Are the ai2 Dense menubars free?

Yes. The whole styled layer is free and MIT licensed, like the component core.

Can I change the size?

Yes. Every variation takes a size prop of sm, md, lg or xl, aligned to the base Button height scale.

Dense menubars

Five menubars that keep one visual language and vary only the scale: compact, narrow, tight, slim and micro. The size prop still scales each variant within its own density. Each is self-contained (no radix), token-driven, switches menus on hover once one is open, and closes on outside click or Escape.

MenubarDense

Installation

The styled layer is free and installs like any other ai2 component.

Run the following command

npx shadcn@latest add @ai2/menubar-dense

Dependencies, the @ai2/tokens theme and the component file are installed together.

Install dependencies

npm install motion

Copy the source

components/ui/menubar-dense.tsx

"use client"

import * as React from "react"
import { AnimatePresence, motion, useReducedMotion } from "motion/react"

import { cn } from "@/lib/utils"

/* Dense menubar family: 5 decorative, SELF-SUFFICIENT menubars. NO radix or
   portal. The visual language is the same in every variant; the whole difference is
   the SCALE: Compact tightens slightly, Narrow trims the horizontal padding, Tight
   lowers the line height, Slim thins the bar, and Micro drops to toolbar density.
   The size prop scales each variant within its own density. Classic menubar
   behavior: while one menu is open, hovering a sibling trigger switches to that
   menu. It closes on an outside click, on Escape (focus returns to the trigger) and
   on an item selection. Left/Right arrows move between the top-level menus and
   Up/Down moves inside the open one. No transform under reduced motion. Color comes
   ONLY from tokens, via alpha color-mix. */

export type StyledSize = "sm" | "md" | "lg" | "xl"

type MenuItem = { label: React.ReactNode; onSelect?: () => void }
type Menu = { label: React.ReactNode; items: MenuItem[] }

interface MenubarProps {
  className?: string
  size?: StyledSize
  menus?: Menu[]
}

const defaultMenus: Menu[] = [
  {
    label: "File",
    items: [
      { label: "New File" },
      { label: "Open..." },
      { label: "Save" },
      { label: "Save As..." },
    ],
  },
  {
    label: "Edit",
    items: [
      { label: "Undo" },
      { label: "Redo" },
      { label: "Cut" },
      { label: "Copy" },
      { label: "Paste" },
    ],
  },
  {
    label: "View",
    items: [{ label: "Zoom In" }, { label: "Zoom Out" }, { label: "Full Screen" }],
  },
]

type Scale = {
  bar: Record<StyledSize, string>
  trigger: Record<StyledSize, string>
  panel: Record<StyledSize, string>
  item: Record<StyledSize, string>
  panelPad: string
}

const softHover =
  "hover:bg-[color-mix(in_oklab,var(--color-foreground)_6%,transparent)]"

const triggerBase =
  "inline-flex select-none items-center gap-1.5 whitespace-nowrap rounded-md font-medium outline-none transition-colors focus-visible:ring-[3px] focus-visible:ring-ring/50 [&>svg]:size-4 [&>svg]:shrink-0 [&>i]:text-base [&>i]:leading-none"

const itemBase =
  "flex w-full cursor-default select-none items-center gap-2 rounded-md text-left text-popover-foreground outline-none transition-colors focus-visible:ring-[3px] focus-visible:ring-ring/50 [&>svg]:size-4 [&>svg]:shrink-0 [&>i]:text-base [&>i]:leading-none"

const panelBase =
  "absolute left-0 top-full z-50 origin-top rounded-lg border border-border bg-popover text-popover-foreground shadow-lg outline-none"

const barBase = "inline-flex items-center border border-border bg-card shadow-xs"

/* The shared menubar core. The panel is always absolutely positioned inside the
   relative wrapper of its own trigger, so many examples on a single page never
   collide. */
function MenubarCore({
  props,
  scale,
  barClassName,
}: {
  props: MenubarProps
  scale: Scale
  barClassName?: string
}) {
  const { className, size = "md", menus = defaultMenus } = props
  const reduce = useReducedMotion()
  const uid = React.useId()
  const [openIndex, setOpenIndex] = React.useState<number | null>(null)
  const [autoFocusItem, setAutoFocusItem] = React.useState(false)
  const rootRef = React.useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
  const triggerRefs = React.useRef<Array<HTMLButtonElement | null>>([])
  const itemRefs = React.useRef<Array<HTMLButtonElement | null>>([])

  React.useEffect(() => {
    if (openIndex === null) return
    const onKey = (e: KeyboardEvent) => {
      if (e.key !== "Escape") return
      triggerRefs.current[openIndex]?.focus()
      setOpenIndex(null)
    }
    const onPointer = (e: PointerEvent) => {
      const node = rootRef.current
      if (node && e.target instanceof Node && !node.contains(e.target)) {
        setOpenIndex(null)
      }
    }
    window.addEventListener("keydown", onKey)
    window.addEventListener("pointerdown", onPointer)
    return () => {
      window.removeEventListener("keydown", onKey)
      window.removeEventListener("pointerdown", onPointer)
    }
  }, [openIndex])

  React.useEffect(() => {
    if (openIndex === null || !autoFocusItem) return
    const id = window.requestAnimationFrame(() => itemRefs.current[0]?.focus())
    setAutoFocusItem(false)
    return () => window.cancelAnimationFrame(id)
  }, [openIndex, autoFocusItem])

  const moveTrigger = (from: number, dir: 1 | -1) => {
    const next = (from + dir + menus.length) % menus.length
    triggerRefs.current[next]?.focus()
    if (openIndex !== null) setOpenIndex(next)
  }

  const onTriggerKeyDown = (e: React.KeyboardEvent, i: number) => {
    if (e.key === "ArrowRight") {
      e.preventDefault()
      moveTrigger(i, 1)
    } else if (e.key === "ArrowLeft") {
      e.preventDefault()
      moveTrigger(i, -1)
    } else if (e.key === "ArrowDown") {
      e.preventDefault()
      setOpenIndex(i)
      setAutoFocusItem(true)
    }
  }

  const onItemKeyDown = (e: React.KeyboardEvent, j: number, count: number, i: number) => {
    if (e.key === "ArrowDown") {
      e.preventDefault()
      itemRefs.current[(j + 1) % count]?.focus()
    } else if (e.key === "ArrowUp") {
      e.preventDefault()
      itemRefs.current[(j - 1 + count) % count]?.focus()
    } else if (e.key === "ArrowRight" || e.key === "ArrowLeft") {
      e.preventDefault()
      moveTrigger(i, e.key === "ArrowRight" ? 1 : -1)
      setAutoFocusItem(true)
    }
  }

  const enter = reduce
    ? { initial: { opacity: 0 }, animate: { opacity: 1 }, exit: { opacity: 0 } }
    : {
        initial: { opacity: 0, scale: 0.97, y: -4 },
        animate: { opacity: 1, scale: 1, y: 0 },
        exit: { opacity: 0, scale: 0.97, y: -4 },
      }

  return (
    <div
      ref={rootRef}
      data-slot="styled-menubar"
      role="menubar"
      className={cn(barBase, scale.bar[size], barClassName, className)}
    >
      {menus.map((menu, i) => {
        const isOpen = openIndex === i
        const triggerId = `${uid}-trigger-${i}`
        const menuId = `${uid}-menu-${i}`
        return (
          <div key={i} className="relative">
            <button
              type="button"
              id={triggerId}
              ref={(node) => {
                triggerRefs.current[i] = node
              }}
              role="menuitem"
              aria-haspopup="menu"
              aria-expanded={isOpen}
              aria-controls={isOpen ? menuId : undefined}
              onClick={() => setOpenIndex(isOpen ? null : i)}
              onPointerEnter={() => {
                if (openIndex !== null) setOpenIndex(i)
              }}
              onKeyDown={(e) => onTriggerKeyDown(e, i)}
              className={cn(
                triggerBase,
                scale.trigger[size],
                isOpen
                  ? "bg-accent text-accent-foreground"
                  : cn("text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground", softHover)
              )}
            >
              {menu.label}
            </button>

            <AnimatePresence>
              {isOpen ? (
                <motion.div
                  id={menuId}
                  role="menu"
                  aria-labelledby={triggerId}
                  className={cn(panelBase, scale.panel[size], scale.panelPad)}
                  initial={enter.initial}
                  animate={enter.animate}
                  exit={enter.exit}
                  transition={
                    reduce
                      ? { duration: 0.12 }
                      : { type: "spring" as const, stiffness: 360, damping: 26 }
                  }
                >
                  {menu.items.map((item, j) => (
                    <button
                      key={j}
                      type="button"
                      role="menuitem"
                      ref={(node) => {
                        if (openIndex === i) itemRefs.current[j] = node
                      }}
                      onClick={() => {
                        item.onSelect?.()
                        triggerRefs.current[i]?.focus()
                        setOpenIndex(null)
                      }}
                      onKeyDown={(e) => onItemKeyDown(e, j, menu.items.length, i)}
                      className={cn(itemBase, scale.item[size], softHover)}
                    >
                      {item.label}
                    </button>
                  ))}
                </motion.div>
              ) : null}
            </AnimatePresence>
          </div>
        )
      })}
    </div>
  )
}

/* Compact: temel olcegin bir tik sikilastirilmis hali. */
const compactScale: Scale = {
  bar: {
    sm: "h-7 gap-0.5 rounded-md px-0.5 text-xs",
    md: "h-8 gap-0.5 rounded-md px-1 text-xs",
    lg: "h-9 gap-1 rounded-lg px-1 text-sm",
    xl: "h-10 gap-1 rounded-lg px-1.5 text-sm",
  },
  trigger: {
    sm: "h-5 px-1.5",
    md: "h-6 px-2",
    lg: "h-7 px-2.5",
    xl: "h-8 px-3",
  },
  panel: {
    sm: "mt-1 min-w-36 text-xs",
    md: "mt-1 min-w-40 text-xs",
    lg: "mt-1 min-w-44 text-sm",
    xl: "mt-1.5 min-w-48 text-sm",
  },
  item: {
    sm: "px-1.5 py-1",
    md: "px-2 py-1",
    lg: "px-2.5 py-1.5",
    xl: "px-3 py-1.5",
  },
  panelPad: "p-1",
}

export function CompactMenubar2({ className, size = "md", menus }: MenubarProps) {
  return <MenubarCore props={{ className, size, menus }} scale={compactScale} />
}

/* Narrow: the horizontal padding is trimmed, the row height is kept. */
const narrowScale: Scale = {
  bar: {
    sm: "h-8 gap-0 rounded-md px-0.5 text-xs",
    md: "h-9 gap-0 rounded-md px-0.5 text-sm",
    lg: "h-10 gap-0.5 rounded-lg px-1 text-sm",
    xl: "h-11 gap-0.5 rounded-lg px-1 text-base",
  },
  trigger: {
    sm: "h-6 px-1",
    md: "h-7 px-1.5",
    lg: "h-8 px-2",
    xl: "h-9 px-2",
  },
  panel: {
    sm: "mt-1 min-w-32 text-xs",
    md: "mt-1 min-w-36 text-sm",
    lg: "mt-1 min-w-40 text-sm",
    xl: "mt-1.5 min-w-44 text-base",
  },
  item: {
    sm: "px-1.5 py-1.5",
    md: "px-1.5 py-1.5",
    lg: "px-2 py-2",
    xl: "px-2 py-2",
  },
  panelPad: "p-0.5",
}

export function NarrowMenubar({ className, size = "md", menus }: MenubarProps) {
  return <MenubarCore props={{ className, size, menus }} scale={narrowScale} />
}

/* Tight: dikey ritim sikisir, menu satirlari birbirine yaklasir. */
const tightScale: Scale = {
  bar: {
    sm: "h-6 gap-0.5 rounded-md px-0.5 text-[0.6875rem]",
    md: "h-7 gap-0.5 rounded-md px-0.5 text-xs",
    lg: "h-8 gap-0.5 rounded-md px-1 text-xs",
    xl: "h-9 gap-1 rounded-lg px-1 text-sm",
  },
  trigger: {
    sm: "h-5 px-1.5",
    md: "h-5 px-2",
    lg: "h-6 px-2",
    xl: "h-7 px-2.5",
  },
  panel: {
    sm: "mt-0.5 min-w-32 text-[0.6875rem]",
    md: "mt-1 min-w-36 text-xs",
    lg: "mt-1 min-w-40 text-xs",
    xl: "mt-1 min-w-44 text-sm",
  },
  item: {
    sm: "px-1.5 py-0.5",
    md: "px-2 py-0.5",
    lg: "px-2 py-1",
    xl: "px-2.5 py-1",
  },
  panelPad: "p-0.5",
}

export function TightMenubar({ className, size = "md", menus }: MenubarProps) {
  return <MenubarCore props={{ className, size, menus }} scale={tightScale} />
}

/* Slim: the bar is borderless and thin, carrying a hairline underneath. */
const slimScale: Scale = {
  bar: {
    sm: "h-6 gap-1 px-0 text-[0.6875rem]",
    md: "h-7 gap-1 px-0 text-xs",
    lg: "h-8 gap-1.5 px-0 text-xs",
    xl: "h-9 gap-1.5 px-0 text-sm",
  },
  trigger: {
    sm: "h-5 px-1.5",
    md: "h-6 px-2",
    lg: "h-6 px-2",
    xl: "h-7 px-2.5",
  },
  panel: {
    sm: "mt-1 min-w-32 text-[0.6875rem]",
    md: "mt-1 min-w-36 text-xs",
    lg: "mt-1 min-w-40 text-xs",
    xl: "mt-1.5 min-w-44 text-sm",
  },
  item: {
    sm: "px-1.5 py-1",
    md: "px-2 py-1",
    lg: "px-2 py-1",
    xl: "px-2.5 py-1.5",
  },
  panelPad: "p-0.5",
}

export function SlimMenubar({ className, size = "md", menus }: MenubarProps) {
  return (
    <MenubarCore
      props={{ className, size, menus }}
      scale={slimScale}
      barClassName="rounded-none border-0 border-b border-border bg-transparent shadow-none"
    />
  )
}

/* Micro: en yogun kademe, arac cubugu olcegi. */
const microScale: Scale = {
  bar: {
    sm: "h-5 gap-0 rounded px-0 text-[0.625rem]",
    md: "h-6 gap-0 rounded px-0.5 text-[0.6875rem]",
    lg: "h-7 gap-0 rounded-md px-0.5 text-xs",
    xl: "h-8 gap-0.5 rounded-md px-0.5 text-xs",
  },
  trigger: {
    sm: "h-4 gap-1 rounded-sm px-1",
    md: "h-5 gap-1 rounded-sm px-1",
    lg: "h-6 gap-1 rounded px-1.5",
    xl: "h-7 gap-1 rounded px-1.5",
  },
  panel: {
    sm: "mt-0.5 min-w-28 rounded-md text-[0.625rem]",
    md: "mt-0.5 min-w-32 rounded-md text-[0.6875rem]",
    lg: "mt-1 min-w-36 rounded-md text-xs",
    xl: "mt-1 min-w-40 text-xs",
  },
  item: {
    sm: "gap-1 rounded-sm px-1 py-0.5",
    md: "gap-1 rounded-sm px-1.5 py-0.5",
    lg: "gap-1.5 rounded px-1.5 py-0.5",
    xl: "gap-1.5 rounded px-2 py-1",
  },
  panelPad: "p-0.5",
}

export function MicroMenubar({ className, size = "md", menus }: MenubarProps) {
  return (
    <MenubarCore
      props={{ className, size, menus }}
      scale={microScale}
      barClassName="[&_button]:font-normal"
    />
  )
}

Manual installs skip the @ai2/tokens theme, so add the token CSS from the theming guide or the tone colors will be missing.

Variations

5 takes on the same idea. Each is its own export, and every one accepts a size prop (sm, md, lg, xl) aligned to the base Button scale.

Compact

One notch tighter than the base scale.

Narrow

Horizontal padding is trimmed, row height stays.

Tight

The vertical rhythm closes up across bar and menu.

Slim

A borderless thin bar on a single hairline rule.

Micro

The densest step, at toolbar scale.

ai2 Dense menubars: 5 styled variations on the token system

The ai2 Dense menubars are a set of 5 decorative button variations from the styled layer of the @ai2 design system, built around application menu bars on compact scales. They are free and MIT licensed, and every color comes from a semantic token, so they theme with the rest of ai2 in light and dark.

Motion runs on framer-motion: framer-motion springs the open dropdown in and out. The styled layer is opt-in, so the dependency only lands if you use it; the base components stay lean. Under reduced motion, the transforms are skipped and the menu fades in place.

What is in the ai2 Dense menubars?

5 exports in one file: Compact, Narrow, Tight, Slim and Micro. Each renders a native button and takes a size prop (sm, md, lg, xl) aligned to the base Button. They are separate from the base Button on purpose: the base keeps its clean variant, tone and size axes, while the styled layer carries the effects.

You own the file. Copy the one category file and you have all 5 variations, with no runtime dependency on ai2 itself.

Why use it

On-system by construction: Every color resolves to an ai2 semantic token, so the buttons follow your theme in light and dark with no extra work.
Effect without the sprawl: The decorations live in a dedicated styled file, so the base Button keeps its clean, predictable API.
Accessible and honest: Each renders a real button element, keeps a visible focus ring, and respects prefers-reduced-motion.

Features

Token-driven color: No hardcoded hex or oklch; the look recolors with your theme tokens.
framer-motion: framer-motion springs the open dropdown in and out.
Reduced-motion aware: Under prefers-reduced-motion, the transforms are skipped and the menu fades in place.
Size aligned to the base: Every variation takes sm, md, lg and xl matching the base Button height scale, so styled and base buttons line up in a row.

Production tips

Use it for emphasis, not everywhere: Styled buttons draw the eye. Reserve them for the one action you want people to take on a screen, and use the base Button for the rest.
Keep labels as verbs: The decoration adds weight, so a clear action label keeps the button scannable.
Pick one variation per surface: The variations share a family; using two different ones in the same view competes for attention.

Works with the rest of ai2

The Dense menubars sit alongside the base Button and the rest of the @ai2 registry. They share the same token file, so a styled action next to a base button or a badge stays visually consistent in both modes.