Table of Contents Block

The Table of Contents Block automatically generates a structured navigation menu based on the headings within your content. This DigiBlocks Theme block is perfect for creating custom single post and page templates using the Site Builder feature from our DigiFusion theme and its Pro version, helping readers navigate long-form content with ease.

Adding the Table of Contents Block

Navigate to the post or page where you want to display the table of contents. Click the block inserter (+) and search for “Table of Contents” in the DigiBlocks Theme category. The block will automatically scan your content for headings and generate a preview in the editor.

General Configuration

Display Options

Control the basic appearance and functionality using the toggle switches in the Options panel:

Show Title – Displays a customizable title above the table of contents

When the title is enabled, you can customize:

Title – Enter custom text for the table of contents heading

Title Tag – Choose the HTML tag for the title (H2, H3, H4, H5, H6, or Div)

Alignment – Set the horizontal alignment of the entire table of contents block with responsive controls for desktop, tablet, and mobile devices

Content Settings

Heading Selection

Configure which headings to include in your table of contents:

Headings to Include – Choose from three options:

  • H2 Only – Includes only H2 headings
  • H2 and H3 – Includes H2 and H3 headings
  • H2, H3, and H4 – Includes H2, H3, and H4 headings

Maximum Depth – Set the deepest heading level to include (1-6)

List Type – Choose between unordered list (bullet points) or ordered list (numbers)

Behavior Options

Scrolling Configuration

Enable Smooth Scrolling – Provides smooth animated scrolling when users click table of contents links

Scroll Offset – Adjust the scroll position by pixels to account for sticky headers or add extra spacing above the target heading

SEO and Accessibility

Enable SEO Markup – Adds structured data markup for better search engine understanding

Collapsible Functionality

Show as Collapsible – Transforms the table of contents into an expandable/collapsible component

When collapsible mode is enabled:

Initially Collapsed – Determines whether the table of contents starts in a collapsed state

Minimize Box Design – Places the toggle button in the top-right corner for a cleaner appearance

Toggle Button Text – Customize the text for both show and hide states of the collapse button

Dimensions

Size Controls

Width – Set the width of the table of contents block with responsive controls and multiple unit options (%, px)

Max Width – Define the maximum width to prevent the block from becoming too wide on larger screens (px, %, em, rem)

List Item Spacing – Control the vertical spacing between individual table of contents items with responsive values

Styling Options

Color Customization

The Colors panel includes both normal and hover state tabs:

Normal State Colors:

  • Background Color – Set the background color for the entire table of contents container
  • Title Color – Choose the color for the table of contents title
  • Text Color – Set the color for list text and UI elements
  • Link Color – Define the default color for table of contents links
  • Border Color – Choose the border color when borders are enabled

Hover State Colors:

  • Link Hover Color – Set the color links change to when users hover over them

Typography Settings

Title Typography – Configure the appearance of the table of contents title:

Font Family – Select from available Google Fonts

Font Size – Responsive controls with pixel, em, or rem units

Font Weight – Select from available font weights

Font Style – Normal or italic styling

Text Transform – None, uppercase, lowercase, or capitalize

Text Decoration – Add underline, overline, or line-through effects

Line Height – Control line spacing with em or pixel units

Letter Spacing – Adjust character spacing with responsive controls

Content Typography – Style the table of contents list items independently from the title with the same typography options

Borders and Shadow Effects

Border Style – Choose from none, solid, dashed, dotted, or double border styles

Border Width – Set individual border widths for each side with responsive controls

Border Radius – Round the corners of the table of contents container with responsive values

Box Shadow – Add drop shadows with both normal and hover states, including:

  • Horizontal and vertical offset controls
  • Blur and spread radius settings
  • Shadow color selection
  • Inset or outset positioning options

Spacing Controls

Padding – Set internal spacing around the table of contents content with responsive dimension controls for each side

Margin – Define external spacing around the entire block with responsive controls

Advanced Features

Animation Effects

Add entrance animations to make the table of contents more engaging when it enters the viewport. Choose from fade, slide, zoom, bounce, and other animation options with a preview button to test effects.

Visibility Controls

Control when the table of contents appears across different devices:

Hide on Desktop – Conceals the block on desktop screens

Hide on Tablet – Hides the block on tablet devices

Hide on Mobile – Removes the block from mobile displays

Additional Options

HTML Anchor – Create a unique web address for linking directly to the table of contents block

Additional CSS Classes – Add custom CSS classes for advanced styling with external stylesheets

Frontend Functionality

On the frontend, the Table of Contents Block provides several interactive features:

Automatic Generation

The block automatically scans your content and generates links to all matching headings based on your configuration settings.

Smooth Scrolling

When enabled, clicking any table of contents link smoothly scrolls to the target heading with the specified offset.

Collapsible Interface

If configured as collapsible, users can expand or collapse the table of contents using the toggle button.

SEO Benefits

With SEO markup enabled, the table of contents provides structured data that search engines can use to better understand your content organization.

Best Practices

For optimal results with the Table of Contents Block:

Ensure your content uses proper heading hierarchy with H2 as main sections and H3/H4 as subsections. Add meaningful anchor IDs to your headings for more descriptive URLs. Configure the scroll offset to account for any sticky headers in your theme. Use the collapsible feature for longer tables of contents to save screen space.

The block works seamlessly with the DigiFusion theme’s Site Builder feature, making it perfect for creating custom post templates that automatically include navigation for long-form content.