87

I'm trying to show a description when hovering over an image. I've already done it in a less than desirable way, using image sprites and hovers here: I want it to look exactly like how I have it, but using real text instead of an image.

I've tried a few different things but I can't seem to figure out how to do it. I'm trying to do it using HTML and CSS only, but I'm not sure if that's possible.

Feel free to poke around in my code, I'll paste what I think is relavent here.

HTML

div#projectlist {
  width: 770px;
  margin: 0 auto;
  margin-top: 20px;
  margin-bottom: 40px;
}

div#buzzbutton {
  display: block;
  float: left;
  margin: 2px;
  background: url(content/assets/thumbnails/design/buzz_sprite.jpg) 0 0px no-repeat;
  width: 150px;
  height: 150px;
}

div#buzzbutton:hover {
  background: url(content/assets/thumbnails/design/buzz_sprite.jpg);
  width: 150px;
  height: 150px;
  background-position: 0 -150px;
}

div#slinksterbutton {
  display: block;
  float: left;
  background: url(content/assets/thumbnails/design/slinkster_sprite.jpg) 0 0px no-repeat;
  width: 150px;
  height: 150px;
  margin: 2px;
}

div#slinksterbutton:hover {
  background: url(content/assets/thumbnails/design/slinkster_sprite.jpg);
  width: 150px;
  height: 150px;
  background-position: 0 -150px;
}
<div id="projectlist">
  <div id="buzzbutton">
    <a href="buzz.html" title=""><img src="content/assets/thumbnails/transparent_150x150.png" alt="" /></a>
  </div>

  <div id="slinksterbutton">
    <a href="slinkster.html" title=""><img src="content/assets/thumbnails/transparent_150x150.png" alt="" /></a>
  </div>
</div>

2
  • Make sure you keep in mind that text is not 100% controllable. Even if it looks like it all fits within the dimensions of your image with the styles you're using, there is a potential for overflow and/or hidden text if a user specifies a larger font-size. Commented Jan 10, 2013 at 17:57
  • 1
    chances are you're using bootstrap, if you are there's a nice functionality called 'tooltip' which does exactly what you're describing Commented Aug 16, 2016 at 3:24

11 Answers 11

139

It's simple. Wrap the image and the "appear on hover" description in a div with the same dimensions of the image. Then, with some CSS, order the description to appear while hovering that div.

/* quick reset */
* {
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
  border: 0;
}

/* relevant styles */
.img__wrap {
  position: relative;
  height: 200px;
  width: 257px;
}

.img__description {
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  bottom: 0;
  left: 0;
  right: 0;
  background: rgba(29, 106, 154, 0.72);
  color: #fff;
  visibility: hidden;
  opacity: 0;

  /* transition effect. not necessary */
  transition: opacity .2s, visibility .2s;
}

.img__wrap:hover .img__description {
  visibility: visible;
  opacity: 1;
}
<div class="img__wrap">
  <img class="img__img" src="http://placehold.it/257x200.jpg" />
  <p class="img__description">This image looks super neat.</p>
</div>

A nice fiddle: https://jsfiddle.net/govdqd8y/

EDIT:

There's another option if you don't want to explicitly set the height of the <img> on the wrapping <div>, and that is simply setting the <div>'s display to inline-block. (Keep in mind, though, that it won't look good if the image fails to load.)

If you choose this option, you'll notice that there'll be a slight spacing between the <img> and the bottom of the wrapping <div>. That's because of the <img>'s default vertical-align value of baseline. If you set it to bottom it will disappear.

Here's a fiddle using this option: https://jsfiddle.net/joplomacedo/5cL31o0g/

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12 Comments

Gah, I knew I was making it more complicated than it needed to be! Thanks a lot, I'm going to mess around with this code a bit but it looks like it's just what I wanted.
.imgDescription {visibility: none;... better. Cheers.
Does that exist? "visibility: none"? I don't think so. (not trying to be a dick =P )
When the text is large, the box shrinks away from the top and bottom. I can't figure out how to fix this.
Is there a way to center the hovered text vertically?
|
120

In your HTML, try and put the text that you want to come up in the title part of the code:

<a  href="buzz.html" title="buzz hover text">

You can also do the same for the alt text of your image.

5 Comments

It's the easiest solution, but unfortunately the texto only apears after a second.
BTW if you don't want all the behavior that comes with <a href="..."> (i.e. mouse cursor change, url shown in Chrome at the bottom of the page, action executed and url changed when clicked) then use an <a> without href: <a title="title"><img src="..."/></a>
I've been looking for this for years, well actually not actively but I have been wondering @mrpopo
The Best Solution
Easiest and the best solution
23

You can also use the title attribute in your image tag

<img src="content/assets/thumbnails/transparent_150x150.png" alt="" title="hover text" />

Comments

6

This is what I use to make the text appear on hover:

* {
  box-sizing: border-box
}

div {
  position: relative;
  top: 0px;
  left: 0px;
  width: 400px;
  height: 400px;
  border-radius: 50%;
  overflow: hidden;
  text-align: center
}

img {
  width: 400px;
  height: 400px;
  position: absolute;
  border-radius: 50%
}

img:hover {
  opacity: 0;
  transition:opacity 2s;
}

heading {
  line-height: 40px;
  font-weight: bold;
  font-family: "Trebuchet MS";
  text-align: center;
  position: absolute;
  display: block
}

div p {
  z-index: -1;
  width: 420px;
  line-height: 20px;
  display: inline-block;
  padding: 200px 0px;
  vertical-align: middle;
  font-family: "Trebuchet MS";
  height: 450px
}
<div>
  <img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/20b34e8d12d4230f9b362d7feb148c57/tumblr_oiwytz4dh41tf8vylo1_1280.png">
  <p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing <br>elit. Reiciendis temporibus iure dolores aspernatur excepturi <br> corporis nihil in suscipit, repudiandae. Totam.
  </p>
</div>

Comments

4

.container {
  position: relative;
  width: 50%;
}

.image {
  display: block;
  width: 100%;
  height: auto;
}

.overlay {
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  bottom: 0;
  left: 0;
  right: 0;
  height: 100%;
  width: 100%;
  opacity: 0;
  transition: .5s ease;
  background-color: #008CBA;
}

.container:hover .overlay {
  opacity: 1;
}

.text {
  color: white;
  font-size: 20px;
  position: absolute;
  top: 50%;
  left: 50%;
  transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
  -ms-transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
}
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head></head>
<body>

<div class="container">
  <img src="http://lorempixel.com/500/500/" alt="Avatar" class="image">
  <div class="overlay">
    <div class="text">Hello World</div>
  </div>
</div>

</body>
</html>

Reference Link W3schools with multiple styles

Comments

2
HTML
<img id="close" className="fa fa-close" src="" alt="" title="Close Me" />

CSS
#close[title]:hover:after {
  color: red;
  content: attr(title);
  position: absolute;
  left: 50px;
}

1 Comment

When posting source code, it is a good to explain what it does and how it solves the problem.
1

I saw a lot of people use an image tag. I prefer to use a background image because I can manipulate it. For example, I can:

  • Add smoother transitions
  • save time not having to crop images by using the "background-size: cover;" property.

The HTML/CSS:

.overlay-box {
  background-color: #f5f5f5;
  height: 100%;
  background-repeat: no-repeat;
  background-size: cover;
}

.overlay-box:hover .desc,
.overlay-box:focus .desc {
  opacity: 1;
}

/* opacity 0.01 for accessibility */
/* adjust the styles like height,padding to match your design*/
.overlay-box .desc {
  opacity: 0.01;
  min-height: 355px;
  font-size: 1rem;
  height: 100%;
  padding: 30px 25px 20px;
  transition: all 0.3s ease;
  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7);
  color: #fff;
}
<div class="overlay-box" style="background-image: url('https://via.placeholder.com/768x768');">
  <div class="desc">
    <p>Place your text here</p>
    <ul>
      <li>lorem ipsum dolor</li>
      <li>lorem lipsum</li>
      <li>lorem</li>
    </ul>
  </div>
</div>

Comments

1

For accessibility reasons, you should use the correct semantic tags. Use a figure as a container and include the text to the image as figcaption.

Apply position: relative to the container and then position: absolute to the figcaption. Simply hide the figcaption with display: block and make it visible again by using :hover on the wrapping figure element.

figure {
  position: relative;
}

figcaption {
  position: absolute;
  inset: 2px;  
  display: none;
}

figure:hover figcaption {
  display: flex;
}


/* for visualization only */
figure {
  display: inline-block;
}

figcaption {
  padding: 1em;
  justify-content: center;
  align-items: center;
  background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);
}

img {
  border: 2px dashed red;
}
<figure>
  <img src="https://via.placeholder.com/200.jpg" alt="placeholder image used for demonstration">
  <figcaption>placeholder image used for demonstration</figcaption>
</figure>

Comments

0
<!DOCTYPE html><html lang='en' class=''>
<head><script src='//production-assets.codepen.io/assets/editor/live/console_runner-079c09a0e3b9ff743e39ee2d5637b9216b3545af0de366d4b9aad9dc87e26bfd.js'></script><script src='//production-assets.codepen.io/assets/editor/live/events_runner-73716630c22bbc8cff4bd0f07b135f00a0bdc5d14629260c3ec49e5606f98fdd.js'></script><script src='//production-assets.codepen.io/assets/editor/live/css_live_reload_init-2c0dc5167d60a5af3ee189d570b1835129687ea2a61bee3513dee3a50c115a77.js'></script><meta charset='UTF-8'><meta name="robots" content="noindex"><link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="//production-assets.codepen.io/assets/favicon/favicon-8ea04875e70c4b0bb41da869e81236e54394d63638a1ef12fa558a4a835f1164.ico" /><link rel="mask-icon" type="" href="//production-assets.codepen.io/assets/favicon/logo-pin-f2d2b6d2c61838f7e76325261b7195c27224080bc099486ddd6dccb469b8e8e6.svg" color="#111" /><link rel="canonical" href="https://codepen.io/nelsonleite/pen/RaGwba?depth=everything&order=popularity&page=4&q=product&show_forks=false" />
<link href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Raleway' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'>
<link rel='stylesheet prefetch' href='https://maxcdn.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/3.3.5/css/bootstrap.min.css'>
<style class="cp-pen-styles">.product-description {
  transform: translate3d(0, 0, 0);
  transform-style: preserve-3d;
  perspective: 1000;
  backface-visibility: hidden;
}

body {
  color: #212121;
}

.container {
  padding-top: 25px;
  padding-bottom: 25px;
}

img {
  max-width: 100%;
}

hr {
  border-color: #e5e5e5;
  margin: 15px 0;
}

.secondary-text {
  color: #b6b6b6;
}

.list-inline {
  margin: 0;
}
.list-inline li {
  padding: 0;
}

.card-wrapper {
  position: relative;
  width: 100%;
  height: 390px;
  border: 1px solid #e5e5e5;
  border-bottom-width: 2px;
  overflow: hidden;
  margin-bottom: 30px;
}
.card-wrapper:after {
  content: "";
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  left: 0;
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  opacity: 0;
  box-shadow: 0 5px 15px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
  transition: opacity 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.165, 0.84, 0.44, 1);
}
.card-wrapper:hover:after {
  opacity: 1;
}
.card-wrapper:hover .image-holder:before {
  opacity: .75;
}
.card-wrapper:hover .image-holder:after {
  opacity: 1;
  transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
}
.card-wrapper:hover .image-holder--original {
  transform: translateY(-15px);
}
.card-wrapper:hover .product-description {
  height: 205px;
}
@media (min-width: 768px) {
  .card-wrapper:hover .product-description {
    height: 185px;
  }
}

.image-holder {
  display: block;
  position: relative;
  width: 100%;
  height: 310px;
  background-color: #ffffff;
  z-index: 1;
}
@media (min-width: 768px) {
  .image-holder {
    height: 325px;
  }
}
.image-holder:before {
  content: '';
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  left: 0;
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  background-color: #4CAF50;
  opacity: 0;
  z-index: 5;
  transition: opacity 0.6s;
}
.image-holder:after {
  content: '+';
  font-family: 'Raleway', sans-serif;
  font-size: 70px;
  color: #4CAF50;
  text-align: center;
  position: absolute;
  top: 92.5px;
  left: 50%;
  width: 75px;
  height: 75px;
  line-height: 75px;
  background-color: #ffffff;
  opacity: 0;
  border-radius: 50%;
  z-index: 10;
  transform: translate(-50%, 100%);
  box-shadow: 0 5px 15px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
  transition: all 0.4s ease-out;
}
@media (min-width: 768px) {
  .image-holder:after {
    top: 107.5px;
  }
}
.image-holder .image-holder__link {
  display: block;
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  left: 0;
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  z-index: 15;
}
.image-holder .image-holder--original {
  transition: transform 0.8s cubic-bezier(0.165, 0.84, 0.44, 1);
}

.image-liquid {
  width: 100%;
  height: 325px;
  background-size: cover;
  background-position: center center;
}

.product-description {
  position: absolute;
  left: 0;
  bottom: 0;
  width: 100%;
  height: 80px;
  padding: 10px 15px;
  overflow: hidden;
  background-color: #fafafa;
  border-top: 1px solid #e5e5e5;
  transition: height 0.6s cubic-bezier(0.165, 0.84, 0.44, 1);
  z-index: 2;
}
@media (min-width: 768px) {
  .product-description {
    height: 65px;
  }
}
.product-description p {
  margin: 0 0 5px;
}
.product-description .product-description__title {
  font-family: 'Raleway', sans-serif;
  position: relative;
  white-space: nowrap;
  overflow: hidden;
  margin: 0;
  font-size: 18px;
  line-height: 1.25;
}
.product-description .product-description__title:after {
  content: '';
  width: 60px;
  height: 100%;
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  right: 0;
  background: linear-gradient(to right, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0), #fafafa);
}
.product-description .product-description__title a {
  text-decoration: none;
  color: inherit;
}
.product-description .product-description__category {
  white-space: nowrap;
  overflow: hidden;
  text-overflow: ellipsis;
}
.product-description .product-description__price {
  color: #4CAF50;
  text-align: left;
  font-weight: bold;
  letter-spacing: 0.06em;
}
@media (min-width: 768px) {
  .product-description .product-description__price {
    text-align: right;
  }
}
.product-description .sizes-wrapper {
  margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.product-description .color-list {
  font-size: 0;
}
.product-description .color-list__item {
  width: 25px;
  height: 10px;
  position: relative;
  z-index: 1;
  transition: all .2s;
}
.product-description .color-list__item:hover {
  width: 40px;
}
.product-description .color-list__item--red {
  background-color: #F44336;
}
.product-description .color-list__item--blue {
  background-color: #448AFF;
}
.product-description .color-list__item--green {
  background-color: #CDDC39;
}
.product-description .color-list__item--orange {
  background-color: #FF9800;
}
.product-description .color-list__item--purple {
  background-color: #673AB7;
}
</style></head><body>
<!--
Inspired in this dribbble
https://dribbble.com/shots/986548-Product-Catalog
-->

<div class="container">
    <div class="row">

        <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-md-4">
            <article class="card-wrapper">
                <div class="image-holder">
                    <a href="#" class="image-holder__link"></a>
                    <div class="image-liquid image-holder--original" style="background-image: url('https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Blue_Tshirt.jpg')">
                    </div>
                </div>

                <div class="product-description">
                    <!-- title -->
                    <h1 class="product-description__title">
                        <a href="#">                        
                            Adidas Originals
                            </a>
                    </h1>

                    <!-- category and price -->
                    <div class="row">
                        <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-8 product-description__category secondary-text">
                            Men's running shirt
                        </div>
                        <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-4 product-description__price">
                            € 499
                        </div>
                    </div>

                    <!-- divider -->
                    <hr />

                    <!-- sizes -->
                    <div class="sizes-wrapper">
                        <b>Sizes</b>
                        <br />
                        <span class="secondary-text text-uppercase">
                            <ul class="list-inline">
                                <li>xs,</li>                                
                                <li>s,</li>                             
                                <li>sm,</li>                                
                                <li>m,</li>
                                <li>l,</li>                             
                                <li>xl,</li>                                
                                <li>xxl</li>                                
                            </ul>
                        </span>
                    </div>

                    <!-- colors -->
                    <div class="color-wrapper">
                        <b>Colors</b>
                        <br />
                        <ul class="list-inline color-list">
                            <li class="color-list__item color-list__item--red"></li>
                            <li class="color-list__item color-list__item--blue"></li>
                            <li class="color-list__item color-list__item--green"></li>
                            <li class="color-list__item color-list__item--orange"></li>
                            <li class="color-list__item color-list__item--purple"></li>
                        </ul>
                    </div>
                </div>

            </article>
        </div>

        <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-md-4">
            <article class="card-wrapper">
                <div class="image-holder">
                    <a href="#" class="image-holder__link"></a>
                    <div class="image-liquid image-holder--original" style="background-image: url('https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Jeans_BW_2_(3213391837).jpg/543px-Jeans_BW_2_(3213391837).jpg')">
                    </div>
                </div>

                <div class="product-description">
                    <!-- title -->
                    <h1 class="product-description__title">
                        <a href="#">                        
                            Adidas Originals
                            </a>
                    </h1>

                    <!-- category and price -->
                    <div class="row">
                        <div class="col-sm-8 product-description__category secondary-text">
                            Men's running shirt
                        </div>
                        <div class="col-sm-4 product-description__price text-right">
                            € 499
                        </div>
                    </div>

                    <!-- divider -->
                    <hr />

                    <!-- sizes -->
                    <div class="sizes-wrapper">
                        <b>Sizes</b>
                        <br />
                        <span class="secondary-text text-uppercase">
                            <ul class="list-inline">
                                <li>xs,</li>                                
                                <li>s,</li>                             
                                <li>sm,</li>                                
                                <li>m,</li>
                                <li>l,</li>                             
                                <li>xl,</li>                                
                                <li>xxl</li>                                
                            </ul>
                        </span>
                    </div>

                    <!-- colors -->
                    <div class="color-wrapper">
                        <b>Colors</b>
                        <br />
                        <ul class="list-inline color-list">
                            <li class="color-list__item color-list__item--red"></li>
                            <li class="color-list__item color-list__item--blue"></li>
                            <li class="color-list__item color-list__item--green"></li>
                            <li class="color-list__item color-list__item--orange"></li>
                            <li class="color-list__item color-list__item--purple"></li>
                        </ul>
                    </div>
                </div>

            </article>
        </div>

        <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-md-4">
            <article class="card-wrapper">
                <div class="image-holder">
                    <a href="#" class="image-holder__link"></a>
                    <div class="image-liquid image-holder--original" style="background-image: url('https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Columbia_Sportswear_Jacket.jpg')">
                    </div>
                </div>

                <div class="product-description">
                    <!-- title -->
                    <h1 class="product-description__title">
                        <a href="#">                        
                            Adidas Originals
                            </a>
                    </h1>

                    <!-- category and price -->
                    <div class="row">
                        <div class="col-sm-8 product-description__category secondary-text">
                            Men's running shirt
                        </div>
                        <div class="col-sm-4 product-description__price text-right">
                            € 499
                        </div>
                    </div>

                    <!-- divider -->
                    <hr />

                    <!-- sizes -->
                    <div class="sizes-wrapper">
                        <b>Sizes</b>
                        <br />
                        <span class="secondary-text text-uppercase">
                            <ul class="list-inline">
                                <li>xs,</li>                                
                                <li>s,</li>                             
                                <li>sm,</li>                                
                                <li>m,</li>
                                <li>l,</li>                             
                                <li>xl,</li>                                
                                <li>xxl</li>                                
                            </ul>
                        </span>
                    </div>

                    <!-- colors -->
                    <div class="color-wrapper">
                        <b>Colors</b>
                        <br />
                        <ul class="list-inline color-list">
                            <li class="color-list__item color-list__item--red"></li>
                            <li class="color-list__item color-list__item--blue"></li>
                            <li class="color-list__item color-list__item--green"></li>
                            <li class="color-list__item color-list__item--orange"></li>
                            <li class="color-list__item color-list__item--purple"></li>
                        </ul>
                    </div>
                </div>

            </article>
        </div>

        <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-6 col-md-4">
            <article class="card-wrapper">
                <div class="image-holder">
                    <a href="#" class="image-holder__link"></a>
                    <div class="image-liquid image-holder--original" style="background-image: url('http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/pictures/20000/nahled/red-shoes-isolated.jpg')">
                    </div>
                </div>

                <div class="product-description">
                    <!-- title -->
                    <h1 class="product-description__title">
                        <a href="#">                        
                            Adidas Originals
                            </a>
                    </h1>

                    <!-- category and price -->
                    <div class="row">
                        <div class="col-sm-8 product-description__category secondary-text">
                            Men's running shirt
                        </div>
                        <div class="col-sm-4 product-description__price text-right">
                            € 499
                        </div>
                    </div>

                    <!-- divider -->
                    <hr />

                    <!-- sizes -->
                    <div class="sizes-wrapper">
                        <b>Sizes</b>
                        <br />
                        <span class="secondary-text text-uppercase">
                            <ul class="list-inline">
                                <li>xs,</li>                                
                                <li>s,</li>                             
                                <li>sm,</li>                                
                                <li>m,</li>
                                <li>l,</li>                             
                                <li>xl,</li>                                
                                <li>xxl</li>                                
                            </ul>
                        </span>
                    </div>

                    <!-- colors -->
                    <div class="color-wrapper">
                        <b>Colors</b>
                        <br />
                        <ul class="list-inline color-list">
                            <li class="color-list__item color-list__item--red"></li>
                            <li class="color-list__item color-list__item--blue"></li>
                            <li class="color-list__item color-list__item--green"></li>
                            <li class="color-list__item color-list__item--orange"></li>
                            <li class="color-list__item color-list__item--purple"></li>
                        </ul>
                    </div>
                </div>

            </article>
        </div>

    </div>
</div>

</body></html>

The sample is made

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0

<html>
<head>
<style>
.hide {
  display: none;
}
    
.myDIV:hover + .hide {
  display: block;
  color: red;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>

<h2>Display an Element on Hover</h2>

<div class="myDIV">Hover over me.</div>
<div class="hide">I am shown when someone hovers over the div above.</div>

</body>
</html>

2 Comments

Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. Please edit to add further details, such as citations or documentation, so that others can confirm that your answer is correct. You can find more information on how to write good answers in the help center.
You copy pasted from W3 Schools: w3schools.com/howto/howto_css_display_element_hover.asp
0

I just encountered the same problem and here's my approach:

   .container {
      position: relative;
      width: 300px;
      height: 300px;
    }

   img {
      width: 100%;
      height: 100%;
      object-fit: cover;
    }

    .overlay {
      position: absolute;
      inset: 0;
      background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
      color: white;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      opacity: 0;
      transition: opacity 0.3s ease;

      &:hover {
        opacity: 1;
      }
    }

And HTML is simple:

<div>
    <img href='/public/jpg.jpg' />
    
    <div class='overlay'>This is title </div>
</div>

This is selector-max-class and selector-max-specificity proof.

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