In my recent talk titled *Details on Details* at Brooklyn JS, I delved into the intricacies of the <details> element—an often-overlooked feature in HTML that has the potential to enhance user experience through effective interaction design. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through how to effectively use this element, detailing browser compatibility, CSS helpers, and resolving common issues.

What is the Details Element?

The <details> element allows you to create a disclosure widget from which the user can obtain additional information or controls. Think of it as opening a drawer of secrets; when you pull the handle (or click), the drawer opens to reveal more information. It’s an exciting way to introduce orderly details without overwhelming users.

How to Use the Details Element

To implement the <details> element, you might consider the following basic structure:

<details>
    <summary>Click me for more details</summary>
    <p>Here are the additional details that were previously hidden.</p>
</details>

This code snippet creates a clickable summary that, when activated, reveals additional content. It’s a straightforward way to encapsulate information, making it manageable for users to navigate through your content.

Browser Support

The <details> element is widely supported across modern browsers. However, if you need to consider legacy browsers, especially Internet Explorer, utilizing the javandetails-element-polyfill can ensure that your content remains accessible to all users.

CSS Helpers for Enhanced Styling

To make the most out of your <details> implementation, CSS can provide essential utilities:

• Overlay utility from Primer for styling overlays.
• Reset utility to ensure a consistent look across browsers.
• For guidance on styling the summary across different browsers, check out this discussion.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While the <details> element is quite functional, there are some issues worth noting for a smoother implementation:

• Safari users might encounter a bug with the summary and display property.
• Stuck on fixing a bug where the summary triangle marker color isn’t updating? This issue has been fixed, so ensure you are using the latest browser version.
• For additional insights or updates on <details>, you can always reference the HTML Living Standard.

For more insights, updates, or to collaborate on AI development projects, stay connected with fxis.ai.

Conclusion

At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.