Navigation list item hover and focus effect css Code Snippet in 2025

Creates a custom hover and focus effect for navigation items, using CSS transformations.

• Use the :before pseudo-element at the list item anchor to create a hover effect. Hide it using transform: scale(0).
• Use the :hover and :focus pseudo-class selectors to transition the pseudo-element to transform: scale(1) and show its colored background.
• Prevent the pseudo-element from covering the anchor element by using z-index.

<nav class="hover-nav">
  <ul>
    <li><a href="#">Home</a></li>
    <li><a href="#">About</a></li>
    <li><a href="#">Contact</a></li>
  </ul>
</nav>

.hover-nav ul {
  list-style: none;
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
  overflow: hidden;
}

.hover-nav li {
  float: left;
}

.hover-nav li a {
  position: relative;
  display: block;
  color: #fff;
  text-align: center;
  padding: 8px 12px;
  text-decoration: none;
  z-index: 0;
}

li a:before {
  position: absolute;
  content: "";
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  bottom: 0;
  left: 0;
  background-color: #2683f6;
  z-index: -1;
  transform: scale(0);
  transition: transform 0.5s ease-in-out;
}

li a:hover:before,
li a:focus:before {
  transform: scale(1);
}