Navigating the World of Mobile Menus: Making "PRODUCTS" Click-Friendly on Shopify

Remember that time I swore I’d just pop into a store for one thing, only to wander around aimlessly because nothing made sense? That's the feeling we all dread when visiting a website, right? It’s like being lost in an IKEA maze, only there’s no Swedish meatballs at the end. Today, we're tackling a similar conundrum with Shopify menus on mobile devices—a thing that probably shouldn't be this complicated but here we are—especially when you just want a click on “PRODUCTS” to lead somewhere cozy, not somewhere bewildering.

A Little Context and a Big Request

Our predicament stems from Tim, our fearless e-commerce captain sailing the seas of Shopify, who ran into a menu snag. His desire? Simple: make the "PRODUCTS" header item clickable to a products overview page and have an arrow—yes, an arrow!—unlock the fabled sub-menu separately. What he wants is a touch of digital feng shui, balancing clarity and direct navigation. But, how do we get there with our trusty Shopify theme editor as our guide and ally?

Step 1: Identifying the Problem

First things first: let's understand the landscape of this digital dilemma. Picture this: on Tim’s current mobile site, clicking “PRODUCTS” shows the sub-menu, clumsily replacing clarity with chaos. We need a separate click to take us to the main product page, letting visitors glide swiftly where they desire.

Step 2: Unveiling the Hidden Arrow

This is where we don our coder hats, or perhaps cape—whichever feels more powerful. We want to decorate our mobile site with a dandy arrow, preferably pointed downward, promising more wonders to anyone who dares to click. This will make the sub-menu drop down like the sweet note of a cash register when you finally find what you were seeking in that virtual aisle.

The Code Magic Begins

Here's a snippet that'll set the stage:

.menu-item--products {
  position: relative;
}

.menu-item--products::after {
  content: '\25BC'; /* This is the code for our arrow */
  font-size: 16px;
  position: absolute;
  right: 10px;
  top: 50%;
  transform: translateY(-50%);
  cursor: pointer;
}

This bit of CSS engages the subtle magic, placing an arrow next to the "PRODUCTS" in the header—like a gentle nudge saying, “Hey, there’s more here, explore me if you dare.”

Step 3: Crafting Clickable Paths

Now, here’s where things get slightly trickier. We need “PRODUCTS” itself to serve a purpose, that purpose being a direct link to the products overview page. This requires a touch of HTML wizardry in our existing code.

Adjusting the HTML

Find where your menu is generated, and earmark the code like so:

<a href="/collections/all" class="menu-item--products"> PRODUCTS </a>

Then, nest your sub-menu in a separate <ul> structure which our arrow will work to reveal, stealthily hidden from sight but ready to bounce into action.

<ul class="sub-menu-products">
  <li><a href="/collections/category1">Category 1</a></li>
  <li><a href="/collections/category2">Category 2</a></li>
</ul>

Step 4: The JavaScript Jive

The real trick here is using JavaScript to balance the dual paths—the “PRODUCTS” direct link and the sub-menu depth—without one getting in the other’s way. Here’s a way to execute this:

document.querySelector('.menu-item--products::after').addEventListener('click', function (event) {
  event.preventDefault() // Stop it from bothering the main link action
  var submenu = document.querySelector('.sub-menu-products')
  submenu.classList.toggle('active') // This activates our hidden delights
})

The dropdown will have a brief “aha!” moment, gliding into view only when the arrow beckons. And just like that, we’ve established harmony.

Step 5: Testing and Tweaking

It all sounds technical, doesn't it? The true heart of our adventure lies in testing these fine lines of code on various devices like the unrelenting mobile warriors of our time. We must ensure everything operates smoothly, preventing guests from feeling like they’ve stumbled into a digital labyrinth—unless that labyrinth is leading them right to checkout bliss.

Our journey has taken us through CSS lands, JavaScript jungles, and the pragmatic plains of HTML. Now, Tim—and all those who face similar digital challenges—can allow clean and thoughtful navigation to reign supreme. All from the humble arrow, our talisman on this quest.

So let's celebrate seamless site browsing on mobile! 🥳 May your menus be ever click-reliable and your products page forever accessible. Until next time, happy coding, my consistently curious comrades!