content/snippets/css/s/mouse-cursor-gradient-tracking.md
---
title: Mouse cursor gradient tracking
type: snippet
language: css
tags: [visual,interactivity]
cover: tram-car
dateModified: 2021-01-07
---
A hover effect where the gradient follows the mouse cursor.
- Declare two CSS variables, `--x` and `--y`, used to track the position of the mouse on the button.
- Declare a CSS variable, `--size`, used to modify the gradient's dimensions.
- Use `background: radial-gradient(circle closest-side, pink, transparent)` to create the gradient at the correct position.
- Use `Document.querySelector()` and `EventTarget.addEventListener()` to register a handler for the `'mousemove'` event.
- Use `Element.getBoundingClientRect()` and `CSSStyleDeclaration.setProperty()` to update the values of the `--x` and `--y` CSS variables.
```html
<button class="mouse-cursor-gradient-tracking">
<span>Hover me</span>
</button>
```
```css
.mouse-cursor-gradient-tracking {
position: relative;
background: #7983ff;
padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
font-size: 1.2rem;
border: none;
color: white;
cursor: pointer;
outline: none;
overflow: hidden;
}
.mouse-cursor-gradient-tracking span {
position: relative;
}
.mouse-cursor-gradient-tracking::before {
--size: 0;
content: '';
position: absolute;
left: var(--x);
top: var(--y);
width: var(--size);
height: var(--size);
background: radial-gradient(circle closest-side, pink, transparent);
transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
transition: width 0.2s ease, height 0.2s ease;
}
.mouse-cursor-gradient-tracking:hover::before {
--size: 200px;
}
```
```js
let btn = document.querySelector('.mouse-cursor-gradient-tracking');
btn.addEventListener('mousemove', e => {
let rect = e.target.getBoundingClientRect();
let x = e.clientX - rect.left;
let y = e.clientY - rect.top;
btn.style.setProperty('--x', x + 'px');
btn.style.setProperty('--y', y + 'px');
});
```