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Pure CSS Dropdown

A copy-paste css-only interactions component in pure HTML & CSS. Zero dependencies, framework-agnostic, MIT-licensed.

CSS-Only InteractionsHTMLCSSany framework

Copy into your project

HTML
<!-- Pure CSS Dropdown — opens on :focus-within, zero JS -->
<div class="nuda-css-dropdown">
  <button class="nuda-css-dropdown__trigger" type="button">
    Menu <span class="nuda-css-dropdown__caret">&#9662;</span>
  </button>
  <ul class="nuda-css-dropdown__menu">
    <li><a class="nuda-css-dropdown__link" href="#">Profile</a></li>
    <li><a class="nuda-css-dropdown__link" href="#">Settings</a></li>
    <li><a class="nuda-css-dropdown__link" href="#">Sign out</a></li>
  </ul>
</div>
CSS
/* Pure CSS Dropdown
   :focus-within keeps the menu open while the trigger OR a
   menu item is focused (click + keyboard friendly). No JS.
   Customize: --nuda-css-dd-accent */

.nuda-css-dropdown {
  --nuda-css-dd-accent: #e4ff54;
  position: relative;
  display: inline-block;
}

.nuda-css-dropdown__trigger {
  display: inline-flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: 6px;
  min-height: 44px;
  padding: 0.6rem 1rem;
  font-size: 0.9rem;
  font-weight: 600;
  color: #fff;
  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.05);
  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
  border-radius: 8px;
  cursor: pointer;
}

.nuda-css-dropdown__trigger:focus-visible {
  outline: 2px solid var(--nuda-css-dd-accent);
  outline-offset: 2px;
}

.nuda-css-dropdown__caret { transition: transform 0.25s ease; }

.nuda-css-dropdown__menu {
  position: absolute;
  top: calc(100% + 6px);
  left: 0;
  min-width: 180px;
  padding: 4px;
  margin: 0;
  list-style: none;
  background: #111114;
  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
  border-radius: 10px;
  box-shadow: 0 12px 30px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
  opacity: 0;
  transform: translateY(-6px);
  pointer-events: none;
  transition: opacity 0.2s ease, transform 0.2s ease;
  z-index: 20;
}

.nuda-css-dropdown__link {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  min-height: 44px;
  padding: 0.5rem 0.75rem;
  font-size: 0.85rem;
  color: #bbb;
  border-radius: 7px;
  text-decoration: none;
  cursor: pointer;
}

.nuda-css-dropdown__link:hover,
.nuda-css-dropdown__link:focus-visible {
  background: rgba(228, 255, 84, 0.1);
  color: var(--nuda-css-dd-accent);
  outline: none;
}

/* Open while anything inside has focus */
.nuda-css-dropdown:focus-within .nuda-css-dropdown__menu {
  opacity: 1;
  transform: translateY(0);
  pointer-events: auto;
}

.nuda-css-dropdown:focus-within .nuda-css-dropdown__caret {
  transform: rotate(180deg);
}

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  .nuda-css-dropdown__menu,
  .nuda-css-dropdown__caret { transition: none; }
}

How to use Pure CSS Dropdown

Paste the HTML where you need it and the CSS into a global stylesheet (or a <style> tag). Every class is prefixed nuda- so it never collides with Tailwind or your own styles. Tweak the CSS custom properties to match your design system.

Works in React, Vue, Svelte, Astro, Next.js, Nuxt, Laravel Blade, Django, Rails — or a single .html file. No npm install, no build step.

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