How to Create Simple Tooltips with Balloon.css

Aug 19, 2021 | Programming

If you’ve ever wanted to add elegant tooltips to your website without the heaviness of JavaScript, you’re in for a treat with Balloon.css! This lightweight and efficient CSS-only tooltip library allows you to enhance user experience with minimal code. Let’s explore how to set it up and use it effectively!

What is Balloon.css?

Balloon.css is a pure CSS library designed to create tooltips effortlessly. With a file size of approximately 1.1kb when minified, it incorporates an easily configurable tooltip without the need for JavaScript.

Getting Started: Installation

Here are three methods to include Balloon.css in your project:

  • Using npm:

    Install Balloon.css using npm with the command:

    npm install balloon-css

    You can import the CSS file directly into your JavaScript (e.g., using Webpack):

    import 'balloon-css';

    Alternatively, if you are using SASS/SCSS:

    @import '~balloon-css/src/balloon';
  • Using CDN:

    For those who prefer not to use npm, simply link to the latest version of Balloon.css via CDN:

    <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://unpkg.com/balloon-css/balloon.min.css">
  • Manual Installation:

    You can also manually download balloon.min.css from the repository and include it in your HTML file:

    <link rel="stylesheet" href="path/to/balloon.min.css">

Positioning Your Tooltips

To position your tooltips, you can use the data-balloon-pos attribute with various positioning options:

<button data-balloon-pos="up">Hover me!</button>

Allowed positioning values include: up, down, left, right, up-left, up-right, down-left, or down-right.

Displaying Tooltips Programmatically

If you wish to show tooltips without user interaction, you can use the data-balloon-visible attribute:

<button id="show-tip" data-balloon-pos="up">Hover me!</button>
const btn = document.getElementById('show-tip');
btn.setAttribute('data-balloon-visible', '');

Customizing Tooltips

With Balloon.css, you have access to CSS variables for easy customization of your tooltips:

:root {
    --balloon-border-radius: 0;
    --balloon-color: blue;
}

You can create specific styles as well:

.tooltip-red {
    --balloon-color: red;
}
.tooltip-big-text {
    --balloon-font-size: 20px;
}

Including Icons and Glyphs in Tooltips

You can enrich your tooltips by adding HTML special characters or even third-party icon fonts like Font Awesome:

<button class="fa" aria-label="Font Awesome" data-balloon-pos="up">Hover me!</button>

Troubleshooting

While working with Balloon.css, if you encounter any issues, here are some troubleshooting tips:

  • Check if you have the correct path to the CSS file if manually linking.
  • Ensure the data-balloon-pos attribute values are correctly spelled.
  • If tooltips are not showing as expected, verify that the CSS file is loaded before your content.

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Conclusion

Utilizing Balloon.css can significantly enhance the user experience on your website by adding informative tooltips quickly and gracefully. With its simplistic approach, you can style your tooltips to match your design efficiently. So, dive right in and start implementing Balloon.css today!

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