Lab

Modal Lab

Eight overlay patterns — dialogs, drawers, toasts, popovers, and lightboxes. All keyboard-friendly.

1. Basic Modal — centered dialog with backdrop, form body, and close button

Add a new project

Give your project a name — you can rename it later.

<button class="open-btn">Open Modal</button>
<div class="backdrop">
  <div class="dialog">
    <button class="close">✕</button>
    <h3>Add a new project</h3>
    <p>Give your project a name — you can rename it later.</p>
    <input type="text" placeholder="My awesome project">
    <div class="row">
      <button class="cancel">Cancel</button>
      <button class="primary">Create project</button>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>
.backdrop {
  position: fixed;
  inset: 0;
  background: rgba(15,23,42,.6);
  display: none;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
  z-index: 100;
}
.backdrop.open {
  display: flex;
  animation: fadeIn .2s;
}

.dialog {
  width: 100%;
  max-width: 440px;
  background: #fff;
  border-radius: 16px;
  padding: 28px;
  animation: pop .25s cubic-bezier(.2,.8,.3,1);
}

@keyframes pop {
  from { transform: scale(.95); opacity: 0; }
  to   { transform: scale(1);   opacity: 1; }
}
// Grab every element BEFORE wiring up events
const backdrop = document.querySelector('.backdrop');
const openBtn  = document.querySelector('.open-btn');
const closeBtn = document.querySelector('.close');
const cancel   = document.querySelector('.cancel');

// Toggle the .open class to show/hide
openBtn.onclick   = () => backdrop.classList.add('open');
closeBtn.onclick  = () => backdrop.classList.remove('open');
cancel.onclick    = () => backdrop.classList.remove('open');

// Click outside the dialog to close
backdrop.onclick = (e) => {
  if (e.target === backdrop) backdrop.classList.remove('open');
};

// Escape key closes
document.addEventListener('keydown', (e) => {
  if (e.key === 'Escape') backdrop.classList.remove('open');
});
2. Confirm Dialog — destructive action warning with red icon

Delete this project?

This can't be undone. All associated files and comments will be removed forever.

<button class="open-btn">Delete project</button>
<div class="confirm">
  <div class="icon">⚠</div>
  <h3>Delete this project?</h3>
  <p>This can't be undone. All associated files and comments will be removed forever.</p>
  <div class="row">
    <button class="cancel">Cancel</button>
    <button class="delete">Yes, delete</button>
  </div>
</div>
/* Destructive actions use a red tinted icon + red button */
.icon {
  width: 56px;
  height: 56px;
  border-radius: 50%;
  background: rgba(239, 68, 68, .12);
  color: #ef4444;
  margin: 0 auto 14px;
}

.delete {
  background: #ef4444;
  color: #fff;
}
3. Side Drawer — slides in from the right (mobile menus, shopping carts)
<button class="open-btn">Open cart</button>
<div class="backdrop"></div>
<aside class="drawer">
  <h3>Your Cart (3)</h3>
  <div class="item">
    <i class="ph-fill ph-sneaker"></i>
    <div><strong>Cloudstep Runners</strong><span>Size 10 · $129</span></div>
  </div>
  <div class="item">
    <i class="ph-fill ph-t-shirt"></i>
    <div><strong>Studio Tee</strong><span>Medium · $45</span></div>
  </div>
  <div class="item">
    <i class="ph-fill ph-watch"></i>
    <div><strong>Field Watch</strong><span>Black · $89</span></div>
  </div>
  <button class="open-btn">Checkout — $263</button>
</aside>
.drawer {
  position: fixed;
  top: 0;
  right: 0;
  bottom: 0;
  width: 320px;
  background: #fff;
  transform: translateX(100%);
  transition: transform .35s cubic-bezier(.2,.8,.3,1);
  z-index: 101;
}

/* Slide in when .open is added */
.drawer.open {
  transform: translateX(0);
}
4. Toast Notifications — stack in the corner, auto-dismiss
Saved successfullyYour changes are now live
New version availableRefresh to see what's new
Upload failedFile exceeds 10 MB limit

Toast messages anchor to a corner — use for passive feedback, not for requiring input.

<div class="toast-wrap">
  <div class="toast success">
    <i class="ph-fill ph-check-circle"></i>
    <div><strong>Saved successfully</strong><small>Your changes are now live</small></div>
  </div>
  <div class="toast info">
    <i class="ph-fill ph-info"></i>
    <div><strong>New version available</strong><small>Refresh to see what's new</small></div>
  </div>
  <div class="toast error">
    <i class="ph-fill ph-x-circle"></i>
    <div><strong>Upload failed</strong><small>File exceeds 10 MB limit</small></div>
  </div>
</div>
.toast-wrap {
  position: fixed;
  top: 20px;
  right: 20px;
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  gap: 10px;
  z-index: 1000;
}

.toast {
  animation: slideIn .3s cubic-bezier(.2,.8,.3,1);
  min-width: 260px;
}

@keyframes slideIn {
  from { transform: translateX(110%); opacity: 0; }
  to   { transform: translateX(0);    opacity: 1; }
}
5. Popover — click-to-open tooltip with extra content

What's a popover?

It's like a tooltip with more room — good for quick forms, help text, or additional actions that don't need a full modal.

<div class="trigger">
  <button>Show popover</button>
  <div class="popover">
    <h4>What's a popover?</h4>
    <p>It's like a tooltip with more room — good for quick forms, help text, or additional actions that don't need a full modal.</p>
  </div>
</div>
.trigger { position: relative; }

.popover {
  position: absolute;
  top: calc(100% + 10px);
  width: 280px;
  background: #fff;
  border-radius: 12px;
  padding: 18px;
  box-shadow: 0 10px 30px rgba(0,0,0,.12);
  display: none;
}
.popover.open { display: block; }

/* Triangle pointer using a rotated square */
.popover::before {
  content: "";
  position: absolute;
  top: -6px;
  left: 20px;
  width: 12px;
  height: 12px;
  background: #fff;
  transform: rotate(45deg);
}
6. Alert Banners — inline notifications for info, warnings, errors, success
New: Beta features available

Enable the "Labs" toggle in Settings to try early releases.

Your trial ends in 3 days

Upgrade now to keep access to Pro features.

Payment failed

Your card was declined. Please update your billing info.

Backup completed

All 1,247 files saved to cloud storage.

<div class="alert info">
  <i class="ph-fill ph-info"></i>
  <div>
    <strong>New: Beta features available</strong>
    <p>Enable the "Labs" toggle in Settings to try early releases.</p>
  </div>
  <button>✕</button>
</div>

<div class="alert warn">
  <i class="ph-fill ph-warning"></i>
  <div>
    <strong>Your trial ends in 3 days</strong>
    <p>Upgrade now to keep access to Pro features.</p>
  </div>
  <button>✕</button>
</div>

<div class="alert error">
  <i class="ph-fill ph-x-circle"></i>
  <div>
    <strong>Payment failed</strong>
    <p>Your card was declined. Please update your billing info.</p>
  </div>
  <button>✕</button>
</div>

<div class="alert success">
  <i class="ph-fill ph-check-circle"></i>
  <div>
    <strong>Backup completed</strong>
    <p>All 1,247 files saved to cloud storage.</p>
  </div>
  <button>✕</button>
</div>
.alert {
  padding: 14px 18px;
  border-radius: 10px;
  display: flex;
  gap: 12px;
  border-left: 4px solid;
}

.alert.info    { background: #dbeafe; color: #1e40af; border-left-color: #3b82f6; }
.alert.warn    { background: #fef3c7; color: #854d0e; border-left-color: #f59e0b; }
.alert.error   { background: #fee2e2; color: #991b1b; border-left-color: #ef4444; }
.alert.success { background: #dcfce7; color: #166534; border-left-color: #10b981; }
7. Full Screen Modal — cinematic takeover, great for onboarding or big CTAs

Join the waitlist

Be first to know when we launch — no spam, one email when we're ready.

<button class="open-btn">Open full-screen</button>
<div class="backdrop">
  <button class="close">✕</button>
  <div class="fs">
    <h2>Join the waitlist</h2>
    <p>Be first to know when we launch — no spam, one email when we're ready.</p>
    <form>
      <input type="email" placeholder="your@email.com">
      <button type="submit">Join</button>
    </form>
  </div>
</div>
.backdrop {
  position: fixed;
  inset: 0;
  background: rgba(0,0,0,.9);
  color: #fff;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
  z-index: 100;
}

.fs {
  max-width: 560px;
  padding: 40px;
  text-align: center;
}
8. Image Lightbox — click a thumbnail to enlarge in a dark overlay
<div class="gallery">
  <img src="thumb1.jpg">
  <img src="thumb2.jpg">
  <img src="thumb3.jpg">
</div>

<div class="backdrop">
  <img class="big">
</div>
.gallery {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
  gap: 10px;
}

.gallery img {
  aspect-ratio: 1;
  object-fit: cover;
  cursor: pointer;
  border-radius: 10px;
}

.big img {
  max-width: 90%;
  max-height: 80vh;
}
document.querySelectorAll('.gallery img').forEach(thumb => {
  thumb.addEventListener('click', () => {
    // swap to a larger version of the same image
    document.querySelector('.big img').src =
      thumb.src.replace('w=300', 'w=1200');
    document.querySelector('.backdrop').classList.add('open');
  });
});
Copy & Paste

A complete, working modal

The variants above are trimmed previews. This block is the whole thing — a trigger button, a dialog, and the script that opens and closes it (the × button, Cancel, clicking the dark backdrop, and the Esc key all close it). Paste the HTML into your <body>, the CSS into your <head>, and the JS before </body>. No libraries needed.

1. HTML — paste into your <body>

<!-- button that opens the modal -->
<button class="modal-open">Open modal</button>

<!-- the modal itself -->
<div class="modal-backdrop" id="demo-modal">
  <div class="modal" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" aria-labelledby="modal-title">
    <button class="modal-close" aria-label="Close">&times;</button>
    <h3 id="modal-title">Subscribe</h3>
    <p>Get the occasional update. No spam — unsubscribe anytime.</p>
    <input type="email" placeholder="you@example.com">
    <div class="modal-actions">
      <button class="btn-cancel" data-close>Cancel</button>
      <button class="btn-primary">Subscribe</button>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

2. CSS — paste into your <head>

<style>
.modal-backdrop {
  position: fixed; inset: 0; z-index: 1000;
  background: rgba(15,23,42,.6);
  display: none; align-items: center; justify-content: center; padding: 20px;
}
.modal-backdrop.open { display: flex; }            /* JS adds .open */
.modal {
  width: 100%; max-width: 440px;
  background: #fff; color: #1f2433;
  border-radius: 16px; padding: 28px; position: relative;
  animation: modal-pop .25s cubic-bezier(.2,.8,.3,1);
}
.modal h3 { margin: 0 0 6px; }
.modal p { margin: 0 0 18px; color: #555; font-size: 14px; }
.modal input { width: 100%; padding: 10px 12px; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; margin-bottom: 16px; }
.modal-actions { display: flex; gap: 8px; justify-content: flex-end; }
.modal-actions button { padding: 9px 18px; border: none; border-radius: 8px; font: inherit; font-weight: 600; cursor: pointer; }
.btn-cancel { background: #f4f4f5; color: #333; }
.btn-primary { background: #111; color: #fff; }
.modal-close { position: absolute; top: 14px; right: 14px; background: none; border: none; font-size: 1.4rem; line-height: 1; color: #888; cursor: pointer; }
@keyframes modal-pop { from { transform: scale(.95); opacity: 0; } to { transform: scale(1); opacity: 1; } }
</style>

3. JavaScript — paste before </body>

<script>
  const backdrop = document.getElementById('demo-modal');
  const openBtn  = document.querySelector('.modal-open');

  const open  = () => backdrop.classList.add('open');
  const close = () => backdrop.classList.remove('open');

  openBtn.addEventListener('click', open);

  // close on the X, the Cancel button, or a click on the dark backdrop
  backdrop.addEventListener('click', (e) => {
    if (e.target === backdrop || e.target.closest('.modal-close, [data-close]')) close();
  });

  // close on the Escape key
  document.addEventListener('keydown', (e) => { if (e.key === 'Escape') close(); });
</script>