Dot to Underline Link Hover
A small dot sits under the middle of the link and stretches into a full underline with an elastic overshoot, thinning as it grows. A rounded clip-path inset morphs dot to pill.
Also known as: dot expands to underline, elastic underline hover, bouncy underline link.
HTML
<a class="hfx-link-dot-underline" href="#">Pricing</a>
CSS
.hfx-link-dot-underline {
--c: var(--hfx-color, #3b82f6);
position: relative;
display: inline-block;
color: var(--c);
font: 600 calc(var(--hfx-size, 16px) * 1.25)/1.3 system-ui, sans-serif;
text-decoration: none;
padding-bottom: 0.5em;}
.hfx-link-dot-underline::after {
content: "";
position: absolute;
left: -0.25em;
right: -0.25em;
bottom: 0.1em;
height: 0.28em;
background: var(--c);
clip-path: inset(0 calc(50% - 0.14em) round 1em);
transform-origin: bottom;
transition: clip-path 0.55s cubic-bezier(0.34, 1.56, 0.64, 1), transform 0.35s ease;
}
.hfx-link-dot-underline:is(:hover, :focus-visible)::after {
clip-path: inset(0 0.25em round 1em);
transform: scaleY(0.45);
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.hfx-link-dot-underline, .hfx-link-dot-underline *, .hfx-link-dot-underline::before, .hfx-link-dot-underline::after, .hfx-link-dot-underline *::before, .hfx-link-dot-underline *::after {
animation-duration: 0.01ms !important;
animation-iteration-count: 1 !important;
transition-duration: 0.01ms !important;
}
}Customizing this snippet
- Color: set
--hfx-coloron the element or a parent. Currently previewing#3b82f6. - Base size: set
--hfx-size. Every other dimension is inem, so the whole thing scales together. Currently previewing16px. - Speed: change the duration on the
transitionoranimationshorthand. Staggered delays are relative, so they keep their rhythm. - Reduced motion: the rule at the end of the CSS turns the motion off for people who asked their OS for less of it. Keep it.