The Beta Design System is no longer being updated.

It remains online for reference only. Maintenance, bug fixes, and security updates will continue through July 1, 2026 and are tracked in the Beta GitHub repository.

For active development, head over to California's next design system in our new GitHub repository.

State of California Design System BETA
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Basic webpage structure

The California Design System webpage structure consists of various components and building blocks.

The webpage structural shell usually includes common components like the:

  • Statewide header
  • Site header
  • Site navigation
  • Site footer
  • Statewide footer
  • Navigation

Webpage code template

This code shows the basic CA Design System webpage structure:

HTML

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
   <head>
		<meta charset="utf-8">
		<title>Page title</title>
		<meta name="Author" content="Office of Digital Innovation" />
		<meta name="Description" content="California Design Sistem" />
		<meta name="Keywords" content="California Design System" />
		<!-- other meta tags-->
		<link title="fav icon" rel="icon" href="/img/favicon.ico">
  		<link rel="shortcut icon" href="/img/favicon.ico" />
  		<!--Google Analytics-->
		<!--CA Design System's styles go here-->
		<!--CA Design System's JavaScript goes here-->
	</head>
	<body>
		<!--Skip-to-content component goes here-->
		<header class="header-container">
			<!--Statewide-header goes here (CA.gov branding, utility links)-->
			<!--Site-header goes here (Site logotype, search, mobile buttons)-->
			<!--Site-navigation goes here-->
		</header>
		<div id="page-container" class="page-container-ds">
			<div id="main-content" class="single-column">
				<main id="body-content">
					<!--Site main content goes here-->
				</main>
			</div>
		</div>
		<div class="footer-container">
			<!--Site-footer component (site logo, site footer links, social links)-->
			<footer>
				<!--Back-to-top component -->
				<!--Statewide-footer component (CA.gov logo, statewide footer links)-->
			</footer>
		</div>
	</body>
</html>

Main content layout options

Landing page layout (full-width)

The landing layout uses the full-width content container. It usually works for homepages or landing pages. To use this layout, add the landing class to the #main-content div.

Landing page layout option

HTML

<div id="page-container" class="page-container-ds">
	<div id="main-content" class="single-column landing">
		<main id="body-content">
			<!--Site main content goes here-->
		</main>
	</div>
</div>

Single column layout

The single column layout is a single column content container that has a maximum width of 876px and is centered horizontally. It usually works for regular content pages.

Single column layout option

HTML

<div id="page-container" class="page-container-ds">
	<div id="main-content" class="single-column">
		<main id="body-content">
			<!--Site main content goes here-->
		</main>
	</div>
</div>

The left sidebar layout is a two column layout with a left sidebar column and the main content column. This layout works for long pages that can potentially use page navigation.

Sidebarlayout option

HTML

<div id="page-container" class="page-container-ds">
	<div id="main-content" class="cagov-main">
		<main id="body-content">
			<article class="cagov-article with-sidebar with-page-nav">
					<!--page h1 goes here-->
				<div class="sidebar-container sidebar-cell">
					<!--page navigation goes here-->
				</div>
				<div class="cagov-content content-cell">
					<!--page content goes here-->
				</div>
			</article>
		</main>
	</div>
</div>
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