Overview
Cards are small previews of app content, with each card representing a specific topic, task, or perspective. As containers, they offer a variety of content, from charts, to lists, to descriptive unit information. The cards listed in this page follow and expands Fiori's standards for cards. For example:
- Single Object Cards display content regarding a single topic, object, or entity.
- Group Object Cards contain a subset of items grouped by a common criterion or concept.
Usage
Cards display varying types of content from different sources in one page, allow users to preview application content, monitor key topics, and quick start relevant tasks. Cards are frequently used on the homepage of our applications. Cards can have flexible layouts, and users can resize and move them on a Dynamic Canvas as needed.
In Database, Data Management & Analytics tools, Cards have additional variations and specifications for some discussed standard Fiori card types, and they are covered in this article and should be used as the primary guideline for our applications.
- You want to show dynamic information with multiple interactive elements and interaction areas.
- You need to show previews of app content from different sources for different topics.
- You want to enable users to resize and rearrange the container for personalization.
- You want to provide at-a-glance information or display a single type of content only (for example, images or icons). Use Tiles instead.
- You only need a navigational component that directs the user to an application or a page (use the container itself is a link). Use Tiles instead.
Cards on SAC's Homepage
Tiles on SAC's Content Network
Anatomy
- Header, required
- Content area, required
- Footer, optional
The most basic structure of a Card, defined by Fiori, comprises a mandatory header and content area. The optional footer area can be used as needed in Database, Data Management & Analytics applications and not restricted to a particular card type described in Fiori.
Header
- 1.1 Avatar, optional; displays an icon, image, initials, or logo.
- 1.2 Title, required; describes what the card is about in plain, conversational language. It should be concise and easy to read. Don't wrap titles to a second line.
- 1.3 Subtitle, optional; show a description, status, timestamp, or offer an explanation.
- 1.4 Card actions, optional; amaximum of 3 actions (icon-only buttons) are allowed in the available actions space. For more than three actions, use an overflow menu in place of the third button.
Content Area
Use the content area for charts, lists, table, calendar events, images, links, buttons, and text, or a combination of these elements.
Footer
The entire footer area is optional, but use the the footer when any or all of the items below are needed:
- 3.1 Metadata/Status Information, optional; indicates the status of a card or its contents with object display components in the the appropriate semantic color.
- 3.2 Footer Actions, optional; supports up to three text-buttons in a card's footer. Use either Secondary Ghost, or Transparent Highlightbuttons. For marking a card, such as flagging or favoriting, use an object marker.
- 3.3 Resize Handle, optional; suggests a card may be resized. Not all cards need to be resizable.
Card Types
This section showcases the common card types and the range of varieties, and it is still a WIP and should not be read as exhaustive. Three standard Fiori Card types with that often used in our applications:
1. Analytical Card
The Analytical Card is a standard Fiori card type that used for data visualization and often shown on the Homepage of our applications. It consists of a header area and a chart area, and the visual representation of the data can be static or interactive. In SAC, depending on the type of visualizations, the header actions might be different. The Analytical Card is a single object card and does not contain a footer area. This type of card can be resizable or fixed in size.
Use Title and Subtitle (optional).
User overflow for additional header actions.
Don't use Avatar/Icon for Analytical Cards.
Don't surface more than 3 actions in the header area.
2. Quick View Card
Quick View Cards are Single Object Cards, and they display the basic details for one object or subject. The use of this type cards is not restricted to the Fiori guideline, the cards can be used on the homepage and other areas in our applications, for profile information, data attribute, and account information etc. It contains a header, content, and footer area. Quick view cards are often fixed in size and designed in a horizontal layout.
Use the avatar to help differentiate the type of object/app/content.
Place metadata/status information to the left side of the footer and action buttons to the right.
Don’t misplace the action buttons and metadata in the footer.
Don’t use both header and footer actions for quick view cards.
3. List Card
The List Card is also one of the standard Fiori card types that display a set of items or link in a list format. It contains a header, content area, and an optional footer area is optional. The list of items can be dynamic and interactive. You can use an icon, image, link, and buttons in an item. The list card is often resizable.
Reserve enough content space for scrolling and reveal at least 5 list items.
For the link list, use the entire list item as a clickable element with proper interaction states.
Don’t set fixed/default dimensions that has limited content space for List Cards.
The item name and attribute (optional) should not exceed 2 lines.
Don’t use link text as the indicator instead of a hover state.
Behavior and Interactions
There are various interactions for different types of cards and layouts. Here are the common interactions a card can have, please note these may not apply to all cards.
Navigation
Some cards may have links that help the user to navigate to corresponding files and content. In our applications, links are often represented by the list items in the list cards. If the list item comprises icon, title, and subtitle, show no more than 6 by default and hide the rest. To see more items/links the user can scroll the list or resize the card if applicable.
A card itself may be clickable and can direct the user to corresponding content or space. In our applications, SAC's Catalog Cards and DWC's Space Cards are examples of such behaviour and interactions.
Delete
Cards can have a Delete Button when the user hovers over the header area. The Delete button will allow users to delete any cards that no longer needed in a customizable and more personalized space, such as the Homepage. System cards and published cards created by others will not have the Delete option.
Resizing
The cards are positioned on an underlying grid, making it possible to arrange and resize cards in a flexible, yet guided manner. Cards can be resized by interacting with the handle icon on the bottom-right side of the footer. For more information, please refer to Fiori's Resizable Card Layout
Dragging
Cards can be dragged around the screen by clicking and holding on the card’s header. The mouse cursor will change to the multi-directional cursor to indicate the dragging interaction is enabled. This interaction allows users to move cards based on their preferences. While cards can be dragged freely on a dynamic canvas, there are some restrictions for some screens in certain products: for example, homepages with a fixed activity card in the centre, the available dragging areas would be on both sides of the activity cards and dragging other cards will not change its position.
Additional Interactions
There are additional interactions that user can have with a card, such as expanding the card to reveal more information, filtering the card content, saving a card as favourite, and editing the entry-level content etc. The general advice is that only offer actions the users really need in a specific context.
Specifications
Cards can vary in layouts and sizes, and they should be designed to support the content contained. This section shows some common card layouts as examples to help showcase the variety and specifications.
Base structure
Title, Subtitle, Header Actions, and Footer Actions
Avatar, Title, Subtitle, Footer Metadata, and Footer Actions
List Content (Avatar, Item Name, Attribute, Timestamp, and Action Button)
For details of standard one-line and two-line list content, please refer to theFiori specifications.
Support
If you have any questions or feedback about this page, please contact our team. For further information and questions in regards to the Design System, please visit the DNA Design SharePoint.