Enhancement Suggestion: Context-Aware Sidebar Toggle Icons for Improved Usability

[bluesailor]

I’d like to suggest an improvement to AdminLTE’s sidebar toggle UI.

Currently, the sidebar toggle is positioned in the top navbar using a single "hamburger" icon. However, this approach may not be intuitive in certain layouts, especially when the sidebar is collapsed and the user has no clear visual clue about how to expand it again—especially on desktop layouts.

Proposed Improvement

I recommend the following UI enhancement based on my current implementation:

• Sidebar Logo Area

  • Add a context-aware toggle icon directly inside the sidebar's logo area.
  • This icon:
    • Remains hidden by default;
    • Becomes visible only when the sidebar is collapsed;
    • Shows a “→” icon or custom SVG indicating "expand";
    • Offers a clearer and more accessible way to reopen the sidebar.

• Top Navbar Icon

  • Retain the existing hamburger icon;
  • When sidebar is collapsed, hovering over the icon changes it to a “←” icon (or custom SVG) to indicate "collapse/expand" function.

• Custom SVG Styling

  • SVG icons should adapt visually depending on background:
    • For dark sidebars: light-colored icons with subtle hover effects;
    • For light layouts: dark-colored icons with good contrast.

Benefits

• Improves visual clarity and usability, especially in desktop layouts;
• Provides users with an intuitive visual cue about sidebar state;
• Makes the UI more flexible and accessible without breaking existing design.