[BUG] : Sidebar Collapses When Clicking Empty Areas Instead of Only the Collapse Button

[NiranjanRSoorej06]

Summary

The sidebar collapses when clicking on empty/non-interactive areas within the sidebar. It should only collapse when the dedicated collapse (<<) button is clicked.

Why this matters

Users may accidentally collapse the sidebar while navigating or interacting with the sidebar, leading to an unexpected and frustrating user experience.

Reproduction steps

1. Launch the application.
2. Keep the sidebar expanded.
3. Click on any empty area within the sidebar (not on a navigation item or button).
4. Observe that the sidebar collapses.

Expected behavior

The sidebar should remain expanded when clicking anywhere inside the sidebar except the dedicated collapse (<<) button.

Actual behavior

Clicking on non-interactive/empty areas within the sidebar causes it to collapse, even though the collapse button was not clicked.

Scope

Suggested files or directories:

• Sidebar component
• Sidebar event handlers
• Layout component

Related route, page, component, or script:

• Sidebar
• Collapse Button

Evidence

• Sidebar collapses after clicking empty space inside the sidebar.
• Screenshot attached.

Environment

• OS: Windows 10
• Browser: Chrome
• Python Version: N/A
• Node Version: N/A
• Docker Version: N/A

Definition of done

• Bug is reproducible from the issue description
• Sidebar only collapses when the dedicated collapse (<<) button is clicked
• Clicking empty/non-interactive areas within the sidebar does not change its state
• Relevant tests are added or updated if applicable

Additional context

The collapse action appears to be bound to the sidebar container rather than being limited to the dedicated collapse button.

[NiranjanRSoorej06]

Hi @utksh1 ,

I would like to work on this issue as part of GSSoC'26.

Kindly assign this issue to me.

Suggested labels: bug frontend ui/ux gssoc gssoc:assigned difficulty

Thank you!

[Mogu-code]

Hi, I see someone else has also expressed interest in this issue. I'd love to work on it too if it's still unassigned happy to let the maintainer decide, or if the other contributor doesn't start soon I'm ready to pick it up. I'm a first-time contributor and will scope the fix to the sidebar's collapse click handler so only the << button triggers collapse.

[aaniya22]

pls assign this to me under gssoc

[utksh1]

@Mogu-code @aaniya22 Thank you for your interest! This issue is already assigned to @NiranjanRSoorej06. Please check other unassigned issues in the repository.