Ultimate Drop Down Menu (UDM)

Ultimate Drop Down Menu (UDM) is a sophisticated, standards-based and accessible JavaScript menu, that provides useable content to all browsers — including screenreaders, search-engines and text-only browsers.

I developed and maintained UDM as a commercial API between 2003-2007, before selling the rights to a US developer.

Key benefits include:

• Visible to search-engines
• WAI and Section 508 compliant
• Easy integration with your website or application
• Advanced usability features including keyboard navigation
• Horizontal, vertical, popup or expanding menus
• 100% CSS-driven designs

Ultimate Drop Down Menu Version 4 is unique among its contemporaries — no other menu system quite matches UDM's combination of accessibility, usability and feature-rich design. Since its release in 2004, some competitors have emulated UDM's designs, while others have copied its accessibility features; but none have reproduced the whole package!

UDM was the world's first fully-featured and accessible DHTML menu, and remains the most flexible and robust solution on the market.

A brief history of UDM

I developed and maintained UDM as a commercial API between 2003-2007. The menu became very popular very soon after its launch, since it was so far ahead of its competitors, and continues to this day to be regarded among the best of its kind. UDM is considered the menu-of-choice for standards-aware developers across the world.

UDM has also helped to set new standards of excellence — for JavaScript menus in particular, and accessible JavaScript in general — pioneering techniques which have now become recommended practise by accessibility experts.

In 2007 I sold the rights to a US developer, and I'm no longer involved in its business; however I do still consult to the current owner on technical issues, occasionally.