content guidelines

### Action lists

Each item in an action list should be clear and predictable. Merchants should be able to anticipate what will happen when they click on an action item.

<!-- usagelist -->

#### Do

Buy shipping label

#### Don’t

Buy

<!-- end -->

Each item in an action list should always lead with a strong verb that encourages action. To provide enough context use the {verb}+{noun} format unless the action is clear with a single verb.

<!-- usagelist -->

#### Do

- Rename
- Edit HTML

#### Don’t

- File name changes
- HTML editing options

<!-- end -->

Each item in an action list should be scannable avoiding unnecessary words and articles such as the, an, or a.

<!-- usagelist -->

#### Do

- Add menu item

#### Don’t

- Add a menu item

<!-- end -->

---

## Examples

### Action list in a popover

Use for the least important actions so merchants aren’t distracted by secondary tasks. Can also be used for a set of actions that won’t fit in the available screen space.

```jsx
function ActionListInPopoverExample() {
  const [active, setActive] = useState(true);

  const toggleActive = useCallback(() => setActive((active) => !active), []);

  const handleImportedAction = useCallback(
    () => console.log('Imported action'),
    [],
  );

  const handleExportedAction = useCallback(
    () => console.log('Exported action'),
    [],
  );

  const activator = (
    <Button onClick={toggleActive} disclosure>
      More actions
    </Button>
  );

  return (
    <div style={{height: '250px'}}>
      <Popover active={active} activator={activator} onClose={toggleActive}>
        <ActionList
          items={[
            {
              content: 'Import file',
              onAction: handleImportedAction,
            },
            {
              content: 'Export file',
              onAction: handleExportedAction,
            },
          ]}
        />
      </Popover>
    </div>
  );
}
```

### Action list with icons or image

Use when the items benefit from an associated action or image, such as a list of products.

```jsx
function ActionListWithMediaExample() {
  const [active, setActive] = useState(true);

  const toggleActive = useCallback(() => setActive((active) => !active), []);

  const activator = (
    <Button onClick={toggleActive} disclosure>
      More actions
    </Button>
  );

  return (
    <div style={{height: '200px'}}>
      <Popover active={active} activator={activator} onClose={toggleActive}>
        <ActionList
          items={[
            {content: 'Import file', icon: ImportMinor},
            {content: 'Export file', icon: ExportMinor},
          ]}
        />
      </Popover>
    </div>
  );
}
```

### Sectioned action list

Use when the items benefit from sections to help differentiate actions.

```jsx
function SectionedActionListExample() {
  const [active, setActive] = useState(true);

  const toggleActive = useCallback(() => setActive((active) => !active), []);

  const activator = (
    <Button onClick={toggleActive} disclosure>
      More actions
    </Button>
  );

  return (
    <div style={{height: '250px'}}>
      <Popover active={active} activator={activator} onClose={toggleActive}>
        <ActionList
          sections={[
            {
              title: 'File options',
              items: [
                {content: 'Import file', icon: ImportMinor},
                {content: 'Export file', icon: ExportMinor},
              ],
            },
          ]}
        />
      </Popover>
    </div>
  );
}
```

### Action list with destructive item

Use to visually indicate that an action list item is destructive.

```jsx
function ActionListWithDestructiveItemExample() {
  const [active, setActive] = useState(true);

  const toggleActive = useCallback(() => setActive((active) => !active), []);

  const activator = (
    <Button onClick={toggleActive} disclosure>
      More actions
    </Button>
  );

  return (
    <div style={{height: '250px'}}>
      <Popover active={active} activator={activator} onClose={toggleActive}>
        <ActionList
          sections={[
            {
              title: 'File options',
              items: [
                {content: 'Import file', icon: ImportMinor},
                {content: 'Export file', icon: ExportMinor},
                {
                  destructive: true,
                  content: 'Delete file',
                  icon: DeleteMinor,
                },
              ],
            },
          ]}
        />
      </Popover>
    </div>
  );
}
```

### Action list with help text

Use help text when the normal Verb noun syntax for the actions does not provide sufficient context for the merchant.

```jsx
function ActionListWithHelpTextExample() {
  const [active, setActive] = useState(true);

  const toggleActive = useCallback(() => setActive((active) => !active), []);

  const activator = (
    <Button onClick={toggleActive} disclosure>
      More actions
    </Button>
  );

  return (
    <div style={{height: '250px'}}>
      <Popover active={active} activator={activator} onClose={toggleActive}>
        <ActionList
          sections={[
            {
              items: [
                {
                  content: 'Blog posts',
                  helpText: 'Manage your blog articles',
                },
                {
                  content: 'Blogs',
                  helpText: 'Manage blogs published to your Online Store',
                },
              ],
            },
          ]}
        />
      </Popover>
    </div>
  );
}
```

---

## Related components

- To combine more than one button in a single layout, [use the button group component](https://polaris.shopify.com/components/actions/button-group)
- To display a list of related content, [use the list component](https://polaris.shopify.com/components/lists-and-tables/list)

---

## Accessibility

<!-- content-for: android -->

See Material Design and development documentation about accessibility for Android:

- [Accessible design on Android](https://material.io/design/usability/accessibility.html)
- [Accessible development on Android](https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/ui/accessibility/)

<!-- /content-for -->

<!-- content-for: ios -->

See Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines and API documentation about accessibility for iOS:

- [Accessible design on iOS](https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/ios/app-architecture/accessibility/)
- [Accessible development on iOS](https://developer.apple.com/accessibility/ios/)

<!-- /content-for -->

<!-- content-for: web -->

Items in an action list are organized as list items (`<li>`) in an unordered list (`<ul>`) and are conveyed as a group of related elements to assistive technology users. Each item is implemented as a [button](https://polaris.shopify.com/components/actions/button).

### Keyboard support

- Give the action list items keyboard focus with the <kbd>tab</kbd> key (or <kbd>shift</kbd> + <kbd>tab</kbd> when tabbing backwards)
- Activate buttons with the <kbd>enter</kbd>/<kbd>return</kbd> key or the <kbd>space</kbd> key

<!-- /content-for -->