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Divider ​

A divider is a thin line that groups content in lists and containers.

Overview · Specs · Guidelines · Accessibility

Inbox app using full-width dividers to separate messages.

Full-width dividers

Usage ​

Dividers are one way to visually group components and create hierarchy. They can also be used to imply nested parent/child relationships.

The divider can be used in two ways: 

  1. Full width

  2. Inset 



Inbox app using full-width dividers to separate messages.

Full-width divider

Music app using inset dividers to separate songs in a playlist.

Inset divider

Anatomy ​

A divider is a simple line.

Illustration of a divider.

  1. Divider

Full-width dividers ​

Use full-width dividers to separate larger sections of unrelated content. They can be used directly on a surface or inside other components like cards or lists.

Full-width dividers can also separate interactive areas from non-interactive areas. 

They are used to group visual elements together, and indicate when elements are related to each other from an interaction perspective. 

Inbox messages visually separated by full-width dividers for improved readability.

Full-width dividers to indicate separation of content

Do

Non-interactive information on a card and a clickable read more link separated by a full-width divider.

Use full-width divider lines to separate interactive and non-interactive areas of a container such as a card

Caution

Full-width dividers used after every piece of content on a page.

Use full-width dividers sparingly. Too many divider lines will make an interface look cluttered.

Inset dividers ​

Use inset dividers to separate related content within a section.

Inset dividers are equally indented from both sides of the screen by default.

2 different content sections separated by an inset divider.

Inset dividers separate related content, such as emails in a list. They should be used with anchoring elements such as icons or avatars, and align with the leading edge of the screen.

3 types of related content separated by inset dividers on a mobile screen.

Inset dividers in a list of related items

Inset divider separating body text and selection chips.

Inset dividers can be placed in the middle of a layout to separate elements such as body text from selection chips

Using dividers both ways on the same screen ​

If dividers are used both ways in a UI, they must reinforce the hierarchy of information within different sections.

  1. To separate a different kind of content, use a full-width divider
  2. To separate nested content items, use inset dividers

Do

Dividers used to show content hierarchy: full-width for sections, inset for related items.

Use a combination of inset and full-width dividers to reflect the hierarchy of information

List items with repetitive formats may not require an inset divider, in which using only the margin between items is acceptable.

Do

List with repetitive item formats. Visual separation achieved through margins only.

Content may not require a divider line

Vertical divider ​

A vertical divider can be used to arrange content on a larger screen, such as separating paragraph text from video or imagery media.

Image and text side-by-side, separated by a vertical divider on a large screen.

Vertical divider in a large screen context

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