Foundation · stable · v1.0.0 · owner: Site system lead · contract 19 of 20 points (open: figma)
Reference
Source reference; not an executed check.
float- elevation.modal
Do and don't
2 positive / 2 negative authored documentation examples (2 each required); 1 reference (1 required); 0 failed. References and failures do not count; this is not behavior acceptance.
Do: A floating menu owns its shadow
Authored by elevation.tsRule illustration; not an executed check. elevation / elevation.float-only
The native Header uses --shadow-float on .mega-panel and .drawer-panel.
The panel floats above the page; this source illustration does not open or test a menu.Do: A resting tile uses a raised surface
Authored by elevation.tsRendered consumer example; not an executed correctness check. tile-grid Isolated document follows the browser's colour and contrast preferences. The outer theme toolbar does not control this document.
Open example: Elevation · Do: A resting tile uses a raised surface Use the full-page example to follow page links.
Don't: Every resting proof card floats
Authored by elevation.tsRule illustration; not an executed check. elevation / elevation.float-only
.resting-proof-card { box-shadow: var(--shadow-float); }
The card remains in normal document flow.Don't: Selection incorrectly makes a resting card float
Authored by elevation.tsRule illustration; not an executed check. elevation / elevation.float-only
.resting-card[aria-current="true"] { box-shadow: var(--shadow-float); }
Selection changes, but the card never becomes a floating panel.Rules
| Rule | Why | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Shadows only on floating elements. | A shadow means it floats. | Automated: scripts/site/check-brand.ts (box-shadow only from tokens) |
API
No props.
Contract details
The full contract: identity, anatomy, variants, states, tokens, layout, motion, accessibility, content, tests
Identity
| Aspect | Value |
|---|---|
| Id | elevation |
| Layer | Foundations |
| Category | foundation |
| Owner | Site system lead |
| Status | stable |
| Version | 1.0.0 |
| Source | apps/showcase/site/system/foundations/elevation.ts (private repository; the contract and the render function are this one module) |
| Version | Date | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0 | 2026-10-26 | Elevation as one module: its markup moved out of the page builder (scripts/site) into the system. |
Use when
- Mega-menu panels and anything that floats. Why: A shadow says 'above the page'.
Do not use when
- Cards at rest. Why: Tone, not shadow, raises a panel; shadows everywhere flatten meaning.
Anatomy
| Part | What it is |
|---|---|
| tone | --surface, --surface-2, --surface-3 |
| float | --elevation-2 (elevation.modal) |
Made of: nothing (a base element).
Used in: pages directly.
Variants
| Variant | When | Why |
|---|---|---|
| light and dark | Every page, following the reader's setting. | The same roles resolve to light or dark values, so no element chooses its own. |
States
| State | Rendered or not applicable |
|---|---|
| default | The specimen. |
| hover | Not applicable: A foundation is not interactive. |
| focus-visible | Not applicable: Not focusable. |
| active | Not applicable: Not interactive. |
| disabled | Not applicable: Nothing to disable. |
| loading | Not applicable: Values are built into the stylesheet. |
| empty | Not applicable: The build fails if a value is missing. |
| error | Not applicable: Unresolved values fail the brand gate, not the reader. |
| current | Not applicable: No current item. |
| visited | Not applicable: Not a link. |
| expanded | Not applicable: Does not open. |
Tokens
| Part | Token |
|---|---|
| --surface | Raised panel |
| --elevation-2 | elevation.modal |
Layout
| Aspect | Value |
|---|---|
| breakpoints | Required review at 390, 768, 1024 and 1440 px; execution is not implied by this declaration; columns stack under 768 px; the wrap keeps a 16 px gutter on phones. |
| wrapping | Text wraps; nothing scrolls sideways. |
| textExpansion | Japanese runs 20 to 40% longer; headings break between phrases (jaBreaks) and blocks grow downwards. |
Spacing and rhythm
| Aspect | Value |
|---|---|
| internal | Not applicable: a foundation has no box of its own. |
| external | Not applicable. |
| rhythm | Applies to every element that reads it. |
Motion
| Aspect | Value |
|---|---|
| None | A foundation does not move. |
Runtime and reuse
Render-only element; mount any registered child enhancements separately. Preserve required Site CSS, fonts, responsive and locale rules from nativeElement.
Accessibility passport
| Aspect | Value |
|---|---|
| role | Not rendered on the site; its specimen in the Library is a list |
| name | The foundation's name |
| keyboard | Not interactive. |
| focus | Not focusable. |
| screenReader | The specimen is a plain list of names and values. |
| contrast | Every text and ground pair in the palette is checked (check-brand). |
| target | Not a target. |
Content
| Slot | Length | Voice |
|---|---|---|
| labels and links inside raised or floating surfaces | The consuming panel, navigation or link contract's budget | Keep the same meaningful labels when a menu opens. Elevation describes position and cannot stand in for a heading, accessible name or state message. |
| shadow name and value (fixed Library specimen) | The full SHADOW entry from brand.ts; no content prop | Show the stored shadow value. A float token is not a new card variant or evidence of menu behaviour. |
Good: “An open menu with named navigation links and the floating shadow (BRAND.md)” · “A card on --surface with readable ink text and no resting shadow (BRAND.md)”
Bad: “A card labelled important only by a stronger shadow” · “A resting proof card given a floating-menu shadow”
Japanese: The consuming navigation or panel owns Japanese labels and accessible names; keep shadow token names and CSS values unchanged. Check expanded Japanese menu text in its actual surface. This foundation has no locale prop and does not establish native-language or floating-panel acceptance.
Icons and illustrations
None: this element uses no icon or illustration of its own.
Decisions and exceptions
- None.
Usage
53 owned-class occurrences in built pages plus metadata-token references in built CSS (measured by npm run site:system).
No application mechanism is declared.
Current check result: not assessed by this report. Declarations and source-file presence do not establish executed enforcement or accepted coverage.
Tests
| Aspect | Value |
|---|---|
| unit | tests/unit/site-system.test.ts: renders every do and don't example through the registry and checks the classes it owns |
| visual | Not yet: there are no screenshot baselines; the Library page is checked for sideways scroll at 1440 px by tests/site/system.spec.ts |
| a11y | tests/site/system.spec.ts: axe (0 serious or critical) on the element's Library page in light and dark |
| parity | scripts/site/system/check.ts: Library examples are rendered by the same render function the site imports |
Figma
not-yet: The Loom Site Figma library is the last stage of the plan; this element is not mapped yet.