Button groups in Bootsrap

Introduction

Button groups let you put several buttons side by side as one unit. This helps keep your page tidy and easy to use.

When you want to show multiple related actions together, like text formatting options (bold, italic, underline).

When you need a set of buttons that act like choices, such as selecting a size or color.

When you want to save space by grouping buttons instead of spreading them out.

When you want consistent spacing and alignment for buttons in toolbars or forms.

Syntax

Bootsrap

<div class="btn-group" role="group" aria-label="Button group example">
  <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary">Left</button>
  <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary">Middle</button>
  <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary">Right</button>
</div>

The btn-group class wraps the buttons to group them.

Use role="group" and aria-label for accessibility so screen readers understand the group.

Examples

A simple button group with three buttons using the secondary color style.

Bootsrap

<div class="btn-group" role="group" aria-label="Basic example">
  <button type="button" class="btn btn-secondary">One</button>
  <button type="button" class="btn btn-secondary">Two</button>
  <button type="button" class="btn btn-secondary">Three</button>
</div>

A large sized button group with two green buttons.

Bootsrap

<div class="btn-group btn-group-lg" role="group" aria-label="Large button group">
  <button type="button" class="btn btn-success">Left</button>
  <button type="button" class="btn btn-success">Right</button>
</div>

A vertical button group stacking buttons up and down instead of side by side.

Bootsrap

<div class="btn-group-vertical" role="group" aria-label="Vertical button group">
  <button type="button" class="btn btn-info">Top</button>
  <button type="button" class="btn btn-info">Middle</button>
  <button type="button" class="btn btn-info">Bottom</button>
</div>

Sample Program

This page shows a simple horizontal button group with three blue buttons labeled Left, Middle, and Right.

Bootsrap

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8" />
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" />
  <title>Bootstrap Button Group Example</title>
  <link href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/bootstrap@5.3.0/dist/css/bootstrap.min.css" rel="stylesheet" />
</head>
<body>
  <main class="p-4">
    <h1>Button Group Demo</h1>
    <p>Here is a group of three buttons side by side:</p>
    <div class="btn-group" role="group" aria-label="Basic example">
      <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary">Left</button>
      <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary">Middle</button>
      <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary">Right</button>
    </div>
  </main>
  <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/bootstrap@5.3.0/dist/js/bootstrap.bundle.min.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Important Notes

Button groups keep buttons connected visually and functionally.

Always add aria-label to describe the group for screen readers.

You can make groups vertical by using btn-group-vertical instead of btn-group.

Summary

Button groups let you put buttons side by side as one unit.

Use btn-group class and add accessibility roles and labels.

You can change size and orientation with extra classes like btn-group-lg or btn-group-vertical.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of using the btn-group class in Bootstrap?

easy

A. To group multiple buttons side by side as a single unit

B. To change the color of a button

C. To add icons inside buttons

D. To create dropdown menus

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of btn-group

   The btn-group class is designed to place buttons next to each other horizontally, making them appear as one group.

2. Step 2: Compare with other options

   Changing colors, adding icons, or dropdowns require different classes or components, not btn-group.

3. Final Answer:

   To group multiple buttons side by side as a single unit -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Button groups = group buttons side by side [OK]

Hint: Remember: btn-group means buttons together horizontally [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing btn-group with button color classes
• Thinking btn-group creates dropdowns
• Assuming btn-group adds icons automatically

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to create a horizontal button group with three buttons labeled 'One', 'Two', and 'Three'?

easy

A. OneTwoThree

B. OneTwoThree

C. OneTwoThree

D. OneTwoThree

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the container class and role

   The correct class for horizontal grouping is btn-group with role='group' for accessibility.

2. Step 2: Verify button elements and labels

   Buttons inside should have btn and style classes like btn-primary. The role must be 'group', not 'button'.

3. Final Answer:

   Correct horizontal button group with role='group' -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   btn-group + role='group' = horizontal group [OK]

Hint: Use role='group' with btn-group for horizontal groups [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using btn-group-vertical for horizontal groups
• Setting role='button' instead of role='group'
• Missing role attribute for accessibility

3. What will be the visual result of this code snippet?

<div class='btn-group btn-group-lg' role='group' aria-label='Large button group'>
  <button type='button' class='btn btn-secondary'>Left</button>
  <button type='button' class='btn btn-secondary'>Middle</button>
  <button type='button' class='btn btn-secondary'>Right</button>
</div>

medium

A. Three small buttons stacked vertically

B. Three large buttons stacked vertically

C. Three medium buttons aligned horizontally side by side

D. Three large buttons aligned horizontally side by side

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the classes used

   The btn-group class groups buttons horizontally. The btn-group-lg class makes buttons larger in size.

2. Step 2: Understand the layout effect

   Buttons inside will appear side by side horizontally, not stacked vertically, and will be large due to btn-group-lg.

3. Final Answer:

   Three large buttons aligned horizontally side by side -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   btn-group + btn-group-lg = large horizontal buttons [OK]

Hint: btn-group-lg means bigger horizontal buttons [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing vertical stacking with horizontal grouping
• Ignoring size classes like btn-group-lg
• Assuming default size when btn-group-lg is present

4. Identify the error in this Bootstrap button group code:

<div class='btn-group' aria-label='Button group'>
  <button class='btn btn-primary'>A</button>
  <button class='btn btn-primary'>B</button>
  <button class='btn btn-primary'>C</button>
</div>

medium

A. Buttons should use type='submit' instead of default

B. Class btn-primary is invalid for buttons

C. Missing role='group' attribute on the container div

D. The container should be a nav element instead of div

Solution

1. Step 1: Check accessibility roles

   Bootstrap button groups require role='group' on the container for screen readers to understand the grouping.

2. Step 2: Validate other attributes and tags

   Button type defaults to 'button' which is fine. btn-primary is a valid class. Using div is correct for button groups.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing role='group' attribute on the container div -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Button groups need role='group' for accessibility [OK]

Hint: Always add role='group' on btn-group container for accessibility [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting role='group' on the button group container
• Confusing button type attribute necessity
• Thinking btn-primary is invalid

5. You want to create a vertical button group with three buttons labeled 'Yes', 'No', and 'Maybe' that is also large in size. Which is the correct Bootstrap code snippet?

hard

A. \n Yes\n No\n Maybe\n

B. \n Yes\n No\n Maybe\n

C. \n Yes\n No\n Maybe\n

D. \n Yes\n No\n Maybe\n

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify vertical grouping class

   The class btn-group-vertical makes the buttons stack vertically.

2. Step 2: Combine vertical grouping with large size

   Adding btn-group-lg alongside btn-group-vertical on the container makes the entire group large and vertical.

3. Step 3: Check button classes

   Buttons have appropriate color classes and do not need individual btn-lg if the group is large.

4. Final Answer:

   Use btn-group-vertical btn-group-lg on container with role='group' -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   btn-group-vertical + btn-group-lg = large vertical group [OK]

Hint: Combine btn-group-vertical and btn-group-lg on container for large vertical group [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using btn-group-lg without btn-group-vertical for vertical layout
• Adding btn-lg to buttons instead of group container
• Mixing btn-group and btn-group-vertical classes incorrectly