How to Fix"Bootstrap Dropdown Not Working with JavaScript "?

Last Updated : 14 Nov, 2024

If a Bootstrap dropdown is not working with JavaScript, it can often be caused by issues related to incorrect library inclusion, conflicts with other scripts, or incorrect markup. Here are some common causes and solutions to resolve the problem:

1. Ensure Proper Bootstrap and jQuery Inclusion

The Bootstrap dropdowns require both Bootstrap's JavaScript file and jQuery. Make sure that these are correctly included in your HTML file, in the correct order.

Example of Proper Script Order

HTML

<!-- jQuery (required for Bootstrap's JavaScript plugins) -->
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script>

<!-- Popper.js (required for Bootstrap dropdowns) -->
<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/popper.js/2.11.6/umd/popper.min.js"></script>

<!-- Bootstrap's JavaScript -->
<script src="https://stackpath.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/4.3.1/js/bootstrap.min.js"></script>

<!-- Bootstrap's CSS (optional but recommended) -->
<link href="https://stackpath.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/4.3.1/css/bootstrap.min.css" rel="stylesheet">

2. Use the Correct Bootstrap Version

Ensure that the version of Bootstrap you are using matches the corresponding dependencies (e.g., jQuery for Bootstrap 4 or Bootstrap 3).
If you are using Bootstrap 5, note that jQuery is no longer a dependency. In that case, you can omit jQuery and use only Popper.js and Bootstrap's JavaScript file.

3. Ensure Your Markup is Correct

Double-check that your HTML markup for the dropdown is correct. Here is an example of the basic structure for a Bootstrap dropdown:

Example Markup

HTML

<div class="dropdown">
  <button class="btn btn-secondary dropdown-toggle" type="button" id="dropdownMenuButton" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">
    Dropdown button
  </button>
  <div class="dropdown-menu" aria-labelledby="dropdownMenuButton">
    <a class="dropdown-item" href="#">Action</a>
    <a class="dropdown-item" href="#">Another action</a>
    <a class="dropdown-item" href="#">Something else here</a>
  </div>
</div>

Output:

4. Ensure Popper.js is Loaded

Bootstrap dropdowns rely on Popper.js for positioning. If Popper.js is not correctly loaded, the dropdown may not work as expected.
Include Popper.js before including Bootstrap's JavaScript file if you are using Bootstrap 4 or later.

5. No Conflicting Versions of jQuery

If multiple versions of jQuery are included, or if another script is interfering with jQuery, it can cause dropdowns not to work.
Use the browser console to check for errors and conflicts.

6. Ensure `data-toggle` Attribute is Correct

Check that the data-toggle="dropdown" attribute is present on the element that triggers the dropdown.

7. Check for JavaScript Errors

Open the browser console (press F12 or Ctrl + Shift + I on most browsers, then navigate to the "Console" tab).
Look for any JavaScript errors that might be preventing Bootstrap's dropdown functionality from working.

8. Manually Trigger the Dropdown with JavaScript (Optional)

If you want to ensure that the dropdown functionality is working through JavaScript, you can manually trigger it like this:

JavaScript

$('#dropdownMenuButton').dropdown('toggle');

9. Include Bootstrap Bundle (for Bootstrap 5)

If you are using Bootstrap 5, you can use the "bundle" version of Bootstrap that includes both Bootstrap's JavaScript and Popper.js.

Example:

HTML

<script src="https://stackpath.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/5.1.3/js/bootstrap.bundle.min.js"></script>