> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.themeupstudio.com/crimson/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.themeupstudio.com/crimson/navigation/secondary-navigation-header.md).

# Secondary Navigation (Header)

### What is Secondary Navigation in Crimson?

Crimson can display a second navigation strip **below the Primary header**. 

We will call it *Header Secondary*, *Secondary Navigation (Header)*, *Category Navigation*, or *Secondary Navigation for Header.*

It’s designed to feel like a **category bar** and can scroll horizontally—perfect for tags like Technology, Travel, Food, etc.

<figure><img src="/files/gD1up2tjvxOan0OChqjn" alt=""><figcaption><p>Secondary Navigation</p></figcaption></figure>

This Secondary area is controlled by a Crimson Site-wide setting: [Secondary navigation in header](/crimson/custom-settings/site-wide-settings.md#secondary-navigation-in-header)

Crimson gives three options:

1. **Top Tags**\
   Shows up to **10 tags** (typically based on which tags have the most posts). Great for magazine-style sites.
2. **Secondary Navigation**\
   Shows the menu you build in **Ghost Admin → Settings → Navigation → Secondary navigation**.
3. **Hidden**\
   Hides the Secondary navigation strip entirely (cleaner header).

If you choose **Secondary Navigation**, continue with the setup below.

#### Where to edit Secondary Navigation in Ghost Admin

1. Go to **Ghost Admin → Settings → Navigation**
2. Edit items under **Secondary navigation** (not Primary)
3. Save

Crimson uses Ghost’s **Secondary** navigation for the **header secondary** area.

<figure><img src="/files/rpEoWJ2OMiwRKOKjDNz4" alt=""><figcaption><p>Secondary Navigation in Ghost Settings</p></figcaption></figure>

***

### Dropdown menus + Visibility rules

Crimson’s Secondary navigation supports:

* **Dropdown menus**
* **Location visibility controls** (show in header secondary only, footer only, or both)

#### A) Visibility prefixes (Secondary menu items only)

These prefixes go inside the **Label** of the navigation item:

* **`[h]`** → show only in **Header Secondary**
* **`[f]`** → show only in **Footer**
* **No prefix** → show in both **Header Secondary** and **Footer**

This matters because Crimson uses the **same Secondary navigation list** for both Header Secondary and Footer, and then automatically distributes items based on these prefixes.

***

#### B) Dropdown structure symbols (Secondary menu items only)

In Secondary navigation, Crimson supports a clear dropdown format:

* **`+`** at the start of a label → dropdown **parent** (e.g., `+Categories`)
* **`-`** at the start of a label → dropdown **child** (e.g., `-Technology`)

✅ **Order matters**: add the parent first, then the children beneath it in the list.

**Example: Category dropdown in Header Secondary only**

In **Secondary navigation** (Ghost Admin):

* **`[h]+Categories`** → `#`
* **`[h]-Technology`** → `/tag/technology/`
* **`[h]-Travel`** → `/tag/travel/`
* **`[h]-Food`** → `/tag/food/`

<figure><img src="/files/Z9PIs3jNWLJmQR3t4u8Z" alt=""><figcaption><p>Sample Dropdown navigation in Header Secondary</p></figcaption></figure>

This produces:

* A “Categories” dropdown in the header secondary strip
* With Technology/Travel/Food underneath

<figure><img src="/files/9QlzkyH6mcbHObG3Cgcs" alt=""><figcaption><p>Sample Dropdown navigation on the website</p></figcaption></figure>

***

### Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>My Secondary navigation isn’t showing</summary>

* Check Crimson setting: **Secondary navigation in header** must be **Secondary Navigation** (not Top Tags/Hidden)
* Confirm you added items under **Secondary navigation** in Ghost, not Primary

</details>

<details>

<summary>My dropdown isn’t working</summary>

* Parent must come before children
* Children must start with `[h]-` and parent with `[h]+`

</details>