The hamburger menu has become synonymous with mobile apps and websites. Includes neat navigation items until users need them. They are great for saving space when screen real estate is limited.
And we are also seeing more use of them on desktop devices. This makes sense for large, complex menus and situations where content needs to be the main focus. Yes, hamburgers are everywhere these days.
In addition, this type of shipping is extremely flexible. A variety of exposed animations and layouts can be done, and that’s just scratching the surface. Designers are constantly redefining what happens behind this little icon.
Let ‘s look at 8 CSS and JavaScript items that enhance hamburger menus. You might be surprised at what they can do.
CSS animated hamburgers by Eric Porter
Let’s start with something simple but important: the open and close interactions. This fragment contains a series of click / touch animations. The goal is to make the user experience intuitive. Every animation here does so effectively.
Watch the Hamburgers Pen – CSS Animated by Eric Porter
Menu Button Interaction by Aybüke Ceylan
Here we have a fragment that adds a unique twist to the appearance of the hamburger icon. The first and third lines stand out and keep everything identifiable. There are more goodies inside. When you click on the icon it displays an attractive menu that appears from the top left. The feel is very similar to a context menu that is often seen in operating systems.
Take a look at the Menu Pen Button Interaction by Aybüke Ceylan
Morphing a Hamburger Menu with CSS by LM Gonzalves
Open this menu and view the outstanding CSS transition. The lines of the hamburger icon appear to change into the individual menu items. This is sure to get the user’s attention (not to mention some web designers are surprised).
View Menu Hamburger Pen Morphing with CSS with lmgonzalves
Other Menu Concept by Rune Sejer Hoffmann
Another great example of CSS transitions is the unveiling of this menu. In this case, the menu is overlaid with a horizontal layout. The typography is spot on, and the hover effects are sweet.
Check out the Concept Pen another menu by Rune Sejer Hoffmann
Toggle Animated Navigation & Menu by A. James Liptak
This overlay menu has a unique twist. It uses colorful panels, in which the navigation itself is in the center of the screen. On the left, the branding area exchanges backgrounds but remains in a consistent presence. Not only does it look cool, but it also keeps users informed about the site’s brand. That’s something that is often missed when applying an overlay.
View the Animated Toggle Pen Link & Menu by A. James Liptak
SVG Full Width & Animation Menu by Brandon Ward
If you want to add a flash of fun to your project, you will want to check out this piece. Due to the combination of bright colors, delicate transitions, and hover effects, this menu is a highlight.
Check out the full-width SVG Pen & animation menu by Brandon Ward
Toggle CSS Sidebar by Silvestar Bistrovic
Most of the overlay menus out there seem to be opaque. That’s why this example is a nice change of pace. When you click on the hamburger icon, it displays a beautiful menu that uses a translucent gradient background. This allows you to view some of the site below while still being able to easily navigate to another page.
Look at the toggle of the CSS Pen sidebar with Silvestar Bistrović
Slide Out Navigation Menu by Praveen Bisht
We have seen hamburger menus that take over the entire screen. But what about a menu that simply expands into a traditional navigation bar? This sliding fragment does so in a very clean and subtle way. There is something to be said for a feature that works just without much. Note that this one may require a little extra work to make it fully responsive.
Take a look at the Pen Slide Navigation Menu by Praveen Bisht
The constantly evolving Hamburger
The hamburger menu has come a long way since its early days. No longer limited to simple downloads, it can take full advantage of the latest offerings by CSS and JavaScript. And while it may not be right for every project, its utility continues to grow.
We hope these examples inspired you to take the hamburger menu even further! If you want to see tastier items, please see our CodePen collection.
