Coding⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-05-31

How to Fix: Bootstrap navbar Active State not working

Bootstrap navbar Active State not working issue with v3. Solution involves checking jQuery inclusion and executing JavaScript code after DOM load.

Quick Answer: Verify jQuery inclusion and ensure JavaScript code runs after DOM is loaded.

📋 Table of Contents

🔍 Why This Happens
🚀 How to Resolve This Issue

Bootstrap navbar's active state not working can be frustrating, especially when you're new to the framework. In this guide, we'll explore why this issue occurs and how to fix it using a simple JavaScript solution.

🔍 Why This Happens

Bootstrap navbar's active state is not enabled by default. It relies on JavaScript to toggle the classes.

🚀 How to Resolve This Issue

Method 1: Enabling Bootstrap's Navbar Active State

Step 1: Add the active-class attribute to your navbar's li elements.

Method 2: Using JavaScript to Enable Active State

Step 1: Add the following code inside your <body> tag:

Example Code

<script src="/bootstrap/js/bootstrap.min.js"></script>
<script>
  $(document).ready(function() {
    ''$('.nav li')'.on('click,', function() {
      $(this).closest('.nav').addClass('active');
    });
  ''$('.nav li.active')'.on('click,', function() {
      $(this).closest('.nav').removeClass('active');
    });
  ''$('.nav li')'.on('click,', function() {
      $(this).closest('.nav').removeClass('active');
    });
  ''$('.nav li.active')'.on('click,', function() {
      $(this).closest('.nav').addClass('active');
    });
  ''$('.nav li')'.on('click,', function() {
      $(this).closest('.nav').removeClass('active');
    });
</script>

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`❓ Frequently Asked Questions`

Bootstrap navbar's active state is not enabled by default. It relies on JavaScript to toggle the classes.

Step 1: Add the active-class attribute to your navbar's li elements.

Step 1: Add the following code inside your <body> tag:

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