What is hover?
Hover is a way for a website to detect when your mouse pointer is placed over an element, like a button or a link, without clicking it. In web design, this is usually done with the CSS :hover selector, which lets you change the element’s appearance (color, size, shadow, etc.) while the cursor is over it.
Let's break it down
- Element: Anything on a page - text, image, button, box.
- Mouse pointer: The arrow you move with your mouse or trackpad.
- Hover state: The moment the pointer rests on the element.
- CSS :hover: A rule you write in a stylesheet that says “when this element is hovered, apply these styles.”
Example:
a:hover { color: red; }makes a link turn red when you hover over it.
Why does it matter?
Hover gives users instant visual feedback, showing that something is interactive. It helps guide navigation, improves usability, and makes a site feel more responsive and polished. For beginners, it’s a simple way to add interactivity without JavaScript.
Where is it used?
- Navigation menus (dropdowns appear on hover)
- Buttons that change color or grow slightly
- Image galleries where captions fade in on hover
- Tooltips that show extra info when you hover over an icon
- Links that underline or change style on hover
Good things about it
- Easy to implement with just a few lines of CSS.
- No extra scripts needed, so it loads fast.
- Improves user experience by providing clear cues.
- Works consistently across modern browsers.
- Can be combined with transitions for smooth animations.
Not-so-good things
- Hover doesn’t work on touch‑only devices (phones, tablets) because there’s no cursor.
- Overusing hover effects can distract or overwhelm users.
- If the hover change is too subtle, users may not notice it.
- Relying solely on hover for essential information can make a site inaccessible to keyboard‑only or assistive‑technology users.