Dropdown menu
A dropdown menu is a list that opens from a visible control to pick an option or run a command. iOS splits it into a pop-up button for options and a pull-down button for commands, and Material 3 has a dropdown menu.
Why it matters
One name hides two jobs. A pop-up button picks one of several mutually exclusive options and shows the choice; a pull-down button offers commands related to its action. Mixing them confuses what the label means.
A visible control opens it, unlike a context menu, which hides behind a long press.
Dropdown menu on iOS and Android
Also called Pop-up button, Pull-down button, Select, Overflow menu. The same idea in each system, with the values Appetite UI gives it.
| Value | iOS | Android | Appetite UI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Pop-up button and pull-down button | Dropdown menu | DropdownMenu |
| Menu in the file | 238 wide at radius 32, 3, 4 or 5 items | None in the file, Compose DropdownMenu | See below |
| Elevation (Material Components) | Glass material | 3 dp popup elevation | See below |
In Appetite UI
DropdownMenu adds a title row, a description line and a Checked state; rows are 56 tall against 40 on iOS. Only Popover anchors to any control and shows no preview.
Example
A Sort button opens a menu with Newest, Oldest and Price, with a check on the current one; on iOS that is a pop-up button, and the button shows the choice.
Common mistakes
- Using a menu for two options. Use a segmented control or a toggle.
- Not showing the current choice in the button.
- Commands and options mixed in one list.
- Long labels that wrap. Keep them short.
Questions
What is the difference between a pop-up button and a pull-down button on iOS?
A pop-up button presents mutually exclusive options and updates to show the choice. A pull-down button presents commands related to its action, and the menu closes when one runs.
What is the difference between a dropdown menu and a context menu?
A dropdown menu opens from a visible control. A context menu opens from a long press on an item and acts on that item.
Sources
The pages the facts above rest on, each read October 30, 2026.