Micro-Interactions Without the Bloat

Micro-interactions are the details that make a site feel alive. You do not need heavy libraries to get there. Most of the best motion can be done with simple CSS and a clear design system.

Focus on the key states

A small set of states creates most of the polish.

• Hover: subtle lift or tint
• Active: small press effect
• Focus: clear outline and glow
• Loading: gentle shimmer or spinner

If you cover these, the interface already feels responsive.

Keep motion subtle

Large motion breaks rhythm and slows scanning.

• 150 to 250ms transitions
• Ease curves that start fast and end slow
• Only move along one axis at a time

Small motion is more premium than big motion.

Use transform and opacity

These properties are cheap to animate.

.button {
  transition: transform 180ms ease, box-shadow 180ms ease;
}
.button:hover {
  transform: translateY(-2px);
  box-shadow: 0 8px 20px rgba(15, 23, 42, 0.12);
}
.button:active {
  transform: translateY(0);
}

Respect reduced motion preferences

Users who prefer reduced motion should still get a clean UI.

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
  * {
    animation-duration: 0.01ms !important;
    animation-iteration-count: 1 !important;
    transition-duration: 0.01ms !important;
  }
}

Quick checklist

• Do hover and focus states feel intentional?
• Are transitions fast enough to not slow reading?
• Do animations use transform and opacity?
• Is reduced motion supported?

Micro-interactions are a small investment that makes a big difference in perceived quality.