diff --git a/src/django_simple_nav/nav.py b/src/django_simple_nav/nav.py
index 905efa7..73be0fd 100644
--- a/src/django_simple_nav/nav.py
+++ b/src/django_simple_nav/nav.py
@@ -18,20 +18,27 @@ class Nav:
     template_name: str = field(init=False)
     items: list[NavGroup | NavItem] = field(init=False)
 
-    @classmethod
-    def render_from_request(
-        cls, request: HttpRequest, template_name: str | None = None
-    ) -> str:
+    def get_context_data(self, request: HttpRequest) -> dict[str, Any]:
         items = [
             RenderedNavItem(item, request)
-            for item in cls.items
+            for item in self.items
             if check_item_permissions(item, request.user)  # type: ignore[arg-type]
         ]
+        return {"items": items}
+
+    def render(self, request: HttpRequest, template_name: str | None = None) -> str:
+        context = self.get_context_data(request)
         return render_to_string(
-            template_name=template_name or cls.template_name,
-            context={"items": items},
+            template_name=template_name or self.template_name,
+            context=context,
         )
 
+    @classmethod
+    def render_from_request(
+        cls, request: HttpRequest, template_name: str | None = None
+    ) -> str:
+        return cls().render(request, template_name)
+
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
 class NavGroup:
diff --git a/tests/test_nav.py b/tests/test_nav.py
index ea97d5c..e5e864b 100644
--- a/tests/test_nav.py
+++ b/tests/test_nav.py
@@ -185,3 +185,43 @@ def test_extra_context_builtins(req):
     assert rendered_group_item.permissions == ["is_staff"]
     assert rendered_group_item.extra_context == {"foo": "bar"}
     assert rendered_group_item.foo == "bar"
+
+
+def test_get_context_data(req):
+    req.user = baker.make(get_user_model())
+
+    context = DummyNav().get_context_data(req)
+
+    assert context["items"]
+
+
+def test_get_context_data_override(req):
+    class OverrideNav(DummyNav):
+        def get_context_data(self, request):
+            return {"foo": "bar"}
+
+    req.user = baker.make(get_user_model())
+
+    context = OverrideNav().get_context_data(req)
+
+    assert context["foo"] == "bar"
+
+
+def test_render(req):
+    req.user = baker.make(get_user_model())
+
+    rendered_template = DummyNav().render(req)
+
+    assert count_anchors(rendered_template) == 10
+
+
+def test_render_override(req):
+    class OverrideNav(DummyNav):
+        def get_context_data(self, request):
+            return {"foo": "bar"}
+
+    req.user = baker.make(get_user_model())
+
+    rendered_template = OverrideNav().render(req)
+
+    assert count_anchors(rendered_template) == 0