Have you ever visited a website with plain text and images? Most probably, no. It’s because such websites do not exist now. But there was a time when websites only had plain text and images with almost no styling. For the longest time, websites did not focus on user experience. For instance, this is how eBay’s homepage looked in 1999.
Looking at the picture, we can say that the Internet has evolved, and so has the website needs. In modern-day websites, you need hues, animations, shadows, and other effects to take the user on an aesthetically pleasing journey. This keeps the visitors hooked to the website, which helps improve the website’s key KPIs (i.e., bounce rate, average session duration, etc.).
As per a report, 75% of website credibility comes from design. That means people would prefer reading something beautifully designed than something that leaves minimal (to no) appeal to their eyes. So, websites have to look and feel good. Best websites are often the ones that have a visible “real” quality to them. Box shadow plays an integral role in making a website look realistic. They have become an absolute necessity in designing modern websites. Now, you might be wondering how. So, let’s get to that.
Sometimes, I find myself staring at a website, wondering how to make the website feel realistic. CSS box-shadow comes in as a crucial answer to this question. It provides depth to the content and makes it appear like the shadow is coming from the content itself, just like the shadows we see in the real world. This illusion brings realism into the user’s online experience.
Look at the cards in the first and second rows. Could you notice any difference between them? The cards in the first row are bland and boring. They have no shadow around them.
But notice the second row that has a subtle shadow around each card. This simple effect makes the cards look more realistic. This is exactly how CSS box-shadow helps you make your web content appealing.
There are different ways to style CSS box-shadow effects. Each style is better suited for a particular type of design than others. So, it is critical to understand which type of shadow to implement for which design. For example, a neon shadow would be more suitable if the website has a dark theme.
In this blog on CSS box-shadow effects, we dive deep into the CSS box-shadow property and the different ways to style the CSS box-shadow effects. This will help you design your web content to stand out, providing the users with a more appealing experience.
Why even use shadows?
In my experience, we understand something better when we know the problem it attempts to solve. So, before we get to the fun part of creating shadows, let’s take a step back to understand why shadows exist in CSS. Knowing the why will help you decide when to use shadows and when to avoid using them.
Shadows provide elevation. So, larger shadows mean extensive elevation. Using shadows properly creates a sense of depth, as if the objects are floating above the background at different levels. You want your websites to feel tangible and genuine. Shadows will help achieve exactly that.
HTML:
<nav><h3>LambdaTest</h3></nav>
<main>
<section class="container">
<div>Are you sure?</div>
<p>This action can not be undone.</p>
</section>
</main>
CSS:
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Roboto:wght@600&display=swap');
*{
box-sizing:border-box;
padding:0;
margin:0;
font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
}
body{
background:hsla(340deg,95%,43%,0.1);
}
nav{
background:#FFFFFF;
padding:20px;
box-shadow: 0px 5px 4px -7px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75);
}
main{
display:flex;
justify-content:center;
align-items:center;
}
section{
background:#FFFFFF;
color:#0A0C10;
width:30em;
height:250px;
padding: 1em;
margin: 1.5em;
line-height:25px;
box-shadow:0 6px 6px hsl(0deg 0% 0% / 0.3);
}
div{
font-weight:600;
}
@media only screen and (min-width:400px){
section{
margin:4em;
padding: 2em;
}
div{
font-size:1.5rem;
}
section{
line-height:34px;
}
}
You might want to use shadows in either of the two cases.
When you want your web content to feel realistic.
When you want to draw the user’s attention to something specific.
Our attention is naturally drawn to the objects that are closest to us. In this blog on styling CSS box-shadow effects, we applied different shadows on the navbar and the modal box, and by elevating the modal box, we give the idea that the modal box is closer to us than the header. As a result, the user is more likely to focus on the modal box first.
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What is CSS box-shadow property?
The CSS box-shadow property allows you to add a shadow to an element. You can add multiple shadow effects to an element by separating them with commas.
Here’s another example of how it looks:
Now that you know what a CSS box shadow looks like on an element, let’s move to the next part to understand how you can apply that.
Values of the CSS box-shadow property
The CSS box shadow of an element is defined by X and Y offsets relative to the element, blur radius, spread radius, and color. Too complicated to understand? Don’t worry! Let’s understand this very simply.
x-offset: The x-offset represents the horizontal shadow of the element. This value is required and can either be positive or negative. A positive value puts the shadow on the right side of the element, while a negative value puts the shadow on the left side.
y-offset: The y-offset represents the vertical shadow of the element. The y-offset value is also required. It can be defined using a positive or negative value. A positive value puts the shadow below the element, while a negative value puts the shadow above the element.
blur-radius: The blur-radius sets the blur. The larger this value, the bigger the blur, so the shadow becomes bigger and lighter. Negative values are not allowed. If the value is not specified, it will be 0, making the shadow’s edge sharp.
spread-radius: The spread-radius specifies the spread of the shadow. This value is optional and can either be positive or negative. A positive value will cause the shadow to grow bigger, and a negative value will cause the shadow to shrink. If the value is not specified, it will be 0, i.e., the size of the shadow will be the same as that of the element.
color: The color sets the color of the shadow. The values can be the same as color values in CSS. Look at CSS Color Values for a list of possible values. If the value is not specified, it will be the same as the text color.
There’s another optional value, i.e., inset. We specify it as the first value of the CSS box-shadow property. This value is not specified by default, so the shadow is considered a drop shadow. Specifying this value moves the shadow inside the element’s frame, resulting in an inner shadow.
Now that we understand the values required to make a CSS box shadow of an element, let’s concrete this knowledge with a few quick examples.
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Examples of the CSS box-shadow property
CSS box shadow effects can be created in many different ways. You can create a typical CSS box shadow using just three values or create a smoother shadow effect by combining multiple shadows separated by a comma.
A bottom-right box shadow using XY offset, blur radius, and color:
CSS:
div{
/* offset-x | offset-y | blur-radius | color */
box-shadow: 8px 6px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
}
Output:
HTML:
<div>LambdaTest is a Browser & app testing cloud to perform both exploratory and automated testing across 3000+ different browsers, real devices and operating systems.</div>
CSS:
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Roboto:wght@400&display=swap');
body{
margin:2em 1em;
font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
}
div{
line-height:28px;
margin:auto;
padding:1em;
width:250px;
height:250px;
border:1px solid #aaa;
border-radius:5px;
box-shadow: 8px 6px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
}
In this example, we set offset-x to 8px and offset-y to 6px, resulting in a shadow on the right and bottom sides of the box. The third value sets the blur radius to 10px, and the fourth value specifies the color of the shadow. You can also use spread radius, but we are not using it in this example.
An inner box shadow using inset, XY offset, blur, spread, and color:
CSS:
div{
/*inset | offset-x | offset-y | blur-radius | spread-radius | color */
box-shadow: inset 0px 10px 20px 2px #3a86ff;
}
Output:
HTML:
<div>LambdaTest is a Browser & app testing cloud to perform both exploratory and automated testing across 3000+ different browsers, real devices and operating systems. Integrate LambdaTest with your favorite tool and save yourself from manually managing bugs and tasks.</div>
CSS:
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Roboto:wght@400&display=swap');
body{
margin:2em 1em;
font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
}
div{
line-height:28px;
margin:auto;
padding:2em;
width:250px;
height:250px;
border:1px solid #aaa;
border-radius:5px;
box-shadow: inset 0px 10px 20px 2px #3a86ff;
}
Here we set inset as the first value that makes the shadow inner. Then we set the vertical offset to 10px, blur radius to 20px, and spread to 2px, resulting in an inner shadow from the top direction. Finally, the last value sets the color.
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A smooth box shadow combining multiple shadows separated by a comma:
CSS:
div{
/* offset-x | offset-y | blur-radius | color, offset-x | offset-y | blur-radius | color, */
box-shadow: 0px 3px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.16), 0px 3px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.23);
}
Output:
HTML:
<div>LambdaTest is a Browser & app testing cloud to perform both exploratory and automated testing across 3000+ different browsers, real devices and operating systems.</div>
CSS:
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Roboto:wght@400&display=swap');
body{
margin:2em 1em;
font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
}
div{
line-height:28px;
margin:auto;
padding:2em;
width:250px;
height:200px;
border-radius:3px;
box-shadow: 0px 3px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.16), 0px 3px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.23);
}
In this example, we create a smooth shadow effect by adding two shadows separated by a comma. We specify x and y-offsets to be consistent in both the shadows and the blur radius to be sharper by defining a value of 6px.
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Different ways to style CSS box-shadow effects
You can style CSS box-shadow effects in various ways. We will look into three different ways of styling it.
Layered Shadows
This shadow will be the one you notice more frequently than others. This is created by combining multiple shadows separated by a comma and increasing the offset and blur for every shadow. Using this method, you can produce eye-catching shadows seamlessly integrating into the page.
Let’s look at an example of how a layered shadow is created:
HTML:
<div class="box-one">This is a box with a default box shadow.</div>
<div class="box-two">This is a box with a layered box shadow.</div>
CSS:
.box-one{
box-shadow:0 5px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);
}
.box-two{
box-shadow: 0px 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.2),
0px 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.2),
0px 4px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.2),
0px 8px 16px rgba(0,0,0,0.2)
}
Output:
HTML:
<section class="container">
<div class="box-one">This is a box with a default box-shadow.</div>
<div class="box-two">This is a box with layered box-shadow.</div>
</section>
CSS:
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Roboto:wght@400&display=swap');
body{
margin:2em 1em;
font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
}
.container{
display:flex;
justify-content:center;
}
div{
padding:2em;
margin:1em;
width:200px;
height:150px;
border-radius:5px;
}
.box-one{
box-shadow:0 5px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);
}
.box-two{
box-shadow: 0px 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.2),
0px 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.2),
0px 4px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.2),
0px 8px 16px rgba(0,0,0,0.2)
}
@media only screen and (max-width:400px){
.container{
flex-direction:column;
}
}
In this example, we have two boxes. Notice how the layered shadow on the right box differs from the default shadow on the left. Layered shadow creates a smooth, subtle effect that the default shadow does not.
This layering method allows you to have more control over how shadows are rendered on the page and adjust the shadows’ spread, distance, and sharpness.
Neon Shadows
Up until now, we have only seen gray or black shadows. However, shadows can also have colors. Neon shadows are just those shadows that have a glowing effect on them. This type of shadow is best suited for a dark-themed website. Since dark-themed websites are gaining popularity, the usage of neon shadows is also increasing.
You can create a neon shadow by changing the color value of the CSS box-shadow property.
Let’s look at an example of a neon shadow.
HTML:
<div>This is a box with neon shadow</div>
CSS:
div{
box-shadow: 0px 2px 14px 2px #64ffda;
}
Output:
HTML:
<div>This is a box with neon shadow</div>
CSS:
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Roboto:wght@400&display=swap');
body{
font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
min-height: 100vh;
display:flex;
justify-content:center;
align-items:center;
background-color:#111111;
}
div{
padding:2em;
height:150px;
border-radius:10px;
width: 150px;
color:#64ffda;
box-shadow: 0px 2px 14px 2px #64ffda;
}
In this example, we set the color value to a bluish shade and the y offset to 2px, blur radius to 14px, and spread radius to 2px. As a result, the card has a glowing neon effect.
You can apply multi-layer shadows for a more vibrant and smooth neon effect, much like we did in the previous example.
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Neumorphic Shadows
The concept of neumorphic shadows comes from neumorphism, an adaptation of skeuomorphic design combined with flat design. It is a visual effect that attempts to replicate user interface elements exactly as they would appear in real life.
Neumorphic UI elements appear to be placed inside the background or directly on the background, in contrast to other web design trends that make items appear above the background. They are also called soft UI because soft shadows create the effect.
To better understand the nuemorphic UI, let’s compare it to a material design card component.
Notice how the material design card on the left looks like it floats above the background, while the neumorphic card on the right appears inside the background.
Now let’s see an example of how CSS implements it.
HTML:
<div>This is a card with neumorphic shadow on the top-left.</div>
CSS:
div{
box-shadow: -6px -6px 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.45), 6px 6px 10px rgba(94,104,121,0.3);
}
Output:
HTML:
<div>This is a card with neumorphic shadow on top-left.</div>
CSS:
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Roboto:wght@400&display=swap');
body{
font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
min-height: 100vh;
display:flex;
justify-content:center;
align-items:center;
background: #dde1e7;
}
div{
padding:2em;
height:200px;
width: 200px;
border-radius: 30px;
box-shadow: -6px -6px 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.45), 6px 6px 10px rgba(94,104,121,0.3);
}
We created two shadows separated by a comma. The most important thing to note is that using two shadows — a light shadow and a dark shadow is the fundamental component of creating neumorphic elements, as we did in this example. One serves as a highlight, and the other serves as the direction of the light source to create the neomorphic effect.
In the previous section of this blog on CSS box-shadow effects, we looked at how to use the inset keyword to make an inner shadow. Unlike drop shadows that make an element appear raised from beneath the background, an inset shadow gives the impression that the element is being pressed into it.
Let’s look at an example by just toggling the inset option to see the difference.
HTML:
<div class=first-card>This is a card with a drop shadow.</div>
<div class=second-card>This is a card with an inset shadow.</div>
CSS:
.first-card{
box-shadow: -6px -6px 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.45), 6px 6px 10px rgba(94,104,121,0.3);
}
.second-card{
box-shadow: inset 6px 6px 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.45), inset -6px -6px 10px rgba(94,104,121,0.3);
}
Output:
HTML:
<div class=first-card>This is a card with drop shadow.</div>
<div class=second-card>This is a card with inset shadow.</div>
CSS:
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Roboto:wght@400&display=swap');
body{
font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
min-height: 100vh;
display:flex;
justify-content:center;
align-items:center;
background: #dde1e7;
}
.container{
display:flex;
justify-content:center;
}
div{
padding:2em;
width:200px;
height:150px;
margin:1em;
border-radius: 30px;
}
.first-card{
box-shadow: -6px -6px 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.45), 6px 6px 10px rgba(94,104,121,0.3);
}
.second-card{
box-shadow: inset 6px 6px 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.45), inset -6px -6px 10px rgba(94,104,121,0.3);
}
@media only screen and (max-width:400px){
.container{
flex-direction:column;
}
}
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Important points to note for neomorphic shadows:
The background color of the neomorphic elements must be the same (or very close) as the parent element’s background color.
Elements need to have two types of shadows: one light and one dark.
Rounded edges are a distinguishing feature of neomorphic elements.
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Tips for applying styling CSS box-shadow
Box shadow is a great way to make your web content look appealing, but we can easily overdo it, which can ruin the look of our website. That’s why keeping a few points in mind while working with shadows is important.
Let’s look at them:
- Create consistent shadows
Make them consistent. If our goal is to create the illusion of depth, we need every shadow to match. Otherwise, it will look like a bunch of blurry borders.
- Use animations only when necessary
Use animations only when necessary. Performance decreases when we animate CSS box shadow. So, it’s best to avoid complex animations. However, you can use simple CSS animations like hover to transition.
**Use a shadow layering tool*
Use a shadow layering tool. If you don’t feel like writing multiple lines of code to apply box shadow, don’t worry. You can leverage third-party tools like https://shadows.brumm.af/, which helps you create layered shadows quickly.
It allows you to add as many as ten layers of shadow to your object. With this tool, there is no need to enter multiple values to get the ideal shadow manually. Set the properties, preview the box shadow, and copy-paste the code into your project. Voila! You have your layered CSS box shadow!
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Browser compatibility for CSS box-shadow property
While most browsers support the box-shadow property; there are very few that do not fully support it.
This property is supported in Chrome from version 4 to 9 using the prefix -webkit- and fully supported from version 10.
-webkit-box-shadow: 8px 6px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
Mozilla Firefox versions 2 and 3 do not support CSS box-shadow. Version 3.5 and 3.6 support the box shadow with the prefix -moz-. And from version 4, this property is fully supported.
-moz-box-shadow: 8px 6px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
For the Safari browser, versions 3.1 and 4 partially support this feature with the prefix -webkit- but version 5 completely supports it.
Opera browser also supports the box-shadow property except for version 10.1.
The CSS properties you use in your website must be cross-browser compatible. This is why you must check the browser compatibility of your features.
To check that, you can use a cloud-based testing platform like LambdaTest that offers an online browser farm of 3000+ real browsers and operating systems combinations to test your websites (and web apps). It lets you perform tests at scale to detect cross browser compatibility issues in HTML/CSS and fix them so that your website (or web app) works seamlessly across different browsers & OS combinations.
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The following is an example of testing browser support for CSS box-shadow:
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Wrapping it Up
As the quest for improving user experience is increasing rapidly in the developer and designer community, features such as CSS box shadows have started to play a mainstream role in website design. They help us to bring realism to the user’s online experience.
In this blog on CSS box shadow, we have discussed why to use CSS box shadow, what is CSS box shadow, and how to implement CSS box shadow. Moreover, we have also discussed the different ways of styling CSS box shadow effects that include layered, neon, and neomorphic shadows.
With this summary, I hope you have gained a firm grasp of CSS box shadow. Practice is the key to mastering a skill. So go and use box shadows on your website. Remember to experiment with different colors and key values to see what works and what does not.
Happy styling!!
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