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Bootstrap breadcrumbs use a labeled <nav>, a .breadcrumb list, and .breadcrumb-item entries to show a page’s position in a site hierarchy. Link the ancestor pages and mark the current page with aria-current="page":
<nav aria-label="breadcrumb">
<ol class="breadcrumb">
<li class="breadcrumb-item"><a href="/">Home</a></li>
<li class="breadcrumb-item"><a href="/library">Library</a></li>
<li class="breadcrumb-item active" aria-current="page">Data</li>
</ol>
</nav>
This pattern follows the Bootstrap v5.3 breadcrumb component. Bootstrap supplies the separator through CSS, so you do not need to add slash characters between list items.
Label the navigation and identify the current page
The aria-label="breadcrumb" on <nav> gives the navigation region a meaningful name. On the final list item, aria-current="page" identifies the page the visitor is viewing. Use links for navigable ancestors; the current page is presented as the active, non-linked item.
Bootstrap’s component guidance provides this accessible markup pattern, but Bootstrap does not make a page accessible automatically. Authors remain responsible for the quality of the markup, styling, and scripting. The component documentation links to the WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices breadcrumb pattern for additional guidance.
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Change the Bootstrap breadcrumb separator
Bootstrap’s default divider is a slash generated by a CSS pseudo-element. The v5.3 docs demonstrate three ways to adjust it:
- Text divider: Set
--bs-breadcrumb-divideron the navigation element. For example,<nav aria-label="breadcrumb" style="--bs-breadcrumb-divider: '>';">changes the separator to a greater-than sign. This local CSS custom property does not require recompiling Bootstrap CSS. - SVG divider: Use an SVG as the divider value when you want a custom graphic. If placing SVG data in a CSS custom property, correctly URL-encode or escape reserved characters.
- No divider: The component docs also show how to remove the separator when the design calls for one.
For projects that build Bootstrap from Sass, customize $breadcrumb-divider instead. The custom-property approach is convenient for a local change; the Sass variable is suited to a build workflow where the framework CSS is compiled with project-specific settings. See the component documentation for the exact text, SVG, and no-divider examples.
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What changed from older Bootstrap breadcrumb styling
Bootstrap’s v5 migration notes describe a simplified default breadcrumb appearance: padding, background color, and border radius were removed. They also document the CSS custom property for changing the divider without recompiling CSS. Breadcrumb CSS variables were added in Bootstrap 5.2.0. If you are adapting older Bootstrap examples, check their styles rather than assuming their former background and spacing are still defaults. See the Bootstrap v5.3 migration notes.
Optional breadcrumb examples
The basic component is enough for a hierarchy trail. Bootstrap also publishes a breadcrumbs example with extensions such as custom icons and stepper components. Those are optional design patterns, not requirements for a standard breadcrumb.
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This guide follows Bootstrap’s v5.3 documentation; the cited material does not establish a newer 2026 Bootstrap release. The Bootstrap v5.3 Examples index provides the broader collection of downloadable examples.
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