The Hidden Gems of HTML: Creating Accordions with Pure HTML

I've been experimenting with native HTML elements lately, and I've discovered something amazing - we can create fully functional accordion components without a single line of JavaScript! Let me walk you through my journey of discovery with pure HTML accordions.

Creating Your First Accordion Component

Let's build this together! Here's a simple example:

<!DOCTYPE html>
  <html>

  <head>
    <title>Sandpack Sandbox</title>
    <meta charset="UTF-8" />
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/styles.css" />
  </head>

  <body>
    <h1>Creating Your First Accordion Component</h1>
    <details>
    <summary>What are HTML interactive elements?</summary>
    <p>HTML interactive elements provide native browser support for creating
      interactive UI components without JavaScript.</p>
    </details>
  </body>

  </html>

Open Sandbox

When rendered, this creates a clean, accessible accordion component. The summary text appears with a small disclosure triangle next to it. Click it, and voilà - the hidden content is revealed!

Taking It Further: Starting in the Open State

Sometimes we want an accordion section to begin expanded. Adding the open attribute makes this happen:

<!DOCTYPE html>
  <html>

  <head>
    <title>Sandpack Sandbox</title>
    <meta charset="UTF-8" />
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/styles.css" />
  </head>

  <body>
    <h1>Starting in the Open State</h1>
    <details open>
    <summary>What are HTML interactive elements?</summary>
    <p>HTML interactive elements provide native browser support for creating
      interactive UI components without JavaScript.</p>
    </details>
  </body>

  </html>

Open Sandbox

This loads with the content already visible - perfect for highlighting important information!

Building a Complete Accordion Group

Here's how I built a full accordion component with mutually exclusive sections:

<!DOCTYPE html>
  <html>

  <head>
    <title>Sandpack Sandbox</title>
    <meta charset="UTF-8" />
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/styles.css" />
  </head>

  <body>
    <h1>Building a Complete Accordion Group</h1>
    <details name="interactive-elements">
    <summary>What are HTML interactive elements?</summary>
    <p>HTML interactive elements provide native browser support for creating
      interactive UI components without JavaScript. They enhance user experience
      while maintaining accessibility standards.</p>
      </details>

      <details name="interactive-elements">
      <summary>What is the &lt;details&gt; element?</summary>
      <p>The &lt;details&gt; element creates a disclosure widget that shows information
          only when toggled open. It works like a container that can be collapsed
          or expanded with a simple click, making content more manageable.</p>
      </details>

      <details name="interactive-elements">
      <summary>What is the &lt;summary&gt; element?</summary>
      <p>The &lt;summary&gt; element provides the visible heading or label for a &lt;details&gt;
          element. It acts as the clickable trigger that toggles the visibility of
          the content. Think of it as the visible part of your expandable section.</p>
      </details>

      <details name="interactive-elements">
      <summary>Benefits of native HTML components</summary>
      <p>Using native HTML elements like &lt;details&gt; and &lt;summary&gt; improves accessibility,
          reduces dependency on JavaScript, and leverages browser-optimized implementations
          for better performance.</p>
      </details>
  </body>

  </html>

Open Sandbox

The magic happens through the shared name="interactive-elements" attribute. This creates true accordion behavior - open one section about HTML interactive elements, and any previously open section closes automatically!

Why This Matters: My Personal Takeaway

As I've explored these elements, I've realized how much simpler web development can be. Before discovering these native HTML solutions, I would reach for JavaScript libraries or write custom code for basic interactive components. Now, I can create accessible, performant UI patterns with clean, semantic markup.

The beauty of using native HTML elements is threefold:

Better accessibility out-of-the-box
Reduced JavaScript dependency
Improved performance with browser-optimized implementations

Wrapping Up My Discovery

My journey through HTML's interactive elements has transformed how I approach web development. These seemingly simple elements - <details> and <summary> - pack powerful functionality that previously required external libraries or custom code.

Next time you need an accordion component, remember this clean, simple approach. Your users (and your codebase) will thank you!