# Glyph draw

Subtle web animation sketch from [https://mighil.com/animations](https://mighil.com/animations).

- **Live demo:** https://mighil.com/animations/glyph-draw
- **Standalone HTML:** https://mighil.com/animations/glyph-draw?download=1
- **This file:** https://mighil.com/animations/glyph-draw/glyph-draw.md
- **Technique:** `stroke`

## What it does

Each mark draws itself. Looks written, not stamped.

## Instructions for AI / coding agents

Implement this micro-interaction in the user's stack (vanilla HTML, React, Vue, Svelte, etc.).

1. Use the **HTML** as the DOM structure (adapt JSX/templates as needed; keep class names and ids).
2. Include the **Theme** CSS (or map the same variables into the host design system). It switches light/dark with `prefers-color-scheme`.
3. Apply the **CSS** as-is when possible. It uses `var(--text-color)`, `var(--heading-color)`, `var(--background-color)`, etc. from the theme so both modes work.
4. Run the **JavaScript** after the markup mounts. Prefer `DOMContentLoaded` or a framework `useEffect` / `onMount`.
5. Keep motion respectful of `prefers-reduced-motion` if the snippet already checks it.
6. Do not depend on mighil.com runtime or fonts. Theme variables are enough for color.
7. If porting to a component, expose the interactive root via a ref and preserve accessibility attributes (`aria-*`, `role`, `button` types).

## Theme (auto light / dark)

```css
/* Auto light / dark — follows prefers-color-scheme */
:root{
  color-scheme: light dark;
  --text-color: hsl(0, 0%, 18%);
  --heading-color: hsl(0, 0%, 18%);
  --background-color: hsl(0, 0%, 99%);
  --bg-color: hsl(0, 0%, 99%);
  --link-color: hsl(0, 0%, 18%);
  --visited-color: hsl(0, 0%, 18%);
  --blockquote-color: hsl(0, 0%, 18%);
  --code-bg-color: hsl(0, 0%, 95%);
  --code-color: hsl(0, 0%, 18%);
  --sub-color: hsl(0, 0%, 29%);
}
@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark){
:root{
  --text-color: hsl(35, 25%, 85%);
  --heading-color: hsl(35.2, 32.6%, 82.5%);
  --background-color: hsl(60, 2.2%, 8.8%);
  --bg-color: hsl(60, 2.2%, 8.8%);
  --link-color: hsl(34.7, 55.3%, 79.8%);
  --visited-color: hsla(34.7, 55.3%, 79.8%, 0.85);
  --blockquote-color: hsl(35, 30%, 75%);
  --code-bg-color: hsl(30, 5%, 7.8%);
  --code-color: limegreen;
  --sub-color: hsla(34.7, 24.7%, 84.9%, 0.78);
}
}
```

## HTML

```html
<div class="glyph-grid" id="glyph-grid" aria-label="Self-drawing symbols">
        <div class="glyph-tile">
          <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true">
            <path d="M18 3a3 3 0 0 0-3 3v12a3 3 0 0 0 3 3 3 3 0 0 0 3-3 3 3 0 0 0-3-3H6a3 3 0 0 0-3 3 3 3 0 0 0 3 3 3 3 0 0 0 3-3V6a3 3 0 0 0-3-3 3 3 0 0 0-3 3 3 3 0 0 0 3 3h12a3 3 0 0 0 3-3 3 3 0 0 0-3-3z"/>
          </svg>
          <span>command</span>
        </div>
        <div class="glyph-tile">
          <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true">
            <path d="M12 2v20"/>
            <path d="M17 5H9.5a3.5 3.5 0 0 0 0 7h5a3.5 3.5 0 0 1 0 7H6"/>
          </svg>
          <span>dollar</span>
        </div>
        <div class="glyph-tile">
          <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true">
            <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="4"/>
            <path d="M16 8v5a3 3 0 0 0 6 0v-1a10 10 0 1 0-4 8"/>
          </svg>
          <span>at</span>
        </div>
        <div class="glyph-tile">
          <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true">
            <line x1="4" y1="9" x2="20" y2="9"/>
            <line x1="4" y1="15" x2="20" y2="15"/>
            <line x1="10" y1="3" x2="8" y2="21"/>
            <line x1="16" y1="3" x2="14" y2="21"/>
          </svg>
          <span>hash</span>
        </div>
        <div class="glyph-tile">
          <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true">
            <line x1="19" y1="5" x2="5" y2="19"/>
            <circle cx="6.5" cy="6.5" r="2.5"/>
            <circle cx="17.5" cy="17.5" r="2.5"/>
          </svg>
          <span>percent</span>
        </div>
        <div class="glyph-tile">
          <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true">
            <circle cx="11" cy="11" r="8"/>
            <path d="m21 21-4.35-4.35"/>
          </svg>
          <span>search</span>
        </div>
      </div>
```

## CSS

```css
.glyph-grid{
  display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr);gap:12px;width:min(100%,340px);
}

.glyph-tile{
  display:flex;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;gap:6px;
  padding:12px 8px 10px;border-radius:10px;box-sizing:border-box;
  border:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,var(--text-color) 10%,transparent);
  background:color-mix(in srgb,var(--text-color) 2%,transparent);
}

.glyph-tile svg{
  width:36px;height:36px;overflow:visible;color:inherit;
}

.glyph-tile path,.glyph-tile line,.glyph-tile circle{
  fill:none;stroke:currentColor;stroke-width:1.75;stroke-linecap:round;stroke-linejoin:round;
}

.glyph-tile span{
  font-size:.68rem;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:.02em;
  color:color-mix(in srgb,var(--text-color) 50%,transparent);
}

@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce){
  .grow-link::after,.wipe,.wipe .b,.shuffle .card,.odo-digit > b,.flap-reel,.step-node,.step-line > i,
  .switch,.switch::after,.copy-btn .c-idle,.copy-btn .c-done,.field label,.tip-bubble,.chip,.like-btn svg,
  .disc-btn svg,.disc-panel,.snack,.save-btn,.ux-box,.seg-pill,.soft-tabs-ink,.list-actions,.success-banner,.search-clear,.pin-btn svg,.submit-ring rect,
  .hold-btn .hold-fill,.toast,.menu-btn .menu-line,.stars button,.conn,.retry-btn,.sort-item,.mute-btn .wave,.mute-btn .x-line,.wizard-dots span,.cart-badge,.range-bubble,
  .filter-list li,.upload-bar > i,.quota-track > i,.quota-tip,.splitbtn-toggle svg,.splitbtn-menu,.presence-dot,
  .draft-banner,.tag-chip,.empty-state,.empty-item,.deadline,.deadline-clock,.deadline-track > i,.edge-fade-mask,.dirty-bar,.seen-ticks path,.nudge-field,.stack-card,
  .blur-line,.xface span,.magnet-chip,.confirm-btn,.confirm-btn span,.offline-banner,.sort-flip-btn svg,.sort-flip-list li,.react-fan,.react-fan button,.sticky-cta,
  .pw-toggle .pw-eye,.pw-toggle .pw-slash,.otp input,.exp-search,.exp-search input,.ok-field input,.ok-field .ok-check,.unread-dot,.unread-check,.unread-row,.sync-label,.sync-btn .sync-arrows,.sync-btn .sync-check,
  .inline-edit .ie-title,.inline-edit .ie-rename,.inline-edit .ie-panel,.inline-edit .ie-input,.inline-edit .ie-bar,
  .ghost-wrap .ghost-hint,.ghost-wrap .ghost-key,.cmd-palette,.cmd-palette li,.cmd-stage::before,.crumb-mid,.crumb-more,.diff-add,.diff-add > .diff-add-inner,.slot > i,.zoom-thumb,.zoom-full,.zoom-caption,
  .bulk-bar,.bulk-check svg,.bulk-row,.env-switch .env-ink,.env-switch button,.invite-btn .invite-idle,.invite-btn .invite-done,.flag-row,.flag-sw,.flag-sw::after,.deploy-node,.deploy-node i,.deploy-wire > b,.ws-ink,.ws-item .ws-check,.thread,.thread-body,.thread-resolve svg,
  .unfurl-card,.unfurl-thumb,.seat,.form-prog-bar > i,.form-prog-field,.form-prog-field svg,.mention b,.glyph-tile path,.glyph-tile line,.glyph-tile circle{transition:none!important}

  .glyph-tile path,.glyph-tile line,.glyph-tile circle{stroke-dashoffset:0!important}
}
```

## JavaScript

```js
// Glyph draw
  const glyphGrid = document.getElementById('glyph-grid');
  function runGlyphs() {
    if (!glyphGrid) return;
    const tiles = [...glyphGrid.querySelectorAll('.glyph-tile')];
    tiles.forEach((tile, ti) => {
      const strokes = [...tile.querySelectorAll('path, line, circle')];
      strokes.forEach((el, si) => {
        let len = 80;
        try {
          if (typeof el.getTotalLength === 'function') len = el.getTotalLength();
          else if (el.tagName === 'line') {
            const x1 = +el.getAttribute('x1') || 0, y1 = +el.getAttribute('y1') || 0;
            const x2 = +el.getAttribute('x2') || 0, y2 = +el.getAttribute('y2') || 0;
            len = Math.hypot(x2 - x1, y2 - y1);
          } else if (el.tagName === 'circle') {
            len = 2 * Math.PI * (+el.getAttribute('r') || 0);
          }
        } catch (e) { /* keep fallback */ }
        el.style.transition = 'none';
        el.style.strokeDasharray = String(len);
        el.style.strokeDashoffset = String(len);
        void el.getBoundingClientRect();
        if (reduce) {
          el.style.strokeDashoffset = '0';
          return;
        }
        const delay = ti * 70 + si * 55;
        const dur = 0.55 + Math.min(len / 120, 0.55);
        requestAnimationFrame(() => {
          el.style.transition = 'stroke-dashoffset ' + dur + 's cubic-bezier(.4,0,.2,1) ' + delay + 'ms';
          el.style.strokeDashoffset = '0';
        });
      });
    });
  }
  runGlyphs();

document.querySelectorAll('[data-act]').forEach((btn) => {
    btn.addEventListener('click', (e) => {
      e.stopPropagation();
      const act = btn.getAttribute('data-act');
      if (act === 'glyphs') runGlyphs();
    });
  });
```

---

_Source: https://mighil.com/animations/glyph-draw_