CSS Shadows

What are CSS Shadows?

CSS Shadows are visual effects used to create depth by adding shadows behind elements or text.

• Improve UI depth and hierarchy
• Highlight important elements
• Make designs look modern and realistic
• No images or JavaScript required

Types of CSS Shadows

• box-shadow → Shadow around elements
• text-shadow → Shadow behind text

Each serves a different purpose and should be used thoughtfully.

CSS box-shadow

The box-shadow property adds shadow effects around elements like cards, buttons, and containers.

Basic Syntax:

box-shadow: offset-x offset-y blur-radius spread-radius color;

                

• offset-x → Horizontal position
• offset-y → Vertical position
• blur-radius → Softness of shadow
• spread-radius → Size expansion
• color → Shadow color

Basic box-shadow Example

.card {
    width: 300px;
    padding: 20px;
    background: #ffffff;
    box-shadow: 0 4px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15);
    border-radius: 8px;
}

                

Multiple Shadows

You can apply more than one shadow by separating them with commas.

.box {
    box-shadow:
        0 2px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.2),
        0 8px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.15);
}

                

This technique is commonly used in professional UI designs.

CSS text-shadow

The text-shadow property adds shadows behind text, improving readability and style.

Syntax:

text-shadow: offset-x offset-y blur-radius color;

                

Text Shadow Example

h1 {
    font-size: 48px;
    color: #1e293b;
    text-shadow: 2px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
}

                

Inner Shadow

You can create an inner shadow using the inset keyword.

.input-box {
    box-shadow: inset 0 2px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);
}

                

This is commonly used for input fields and neumorphism designs.

Best Practices for CSS Shadows

• Use soft shadows for modern UI
• Avoid harsh black shadows
• Prefer rgba() colors
• Do not overuse shadows
• Keep consistency across components