How To Close An Open Collapsed Navbar When Clicking Outside Of The Navbar Element In Bootstrap 3

So you've customized your website with a neat collapsible navbar in Bootstrap 3, but you're scratching your head trying to figure out how to close it when users click outside of the navbar area. Don't worry; we've got you covered with a simple solution that will enhance the user experience on your site.

The default behavior in Bootstrap 3 does not have an out-of-the-box feature to close an open collapsed navbar by clicking outside of it. But fret not, because with a little bit of JavaScript magic, we can achieve this functionality seamlessly.

First things first, we need to add an event listener to detect when a user clicks outside of the navbar element. This listener will trigger the collapse of the navbar if it is open. Let's dive into the steps to implement this feature.

Step 1: Add the JavaScript Function
Create a JavaScript function that will handle the closing of the navbar when a user clicks outside of it. Here's a simple example code snippet you can use:

$(document).click(function(event) {
    var clickover = $(event.target);
    var $navbar = $(".navbar-collapse");
    var _opened = $navbar.hasClass("in");
    if (_opened === true && !clickover.hasClass("navbar-toggle")) {
        $navbar.collapse('hide');
    }
});

This code snippet listens for a click event anywhere on the document. If the navbar is open, it checks that the click was not on the navbar itself (excluding the toggle button) and then proceeds to hide the navbar.

Step 2: Implement the Function
Add the JavaScript function to your website. You can include it in a separate script file or directly in the HTML file.

Step 3: Test and Enjoy
Refresh your website and test the functionality. Click on the toggle button to expand the navbar and then click anywhere outside of the navbar. Voila! Your navbar should smoothly collapse, providing a more intuitive user experience.

And there you have it! By following these simple steps, you can easily enhance the usability of your Bootstrap 3 navbar by enabling it to close when users click outside of the navbar area. With a touch of JavaScript, you can create a smoother navigation experience for your website visitors.

We hope you found this guide helpful in achieving the desired functionality for your Bootstrap 3 navbar. Feel free to customize the JavaScript function further to suit your specific requirements and elevate the user experience on your website. Happy coding!