# Soft tabs

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

- **Live demo:** https://mighil.com/animations/soft-tabs
- **Standalone HTML:** https://mighil.com/animations/soft-tabs?download=1
- **This file:** https://mighil.com/animations/soft-tabs/soft-tabs.md
- **Technique:** `nav`

## What it does

Ink bar slides between tabs.

## 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="soft-tabs" id="soft-tabs">
        <div class="soft-tabs-nav" role="tablist" aria-label="Sections">
          <span class="soft-tabs-ink" id="soft-tabs-ink" aria-hidden="true"></span>
          <button type="button" role="tab" aria-selected="true" data-soft>Overview</button>
          <button type="button" role="tab" aria-selected="false" data-soft>Activity</button>
          <button type="button" role="tab" aria-selected="false" data-soft>Files</button>
        </div>
        <div class="soft-tabs-panel" id="soft-tabs-panel" role="tabpanel">Project summary and recent notes.</div>
      </div>
```

## CSS

```css
.soft-tabs{width:min(100%,320px)}

.soft-tabs-nav{display:flex;gap:20px;border-bottom:1px solid color-mix(in srgb,var(--text-color) 10%,transparent);position:relative;margin-bottom:14px}

.soft-tabs-nav button{
  appearance:none;-webkit-appearance:none;border:0;background:transparent;padding:10px 0;font:inherit;font-size:.9rem;font-weight:500;cursor:pointer;
  color:color-mix(in srgb,var(--text-color) 55%,transparent);
}

.soft-tabs-nav button[aria-selected="true"]{color:var(--text-color)}

.soft-tabs-ink{
  position:absolute;bottom:-1px;height:2px;background:currentColor;border-radius:2px;
  transition:transform .34s cubic-bezier(.22,1,.36,1), width .34s cubic-bezier(.22,1,.36,1);
}

.soft-tabs-panel{font-size:.88rem;line-height:1.5;color:color-mix(in srgb,var(--text-color) 80%,transparent);min-height:2.8em}

@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}
}
```

## JavaScript

```js
// Soft tabs
  const softTabs = document.querySelector('div.soft-tabs');
  const softInk = document.getElementById('soft-tabs-ink');
  const softPanel = document.getElementById('soft-tabs-panel');
  const softCopy = {
    Overview: 'Project summary and recent notes.',
    Activity: 'Comments, commits, and status changes.',
    Files: 'Specs, exports, and shared drafts.'
  };
  function syncSoft(btn) {
    if (!softTabs || !softInk || !btn) return;
    const nav = softTabs.querySelector('.soft-tabs-nav');
    const nr = nav.getBoundingClientRect();
    const r = btn.getBoundingClientRect();
    softInk.style.width = r.width + 'px';
    softInk.style.transform = 'translateX(' + (r.left - nr.left) + 'px)';
  }
  if (softTabs && softInk) {
    const tabs = [...softTabs.querySelectorAll('[data-soft]')];
    tabs.forEach((btn) => btn.addEventListener('click', () => {
      tabs.forEach((t) => t.setAttribute('aria-selected', t === btn ? 'true' : 'false'));
      if (softPanel) softPanel.textContent = softCopy[btn.textContent.trim()] || '';
      syncSoft(btn);
    }));
    requestAnimationFrame(() => syncSoft(tabs.find((t) => t.getAttribute('aria-selected') === 'true') || tabs[0]));
    window.addEventListener('resize', () => syncSoft(tabs.find((t) => t.getAttribute('aria-selected') === 'true') || tabs[0]));
  }
```

---

_Source: https://mighil.com/animations/soft-tabs_