CSS Arrows and Chevrons Guide
Create navigation arrows, accordion chevrons, and directional indicators with pure CSS — no images needed.
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Tags: CSS arrows chevrons, CSS arrow button, pure CSS chevron
CSS Arrows and Chevrons Guide Pure CSS arrows and chevrons are lighter than icon fonts, require zero external assets, and are fully styleable with CSS custom properties. The border triangle technique has been the backbone approach for two decades, while and pseudo-elements provide cleaner modern alternatives. This guide covers every pattern with copy-paste code. --- What is The Border Triangle Technique? The classic CSS triangle exploits the way borders meet at corners when an element has zero width and height. Each border side occupies a triangular portion of the corner area. Basic downward triangle: All four directions: The key: collapses the element, transparent side borders create the angle, and the colored border is the visible face of the arrow. What is Chevron Arrows with and ?…
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make a CSS arrow icon?
The border trick is the classic approach: set a zero-width/height element with three transparent borders and one colored border to form a triangle. For filled arrows, use two `border` properties and one colored side. The `transform: rotate()` property lets you point any direction.
How do I create a CSS chevron?
A chevron (V-shape) uses `border-right` and `border-bottom` (or top) with `transform: rotate(45deg)`. Set width and height, add two borders on adjacent sides, then rotate to achieve the desired direction. This is commonly used for dropdown indicators.
How do I animate an accordion arrow in CSS?
Store the rotation in a CSS custom property or a class. When the accordion opens, add an `open` class that changes `transform: rotate(0deg)` to `rotate(180deg)`. Combine with `transition: transform 0.2s ease` for a smooth flip animation.
How do I make a tooltip with CSS arrow?
Use a `::before` or `::after` pseudo-element on the tooltip container. Give the pseudo-element a zero-size with the border triangle technique, position it absolutely at the edge of the tooltip pointing outward, and match its color to the tooltip background.
When should I use an SVG arrow vs CSS arrow?
Use CSS arrows for simple directional indicators, dropdown chevrons, and small UI affordances where file weight and DOM simplicity matter. Use SVG when you need complex path shapes, accessibility attributes like `<title>`, or the arrow must scale non-uniformly.
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