Website designers always want to modernize, minimalize, and make their websites more appealing. One design element that has made its way into most website layouts is the CSS hamburger menu.
The hamburger menu is an icon that consists of three horizontal lines stacked on top of each other. It is called a hamburger menu because it looks like two buns with a meat patty in the middle.
When a user clicks on the hamburger icon a menu appears. Sometimes the menu is a popup, sometimes the menu slides open and other times it fills the whole screen.
Hamburger menu icons are a great design concept that save space.
It is a very common element for mobile website development. This is because it provides a useful and necessary menu function but does not take up much room on a mobile screen.
It is also a great design element for modern websites and minimal websites. Although it is only three lines, designers can add various animations and create different variations.
If you are looking to implement a CSS hamburger menu on your website, check out the following options. They offer unique hamburger menus that are sure to amuse visitors.
Hamburger menu animation with velocity.js
Author: Filippo
This hamburger menu icon uses HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It has an animated effect to swing the three lines into an X and back to three lines.
Created using velocity.js, the animation is smooth and clean.
Button #3
Author: Amli
Amli also created an HTML, CSS, and JavaScript menu button. It has two lines, instead of three, that disappear and an X appears.
Hamburger Menu Animations
Author: Tamino Martinius
The code pen here offers four different hamburger menu animations.
Two turn the button into an X. The other two turn them into arrows.
Open Close
Author: Vineeth.TR
This author provides two animated hamburger menu options that are pure CSS.
Hamburger Icon
Author: Pranjal Saxena
This code pen offers a responsive hamburger icon and a menu that has an animated bounce.
CSS hamburger menus
Author: rosalieelphick
Here are four pure HTML and CSS menus that twist, turn, and switch.
Flippin’ burgers
Author: Mikael Ainalem
These hamburger menu options look like someone flipping burgers on a grill.
Menu “Hamburger” Icon Animations
Author: Jesse Couch
Jesse Couch offers four hamburger menu icons with this code pen.
Hamburger Menu (CSS only)
Author: Youri Pailloux
This hamburger menu elongates into a header bar menu. It has a background color of half white and half blue.
Jumping Hamburger Menu Icon
Author: Jack Thomson
Jack Thomson adds a little extra flair to this hamburger button. It jumps into the air and falls into an X position.
CSS Challenge – Day 2
Author: Elitsa Dimitrova
Using JS, HTML and CSS this button has a fun animation and a nice background color.
Click highlighter on menu button using :after
Author: Rhys Matthew P
Here is a simple hamburger menu button. It uses :after pseudo-element that creates a highlighter effect.
Another Hamburger Menu | CSS
Author: Joshua Ward
For those looking for a simple and dignified hamburger button icon, this is perfect.
Pure CSS off-canvas menu with flexbox
Author: Zoe Gillenwater
This code pen offers a hamburger icon button with a menu. It uses flexbox to resize the content so the menu box does not obstruct the view of the content page.
Hamburger animation
Author: Aaron Iker
Aaron Iker puts a whole new spin on the hamburger menu button. The three-line icon rotates creating a circle that contains an X.
Single Element Animated Hamburger Menu CSS Only
Author: Josh Fabean
Here is another simple hamburger menu icon option.
Pure CSS Fullscreen Navigation Menu
Author: Brendan Palmer
This is a pure CSS spinning hamburger menu icon with a menu that fills the whole page.
Hamburger Menu Button Interaction
Author: Himalaya Singh
When users interact with this button, the word “menu” springs from the traditional hamburger icon.
The Hamburger Menu
Author: Matthew Blode
This code pen includes thirteen hamburger menus, all with a different twist.
Animated Hamburger menu – CSS Only
Author: Leif Riksheim
This pure CSS code pen puts the hamburger menu icon in the right upper corner with a sliding menu sidebar.
Minimal animated pure css menu icon
Author: Yacine
Here is a hamburger menu with a mini animation. It is HTML and CSS code but can be used with JavaScript.
Menu button and horizontal ellipsis transformation animation
Author: Himalaya Singh
This code pen turns the three lines of the hamburger menu icon into three dots.
CSS3 animated & responsive dropdown menu
Author: Catalin Rosu
Catalin Rosu presents a responsive drop-down menu with this code pen.
CSS Gooey Menu (Version 4)
Author: Lucas Bebber
This code pen displays a circular hamburger menu icon. With a click, it expands into several circles with menu options.
Hamburger Menu – CSS and jQuery
Author: rv7
The hamburger button presented here includes a popup menu. It sits in the left upper corner of a website.
Star Wars Toggle Icon Animation
Author: Rıza Selçuk Saydam
Here is a Star Wars-inspired hamburger button that consists of lightsabers.
hamburger menu css animation
Author: jun xu
This is a traditional hamburger menu button with a circle border and a bright red X. It uses HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to make it work smoothly.
Hamburger Animated Icon
Author: Steven Fabre
Here is another simple hamburger menu icon with an animation that switches it from three lines to an X.
Frosty Nav Toggle Effect
Author: Graham Wilsdon
The frosty nav hamburger icon presented here was specifically created for mobile devices. When users click on the icon, the menu frosts over the page.
Hamburger animation & Triple background color using CSS
Author: Himalaya Singh
When users click on this hamburger button, it turns into an X. It also changes the background color of the whole interface.
Menu toggle svg animation
Author: Tamino Martinius
Using HTML, CSS, and JS this SVG animated hamburger button is quite amusing.
Hamburger Menu Css Animated
Author: Evren
While other hamburger button styles only have the animation on click, this one has it on hover.
Drawn Hamburger Transition
Author: Jesse Couch
With a slow and smooth transition and elegant colors, this hamburger menu is best for classy websites.
PURE CSS SIDEBAR TOGGLE MENU
Author: Jelena Jovanovic
Here is a pure CSS hamburger menu icon with a left-side sliding off-canvas menu. This design allows developers to add sub-menu content.
Material Design Menu
Author: Arjan Jassal
The traditional three-line menu icon bathes in a white background. The design displays it at the bottom right corner of a website header.
Hamburger
Author: Mikael Ainalem
With no JavaScript, this is a pure HTML and CSS hamburger menu button that rotates.
Atomic Hamburger Menu CSS
Author: Alex Coven
This atomic hamburger button has two animations.
On hover, the three lines turn into an atomic particle. If the user clicks and holds, it turns into an X.
Creative Hamburger Menu
Author: Ahmed Hamed
On the right-hand corner sits the hamburger menu icon. When a user clicks on it, the background color of the page bursts into black.
Hamburger Menu Icon Transition using css | Transforming hamburger menu
Author: Bilal.Rizwaan
This hamburger button uses CSS to transform from three lines into an X on hover.
hamburger (version 1)
Author: Tamino Martinus
This is another hamburger button that twists into an X on hover.
SVG Gooey Hover Menu Concept
Author: Michael Leonard
It looks simple but this design uses many layers of animations and transitions. It uses HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for smooth running.
The hamburger menu icon displays in the left corner of the screen. On hover, a menu slides into view.
Fullscreen Navigation
Author: Marcus Bizal
Using overlay effects, this hamburger button transforms the whole interface into a colorful menu.
The ultimate hamburger menu
Author: Charles
This is the ultimate hamburger menu button. Instead of using lines that imitate a hamburger, it is an actual image of a hamburger.
On click, it turns into french fries.
Hamburger Menu
Author: Mikael Ainalem
This is a simple hamburger button with pure CSS.
Morphing Hamburger Menu with CSS
Author: Imgonzalves
Here is a classic hamburger menu button that looks great on mobile devices. It has smooth transitions, soft color tones, and SVG icons.
When clicked on, the button turns into the exit button as it also reveals the menu.
CSS Animated Hamburger Icon
Author: Elijah Manor
Elijah Manor presents a simple and classic black and white hamburger menu button. It uses HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Hamburger icon with Morphing Menu
Author: Sergio Andrade
This code pen contains a hamburger menu icon on the right upper corner of the screen. When a user clicks on it, it morphs into a bubble menu.
Menu test – css only – effects
Author: Sil van Diepen
Here are four pure CSS menu buttons with different animations.
CSS Animated Hamburger Icon
Author: Bryan
For a small twist on the classic hamburger icon. This features an image of a real hamburger coming together ingredient by ingredient.
Hamburger Menu (with cheese)
Author: Michael Smart
If you agree with Michael Smart and do not think that three lines accurately represent a hamburger, use this menu button instead.
SVG Interaction (Menu to Left Arrow)
Author: Vikram
Using CSS and SVG animation, these menu buttons react differently to interaction.
Hamburger Icon Animations
Author: Rosa
If you have not seen enough variety yet, check out these twelve CSS hamburger menu animations.
FAQs about hamburger menus
1. What is a hamburger menu?
A typical user interface component called a hamburger menu is made up of three horizontal lines piled on top of one another. A menu of navigation options slides out from the side or top of the screen when the user clicks on the hamburger icon.
2. Why is it called a hamburger menu?
According to legend, the term “hamburger menu” had its start because the three horizontal lines resemble a hamburger. The term’s precise genesis is unknown, and others contend that it ought to be referred to as a “navicon” or “menu icon” in its place.
3. What is the purpose of a hamburger menu?
The goal of a hamburger menu is to provide a simple and uncluttered user interface by concealing unnecessary navigation options. This enhances the user experience overall and lessens screen clutter.
4. Where is the hamburger menu typically located on a website or app?
Although it can also be positioned in various places, such as the screen’s center or bottom, the hamburger menu is often seen in the screen’s top left or right corner. The layout and style of the website or app frequently dictate where the hamburger menu appears.
5. How does the hamburger menu improve user experience?
By clearing up the screen and making it simpler for users to obtain the information they need, the hamburger menu can enhance user experience. Also, it permits a more basic design, which can give the interface a more contemporary and attractive appearance.
6. What are some alternatives to using a hamburger menu?
Visible menu bars, tabbed navigation, and scrollable menus are some alternatives to using a hamburger menu. These substitutes offer quicker access to navigation options, but they may also result in a cluttered and complicated user interface.
7. How can I design an effective hamburger menu?
The position, size, and color of the icon, as well as the menu’s structure and organization, must all be taken into account when creating a successful hamburger menu. The menu should have simple names and logical organization that make it simple to use and browse.
8. What are some common mistakes to avoid when designing a hamburger menu?
When creating a hamburger menu, common pitfalls to avoid include utilizing ambiguous or unclear titles, concealing crucial navigation options, and overusing the hamburger icon throughout the interface. To make sure the menu is efficient and simple to use, it is also crucial to test it with consumers.
9. How can I test the usability of my hamburger menu?
With a group of volunteers, you can conduct user testing sessions to evaluate the usability of a hamburger menu. When they complete a series of tasks from the menu, watch their behavior and gauge their responses. Analytics tools can also be used to monitor conversion rates and user engagement.
10. Do users prefer a hamburger menu or a visible menu bar?
Depending on the situation and user demographic, a visible menu bar may or may not be preferred over a hamburger menu. According to certain studies, younger users might favor the hamburger menu whereas elderly users might favor a menu bar that is clearly visible. The ideal strategy is to test both possibilities and see which is most effective for your users and objectives.
If you liked this article about CSS hamburger menus, you should check out this article about CSS animations on scroll.
There are also similar articles discussing CSS page transitions, CSS modals, CSS tooltips, and slide menus.
And let’s not forget about articles on CSS link hover effects, CSS range sliders, JavaScript menus, and CSS toggle switches.