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# Use the navigation element to guide user exploration
> Add a Sigma navigation element to your workbook with buttons that link to pages, elements, or external destinations and nested submenus.
Add a navigation element to your workbook to display a list of destinations users can visit. The navigation element shows each destination as an individual button, which you can configure to send users to a workbook page, workbook element, or external link when clicked. Submenus allow you to nest additional navigation options under a top-level option.
The navigation element is a [layout element](/docs/intro-to-layout-elements), allowing you to guide users and create focused interfaces as you build [AI apps](/docs/ai-apps) in Sigma.
Use a navigation element when you want to:
* Provide a list of destinations for users to explore.
* Hide the native workbook page navigation.
* Link to workbook pages and external links in the same list of options.
To create a container with several tabs of content on a single workbook page, see [Use tabbed containers to organize workbook content](/docs/use-tabbed-containers-to-organize-workbook-content).
To create a static page header or sidebar that is shared by multiple pages, see [Add custom page panels to a workbook](/docs/add-custom-page-panels-to-a-workbook).
## User requirements
The ability to create and customize a navigation element requires the following:
* You must be assigned an account type with the **Create, edit, and publish workbooks** permission enabled.
* You must be the workbook owner or be granted **Can edit** access to the workbook.
## Create a navigation element
Add a navigation element to your workbook:
1. Open a workbook draft.
2. In the **Add element** bar, select **Layout**, then select **Navigation**.
By default, the navigation element populates in **Auto** mode, listing the current workbook pages as the navigation options. For example, if your workbook has pages titled Sales - East, Sales - West, and Raw Data, those three pages appear as options when you create a navigation element. For more information on customizing destination options, see [Set manual navigation options](#set-manual-navigation-options).
## Customize a navigation element
To customize the content or style of a navigation element, see the following sections:
* [Set automatic navigation options](#set-automatic-navigation-options)
* [Set manual navigation options](#set-manual-navigation-options)
* [Style a navigation element](#style-a-navigation-element)
* [Set icons for navigation options](#set-icons-for-navigation-options)
* [Create a nested submenu of navigation options](#create-a-nested-submenu-of-navigation-options)
### Set automatic navigation options
You can set navigation options to automatically match the current workbook pages:
1. Select the navigation element.
2. In the editor panel, select **Properties**.
3. Select **Auto**.
In **Auto** mode, the navigation element lists all current workbook pages as navigation options. Changes to the workbook pages (new pages, renamed pages, deleted pages) automatically appear in the navigation element. Hidden pages do not appear as navigation options.
Any customization requires you to convert the navigation element to manual mode. See [Set manual navigation options](#set-manual-navigation-options).
### Set manual navigation options
You can manually set a list of navigation options including custom destinations, names, and nesting.
Set a navigation element to manual:
1. Select the navigation element.
2. In the editor panel, select **Properties**.
3. Select **Manual**.
Setting a navigation element to **Manual** stops automatic updates based on changes to workbook pages. This allows you to set the navigation options independently of the current workbook pages.
To add a new navigation option:
1. Select the navigation element.
2. In the editor panel, select **Properties**.
3. Select **Manual**.
4. Click 
**Add an option** and select an option from the menu:
| | |
| :---------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Submenu title** | Add a title with nested navigation options in a submenu. The submenu title itself is not a navigation option. |
| **Main page** | Add an option that navigates to a selected workbook page. |
| **Page anchor** | Add an option with a navigation action and no specified destination. Configure the destination to navigate to any workbook page or element. |
| **Link** | Add an option that navigates to an external link. Configure a static or dynamic link URL, and select whether the link opens in a new window, the current window, or the parent window. |
To edit a navigation option:
1. Select the navigation element.
2. In the editor panel, select **Properties**.
3. Select 
**Options** for the navigation option you want to edit and select an option from the menu:
| | |
| :------------------- | :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Edit destination** | Change the destination for the navigation option. |
| **Rename** | Change the name of the navigation option. |
| **Duplicate** | Duplicate the navigation option. |
| **Delete** | Delete the navigation option. |
| **Move to** | Move the option to another location in the navigation element. Selecting an existing option transforms that option into a submenu title. The option you moved appears as an option under that submenu title. |
### Style a navigation element
You can configure the padding, background color, and corner style for a navigation element:
1. Select the navigation element.
2. In the editor panel, select **Format**.
3. Expand the **Element style** section to view the style settings.
4. Configure the style settings:
| | |
| :------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Padding** | On by default. Enable or disable the space between the border of the navigation element and its contents. |
| **Background color** | Select the color displayed behind the contents of the navigation element. |
| **Corner** | Select whether to have square, round, or pill-shaped corners for the navigation element. |
You can configure the appearance, orientation, alignment, and color of the options in a navigation element:
1. Select the navigation element.
2. In the editor panel, select **Format**.
3. Expand the **Option style** section to view the style settings.
4. Configure the style settings:
| | |
| :----------------- | :--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Appearance** | Select whether navigation options appear separated by lines or as separate pills. |
| **Orientation** | Select whether to display the navigation options horizontally or vertically. |
| **Alignment** | In a horizontal navigation element, select whether to left align, center align, right align, or stretch the navigation options. In a vertical navigation element, select whether to top align, center align, or bottom align the navigation options. |
| **Text color** | Select a color for the option text when it is not selected. Uses the **Text** color configuration from the workbook theme by default. |
| **Selected color** | Select a color for the option text when it is selected. Uses the **Highlight** color configuration from the workbook theme by default. |
### Set icons for navigation options
You can configure icons for navigation options to customize your workbook and inform users about the navigation destination:
1. Select the navigation element.
2. In the editor panel, select **Properties**.
3. Select **Manual**.
4. Turn on the **Show icons** toggle.
5. For each navigation option, select the icon in the editor panel to open the **Change icon** menu.
6. Search for and select an icon from the available library.
You can search for icons that fit your design needs. After selecting **Change icon**, you can search for an icon by its name using the search bar. Additionally, you can search by category by selecting between **All**, **Filled**, **Outlined**, **Toned**, and **Emoji**.
The navigation options appear with the selected icons.
### Create a nested submenu of navigation options
In a manual navigation element, you can configure a nested submenu of navigation options.
1. Select the navigation element.
2. In the editor panel, select **Properties**.
3. Select **Options** for the navigation option you want to add to the submenu.
4. Select **Move to**.
5. Select an existing submenu or create a new one by selecting another navigation option.
6. Repeat steps 3-5 for each navigation option you want to add to the submenu.
Alternatively, you can drag and drop a navigation option under another navigation option in the editor panel to create a submenu.
The title of a submenu is not a navigation option. Sigma recommends creating an empty navigation option to move other options into.
## Delete a navigation element
You can delete a navigation element directly from the workbook page:
1. Select the navigation element.
2. Click **More**.
3. Select **Delete element**.
## Hide page tabs in view mode
You can hide the workbook page tabs from users in view mode, allowing you to set a navigation element as the primary navigation for your workbook.
To hide the workbook page tabs in view mode:
1. Select the workbook page.
2. In the editor panel, under **Settings**, select **Workbook settings**.
3. Open the **Layout settings**.
4. In the **Layout settings** section, check the box next to **Hide page tabs in view mode**.
5. In the confirmation modal, click **Confirm**.
Hiding page tabs can be combined with a page header and navigation element to create a custom navigation bar. For an end-to-end example that uses a page header and navigation element to create a custom navigation bar, see [Example: Use a page header and navigation element to create a custom navigation bar](/docs/add-custom-page-panels-to-a-workbook#example-use-a-page-header-and-navigation-element-to-create-a-custom-navigation-bar).
Hiding page tabs does not prevent users from navigating to the page from a direct link and is not a security feature. To restrict access to data, use a data model with row-level security or column-level security. For more information, see [Set up row-level security](/docs/set-up-row-level-security) and [Configure column-level security](/docs/column-level-security).
## Related resources
* [Add custom page panels to a workbook](/docs/add-custom-page-panels-to-a-workbook)
* [Use tabbed containers to organize workbook content](/docs/use-tabbed-containers-to-organize-workbook-content)