Ever hover over an element and see a helpful popup appear? That’s a tooltip—a simple yet powerful UI component for enhancing web usability.
Tooltips provide contextual hints right when users need them, improving the overall experience without cluttering your interface. Whether you’re building form field tooltips or need interactive guidance elements for complex applications, custom tooltip styling can dramatically improve your site’s usability.
This guide explores pure CSS tooltips that require zero JavaScript. You’ll discover:
- Essential tooltip positioning techniques
- Cross-browser tooltip solutions that work everywhere
- CSS tooltip animations to add personality
- Accessibility-focused implementations
- Responsive tooltip designs for all devices
From simple hover information displays to advanced CSS info snippets with arrows, you’ll find tooltip examples ready to customize for your projects.
Let’s dive into these tooltip implementation guides and transform your UI hint styling game.
CSS tooltip examples
Emerging Tooltip
See the Pen
Emerging Tooltip by Mikael Ainalem (@ainalem)
on CodePen.
Yo, ever seen a tooltip that just pops right up? This one does exactly that with a couple of snazzy CSS tricks.
Donut Chart with Tooltips
See the Pen
SVG Doughnut chart with animation and tooltip by Hiro (@githiro)
on CodePen.
Imagine having a donut, but instead of sugar, it’s sprinkled with tooltips. Makes understanding data a piece of cake (or donut)!
Google Maps Radio Button With Tooltip
See the Pen
Google maps radio buttons CSS only by Elias Meire (@eliasmeire)
on CodePen.
Google Maps + Tooltips = Dope! Modern designs are all about those icons, and with tooltips, first-time users can navigate them like pros.
Info Button Like Tooltip
See the Pen
Info Button / Tooltip by Mark Thomes (@WithAnEs)
on CodePen.
Want a neat CSS-only info button? Just give it a focus and bam! Tooltip in your face.
Fancy & Animated Tooltip (CSS Only)
See the Pen
Fancy & Animated Tooltip (CSS Only) by Reinhard Schnetzinger (@reiinii1)
on CodePen.
Need a touch of fancy in your life? This tooltip got you with a shiny entrance.
Information Tooltip
See the Pen
Pure CSS Tooltip by Cristina Silva (@cristina-silva)
on CodePen.
Info icons are kinda the rage now, huh? Here’s another one with a clean animation. A tad slow, but hey, it’s artsy.
Animated CSS Hover Tooltips
See the Pen
CSS Grid Layout with @support flexbox fallback by Gustaf Holm (@primalivet)
on CodePen.
These aren’t just any tooltips. They slide in from the top, making your element look cool. Perfect fit for those who love grids and flexy gradients.
Adaptive Tooltips
See the Pen
Adaptive Tooltips by Vladimir (@fdsea)
on CodePen.
Shoutout to Vladimir for this. Adaptive is the new cool, right?
ToolTip – Laser Line Effect
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ToolTip [Laser Line Effect] by raj (@raj-codepen)
on CodePen.
Lasers! In a tooltip! It’s as cool as it sounds, trust me.
Pure CSS Tips in Text
See the Pen
Pure-CSS Tooltips by Pure-CSS.com (@pure-css)
on CodePen.
Not a fan of the sudden pop? This one floats in, all smooth-like. It’s like a whisper in tooltip form.
Animated SVG radio buttons With Tooltip
See the Pen
Animated SVG radio buttons by Andrej Sharapov (@andrejsharapov)
on CodePen.
For those aiming for that minimal yet attractive vibe, this tooltip’s for you.
Automation Tooltips With Simple Data Attributes
See the Pen
Automation Tooltips with Simple Data Attributes by Adwin (@adwin)
on CodePen.
Not into coding every single tooltip? This bad boy uses “data-tooltips” and “data-position”. Just slap them on, and you’re golden.
Tooltip – Hixann
See the Pen
Tooltip by hixann (@hixann)
on CodePen.
Ever seen a tooltip that just breezes in? Yup, this one’s got that slick fade-in magic.
Animated Button with Tooltip
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Animated Button with Tooltip (Pure CSS) by Aditya Bhandari (@takeradi)
on CodePen.
Okay, so this button’s got moves! Hover over it and bam, a tooltip slides down like it’s making a grand entrance.
Tooltips for Letters
See the Pen
Tooltip usign just CSS + First letter CSS propriety by Leandro Fialho (@lefialho)
on CodePen.
Now here’s a wild idea! Ever hover over a letter and it spills some knowledge? This guy, with the first-letter CSS magic, does just that. Clever, right?
Cool CSS Hover Tooltips
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Cool CSS hover tooltips by Alex (@fabriceleven)
on CodePen.
Looking for some pure CSS finesse? Say no more. This tooltip does its thing with style. Zero fluff.
No-JS Tooltips
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No-JS Tool tips by Chris Yaxley (@chrisyaxley)
on CodePen.
Alright, these may not breakdance or moonwalk, but they’re like the reliable pals you always call. No fancy moves, but they get the job done.
Single Element Tooltip
See the Pen
Single Element Tooltip by Zoë Bijl (@Moiety)
on CodePen.
Got a page filled with words? This tooltip’s got your back. Mention a fancy term or a spicy link, and this buddy pops up with the 411.
Tooltips and Citations (complete)
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#6: Tooltips and Citations (complete) by Envato Tuts+ (@tutsplus)
on CodePen.
Props to Envato Tuts+ for this one. Citations and tooltips living together in harmony.
CSS ToolTip Smooth animation
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CSS ToolTip Smooth animation by Omar Dsooky (@linux)
on CodePen.
Smooth as butter! Omar whipped up a tooltip with such slick animations. Dang!
Quick Tips in Pure CSS
See the Pen
Quick CSS3 tooltips (No images, no js) by deineko (@deineko)
on CodePen.
Need a tooltip that’s just… easy? Dive into these. They’re straight-up CSS, no fuss, and you can tweak them however you like.
Dead Simple Tooltip
See the Pen
Dead Simple Tooltip using Data-Description Attribute by Jesse Couch (@designcouch)
on CodePen.
The name says it all. It’s a no-brainer. Hover and voila! Tooltip magic.
Dynamic Tooltip Text with CSS
See the Pen
Write JavaScript-less, Dynamic Tooltip Text with CSS by Julie Horvath (@nrrrdcore)
on CodePen.
Who said you need JavaScript to go dynamic? Pssst…you don’t. This one’s all CSS, all day.
Animated Question
See the Pen
Animated CSS Tooltip Concept by Sasha (@sashatran)
on CodePen.
You know those cheeky little question mark icons peppered around some mega websites? They’re like mini lifelines, throwing a quick 411 about random stuff on the page. A true friend in need!
Guided Tour Tooltip
See the Pen
Guided tour tooltip by Yoann (@yoannhel)
on CodePen.
Imagine going on a wizard tour, but, like, on a webpage. This bad boy does just that. The genius behind it? Used it mainly for linky things.
And oh, speaking of links, if you wanna jazz up yours, there’s a fab link style CSS collection waiting for ya!
CSS Tooltip Magic
See the Pen
CSS Tooltip Magic by Envato Tuts+ (@tutsplus)
on CodePen.
So, this tooltip? Kinda acts like a mini GPS, pointing out directions. Super handy when your page is like a maze!
Tooltip Pagination
See the Pen
Tooltip Pagination by Joe (@dope)
on CodePen.
Ever been on those pages with the little dots and wondered what’s next? These tooltips gotcha. They’re like sneaky previews, showing you what’s up on the next page or slide. Oh, and they’re quick – hover over and boom, there they are!
Animated CSS Tooltips
See the Pen
Animated CSS Tooltips by runnabro (@runnabro)
on CodePen.
Animations. Tooltips. Pure CSS. Enough said.
Pure CSS Gradient Tooltip
See the Pen
Pure CSS 1 element gradient tooltip #2 (contentEditable) by Ana Tudor (@thebabydino)
on CodePen.
Ana Tudor sprinkled some gradient magic on this tooltip. It’s so dreamy, it’s like a unicorn made it.
Tooltips over SVG Social Icons
See the Pen
Tooltips Over SVG Social Icons by Maciej (@maciekmaciej)
on CodePen.
Want to flex your SVG social icons? Pop these tooltips on top, and they’ll make your icons talk!
Product Feature Highlights
See the Pen
Highlight Product Features with CSS Tooltips by Ian Farb (@ianfarb)
on CodePen.
Clean, pristine, with a dash of shadow. Perfect to shout out those special product features.
Hint- a CSS Tooltip Library
See the Pen
Hint- a CSS tooltip library by Kushagra Gour (@chinchang)
on CodePen.
For all the newbies out there, this is your crash course in tooltip positioning. It’s like a mini manual, showing tooltips in every direction.
Sidebar Nav with Tooltips
See the Pen
sidebar navigation with tooltips by Daniel (@pixelsultan)
on CodePen.
Kudos to Daniel! This sidebar is not just a sidekick. With poppin’ tooltips, it’s stealing the spotlight!
Tooltiper by Joshua Ward
See the Pen
Friendly Little Tooltips + [Animation] by Joshua Ward (@joshuaward)
on CodePen.
Joshua’s tooltips? They’re like the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Swinging by with cool animations just to say hi!
FAQ on CSS Tooltip Examples
How do I create a basic CSS tooltip?
Use the HTML title attribute for simple tooltips. For custom tooltips, combine CSS pseudo-elements (:before, :after) with the data-tooltip attribute. Position with position: absolute and control visibility with :hover states. Pure CSS tooltips require no JavaScript.
Can tooltips be created without JavaScript?
Absolutely. CSS-only tooltips use pseudo-elements and the :hover selector to trigger display. Combined with HTML data attributes for content, they create lightweight tooltip implementations that work across browsers. This approach simplifies your tooltip design patterns.
How do I position tooltips correctly?
Control tooltip positioning using CSS properties like top, bottom, left, and right. Combine with transform: translate() for precise positioning. For advanced placement, libraries like Popper.js handle edge cases and viewport constraints automatically.
What makes tooltips mobile-friendly?
Touch-friendly tooltips need special consideration since :hover doesn’t work on mobile devices. Use tap events, consider larger touch targets, and ensure tooltip content overflow is managed. Test on various screen sizes for responsive tooltips.
How can I add animation to my tooltips?
Apply CSS transitions or animations to tooltip elements. Common tooltip hover effects include fade-in, scale, and slide animations. Specify properties like opacity, transform, and transition-timing-function to control the animation behavior.
Are CSS tooltips accessible?
For web accessibility tooltips, use ARIA attributes (aria-describedby, role="tooltip"). Ensure keyboard users can access tooltip content, maintain sufficient color contrast, and consider adding tooltip delay settings for users with motor impairments.
How do I add arrows to my tooltips?
Create tooltip arrows using the CSS triangle technique with borders or by adding a second pseudo-element. Position it relative to the main tooltip. Many CSS tooltip libraries include built-in support for tooltip arrow styling in different directions.
What’s the difference between tooltips and popovers?
Tooltips show brief contextual hints on hover, while popovers display more detailed content that remains visible until dismissed. Popovers often include interactive elements and require click events, whereas tooltips are typically non-interactive information bubbles.
How do I style tooltips for dark mode?
Implement CSS variables for tooltips that respond to color scheme changes. Use prefers-color-scheme media query or toggle classes to switch between light and dark tooltip color schemes. Remember to adjust both text and background for proper contrast.
Which tooltip libraries work best with frameworks?
For React, consider React tooltip libraries like Tippy.js. Vue tooltip components are available through Vue-tooltip or Popper-based solutions. For Bootstrap tooltips, use their built-in components. These libraries handle complex tooltip behavior control and positioning.
Conclusion
CSS tooltip examples provide web developers with powerful ways to enhance user experience through contextual information displays. From dynamic tooltip content to cross-browser tooltip solutions, these small UI elements make a big impact when implemented thoughtfully.
By mastering tooltip techniques covered here, you’ve gained valuable skills:
- Creating floating help text without relying on JavaScript
- Implementing tooltip behavior control for various user interactions
- Building custom tooltip attributes for different data types
- Designing modern tooltip designs that match your site’s aesthetic
Remember that great tooltips balance visibility with subtlety. They should provide web element explanations without disrupting the flow of interaction.
As you implement these patterns in your projects, consider how user guidance elements fit into your overall design system. The best CSS hint mechanisms feel natural and intuitive.
Start with simple implementations, then experiment with tooltip presentation styles as your confidence grows. Your users will appreciate the thoughtful additions to their experience.
If you liked this article about CSS tooltips, you should check out this article about CSS animations.
There are also similar articles discussing CSS headers, CSS carousels, CSS perspective, and CSS slideshows.
And let’s not forget about articles on CSS animated backgrounds, CSS cards, CSS progress bars, and CSS parallax effects.
