# Divider

> Visual separator between sections (horizontal or vertical).

- Status: stable
- Group: structure
- Page: https://www.digitaltableteur.com/design-system/components/divider
- Contract: https://www.digitaltableteur.com/contracts/v1/Divider.contract.json

## When to use

Divider draws a rule on the production border tokens. By default it is decorative; `role="none"`, invisible to assistive tech; which is right when it only supports visual rhythm. Set `decorative={false}` when the rule conveys real structure (menu groups, toolbar clusters) so AT users get the same grouping. Vertical dividers need a height from their flex row.

## When not to use

- Do not use a divider as spacing; reach for gap or Spacer when you only need distance.
- Do not put a divider between every list row; List's own rhythm and borders handle that.
- Do not use dividers as spacing; if you only need distance, use gap or Spacer.

## Look-alikes

- Spacer: Do not use dividers as spacing; if you only need distance, use gap or Spacer.

## Props

| Prop | Type | Default | Description | Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `orientation` | `"horizontal" \| "vertical"` | `horizontal` | Horizontal rule or vertical separator. | No |
| `decorative` | `boolean` | `true` | When true, removed from accessibility tree (purely visual) | No |
| `className` | `string` | none | Optional spacing token class; use margin utilities on className. | No |

## Variants

- Available orientations: `horizontal`, `vertical` (default `horizontal`).

## Invalid combinations

The contract records no invalid combinations.

## Keyboard

The contract records no keyboard interaction.

## Rules

Every item under When not to use is a MUST NOT. MUST and SHOULD follow RFC 2119.

| Level | Rule | How it is checked |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MUST | ARIA: Decorative (the default) renders <hr role="none"> so assistive tech skips it. | Not yet verified: no evidence record. WCAG 4.1.2. |
| MUST | ARIA: Decorative={false} renders role="separator" with aria-orientation matching the orientation prop. | Not yet verified: no evidence record. WCAG 4.1.2. |
| MUST | Required stories produce no axe violations at the configured severity. | Automated by `npm run test:stories:matrix:ci`. WCAG 2.5.8. |
| MUST | The accessibility tree (role, name, state) matches the committed snapshot for every required story. | Automated by `npm run test:stories:matrix:ci`. WCAG 1.3.1, 4.1.2. |
| MUST | The component remains legible and operable under a real browser forced-colors: active pass. | Automated by `npm run test:stories:hc`. |
| MUST | A human completed an end-to-end accessibility review of this component. | Manual review, last on 2026-11-04. |
| SHOULD | Keep the decorative default when the rule is visual rhythm only. | Not stated in the contract. |
| SHOULD | Set decorative={false} where the split carries meaning (menu groups) so the separator role is announced. | Not stated in the contract. |
| SHOULD | Give vertical dividers a height via the parent row (align-self stretch or explicit class). | Not stated in the contract. |
| SHOULD | Space it with the parent's gap or margin utilities on className, not wrapper divs. | Not stated in the contract. |
| SHOULD NOT | Do not put a divider between every list row; List's own rhythm and borders handle that. | Not stated in the contract. |

## Install and import

- Install: `npm install @digitaltableteur/react` (version 0.9.1, restricted access on npm).
- Import: `import { Divider } from "@digitaltableteur/react";`
- Entry point: `@digitaltableteur/react/layout` exports it too.
- Styles: import `@digitaltableteur/react/style.css` once at the app boundary.
- Also available as the custom element `<dt-divider>`; see the custom elements manifest.

## Links

- Machine-readable contract (Design System Contract 1.0): https://www.digitaltableteur.com/contracts/v1/Divider.contract.json
- Markdown version of this page: https://www.digitaltableteur.com/design-system/components/divider.md
- Component index as JSON: https://www.digitaltableteur.com/design-system/components.json
- All components: https://www.digitaltableteur.com/design-system/components
- Source: The implementation lives in a private repository. This page, its Markdown twin and the contract are generated from it at build time and are the public source of truth.