Monday, October 13, 2025

The Digital Press

All the Bits Fit to Print
← Previous Issue Next Issue →
Ruby Web Development Artificial Intelligence Urban Planning Astronomy
Web Development

Build Interactive Web Features Using Only HTML and CSS

Native HTML and CSS features enable interactive web patterns without JavaScript

From Hacker News Original Article Hacker News Discussion

Modern HTML and CSS now support interactive patterns like modals, tooltips, and carousels natively, reducing the need for JavaScript in many cases. This leads to better performance, fewer dependencies, and improved accessibility.

Why it matters: Leveraging native HTML/CSS features simplifies UI development and enhances user experience without heavy JavaScript reliance.

The big picture: Browsers increasingly support advanced interactive capabilities, enabling lighter, faster, and more maintainable web interfaces.

Quick takeaway: Use JavaScript primarily for data handling and complex logic, while native HTML/CSS handles structure and micro-interactions.

Commenters say: Many appreciate the push towards native features for speed and accessibility, though some note JavaScript is still needed for complex interactions.