CSS User Interface (UI)

Subject: css

CSS User Interface (UI)

CSS User Interface (UI) properties enhance the way users interact with elements on a web page. These properties allow developers to control how elements behave when hovered, selected, resized, or interacted with using the mouse or keyboard.

UI-related styling improves the overall usability, interactivity, and accessibility of websites, especially when combined with JavaScript or form elements.

Why Use CSS UI Properties?

  • Improve user experience (UX)
  • Provide visual feedback to users
  • Guide user behavior with cursor hints and interactivity
  • Help users resize or scroll areas intuitively

Example 1: Custom Cursor on Hover

🚀 Try it in Compiler

Example 2: Resizable Textarea

🚀 Try it in Compiler

Example 3: Disabling Text Selection

🚀 Try it in Compiler

Example 4: Input Caret Color

🚀 Try it in Compiler

Example 5: Pointer Events

🚀 Try it in Compiler

Best Practices

  • Use UI properties to enhance interaction, not just for decoration
  • Avoid overusing custom cursors or selection blocking unless necessary
  • Always test UI behavior across devices and screen readers
  • Use box-sizing: border-box; in your CSS reset for consistent sizing

Browser Support

Most UI-related CSS properties are well supported in all modern browsers. However, always test:

  • user-select and pointer-events in mobile browsers
  • resize behavior across different platforms

Key Takeaways

  • CSS UI properties allow you to control how elements behave and respond to users
  • Use cursor, resize, outline, user-select, and caret-color for enhanced UX
  • Combine with JavaScript and accessibility best practices for full control
  • Apply these features carefully to maintain usability across devices and browsers
Next: CSS Specificity