Toggle Button With Pure HTML CSS (Simple Example)

Welcome to a tutorial on how to create a simple custom toggle button with pure HTML and CSS. Want to create a custom toggle button without loading an entire framework? Yes, it is possible with some clever CSS – Read on for the example!

ⓘ I have included a zip file with all the source code at the start of this tutorial, so you don’t have to copy-paste everything… Or if you just want to dive straight in.

 

 

TLDR – QUICK SLIDES

Fullscreen Mode – Click Here

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

QUICK NOTES

If you spot a bug, feel free to comment below. I try to answer short questions too, but it is one person versus the entire world… If you need answers urgently, please check out my list of websites to get help with programming.

 

EXAMPLE CODE DOWNLOAD

Click here to download the source code, I have released it under the MIT license, so feel free to build on top of it or use it in your own project.

 

CUSTOM TOGGLE BUTTON DEMO

 

 

 

PART 1) THE HTML

<input class="tog" type="checkbox" id="demo">
<label class="tog" for="demo"></label>

Yep, that’s all we need. Just a “regular” checkbox and label.

 

PART 2) TOGGLE BUTTON CONTAINER

/* (A) TOGGLE BUTTON CONTAINER */
label.tog {
  /* (A1) DIMENSIONS */
  display: block; width: 50px; height: 30px;
 
  /* (A2) COSMETICS */
  border: 5px solid #cacaca;
  background: #cacaca;
  cursor: pointer;
}

This one should be pretty self-explanatory. We turn the label into the “grey background” of our custom toggle button.

 

 

PART 3) INNER SWITCH

/* (B) "INNER SWITCH" */
label.tog::before {
  /* (B1) DIMENSIONS */
  content: "";
  display: block; width: 50%; height: 100%;
 
  /* (B2) COSMETICS */
  background: #fff;
}

Then, use ::before to create the “inner square switch”.

 

PART 4) TOGGLE MECHANICS

/* (C) TOGGLE MECHANISM */
/* (C1) HIDE CHECKBOX */
input.tog { display: none; }
 
/* (C2) CHANGE SWITCH POSITION */
input.tog:checked + label.tog::before {
  position: relative; left: 50%;
}
 
/* (C3) CHANGE COLOR */
input.tog:checked + label.tog {
  border: 5px solid #2285f5;
  background: #2285f5;
}

With the above “outer container” and “inner switch”, we already have a “static toggle button”. To complete the toggling mechanism:

• (C1) We hide the default checkbox. Yes, it will still work when we click on the label (custom toggle switch).
• (C2) When the checkbox is checked, we shift the “inner switch” to the right side.
• (C3) Also, change the color of the custom toggle button.

That’s all.

 

 

 

HOW TO CHECK IF TOGGLED

Even though the checkbox is hidden, it still works as it is.

• Give the checkbox a name and submit it as it is – <input type="checkbox" name="FOO">
• Or in Javascript – if (document.getElementById("demo").checked) { ... }

 

EXTRA) ROUNDED TOGGLE BUTTON

Just set a border radius on the container and “inner switch”.

label.tog { border-radius: N; }
label.tog::before label.tog { border-radius: N; }

 

EXTRA) ON/OFF TEXT INDICATOR

You can set text on the “inner switch”.

label.tog::before {
  content: "O";
  display:flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
}
input.tog:checked + label.tog::before {
  content: "I";
}

 

 

LINKS & REFERENCES

• Custom Checkbox & Radio Button With Pure CSS – Code Boxx
• Example on CodePen – Custom Toggle Button

 

TUTORIAL VIDEO

 

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