When we think about CSS-Styled lists, different ideas come to mind but that rusty old image of bulleted items is not one of them anymore. There are lots of different methods to format nice HTML lists that is used in most web designs not only for navigation menu (vertical or horizontal) but for formatting many design blocks in a stylish and elegant manner. In this article, we’ll have a look at how such lists can create a whole new look, feel, and effect of a site.
You might be interested to check other CSS related posts :
- Using CSS to Fix Anything: 20+ Common Bugs and Fixes
- Using CSS to Do Anything: 50+ Creative Examples and Tutorials
- 63 Impressive Website Background-Images: Trends, Resources and Tutorials
Different Uses of Styled Lists
<dl class="dropdown">
<dt id="two-ddheader" onmouseover="ddMenu('two',1)" onmouseout="ddMenu('two',-1)" class="module">Recent Archives</dt>
<dd id="two-ddcontent" onmouseover="cancelHide('two')" onmouseout="ddMenu('two',-1)">
<ul>
<li><a href='http://www.darrenhoyt.com/2008/06/' title='June 2008'>June 2008</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.darrenhoyt.com/2008/05/' title='May 2008'>May 2008</a></li>
<li><a href='http://www.darrenhoyt.com/2008/04/' title='April 2008'>April 2008</a></li>
</ul>
</dd>
</dl>
<div id="portfolio">
<ul id="gallery">
<li><img src="/{client}/before.jpg" /></li>
<li><img src="/{client}/sketch.jpg" /></li>
<li><img src="/{client}/wireframe.jpg" /></li>
<li><img src="/{client}/after.jpg" /></li>
</ul>
<img id="frame" width="580" height="415" src="frame.png" />
<ul id="sequence">
<li id="before"><a href="/{client}/before.jpg"><a></li>
<li id="sketch"><a href="/{client}/sketch.jpg"><a></li>
<li id="wireframe"><a href="/{client}/wireframe.jpg"><a></li>
<li id="after"><a href="/{client}/after.jpg"><a></li>
</ul>
<a id="launch" rel="external" href="{url}">
<img src="launch.png" alt="Launch this site" />
</a>
</div>
3-Tabs
<ul id="home_button">
<li><a href="javascript:void(0)" onMouseOver="showContent('home_welcome_content','home_button_welcome')" id="home_button_welcome" class="on">Welcome</a></li>
<!-- <li><a href="javascript:void(0)" onMouseOver="showContent('home_mymonterey_content','home_button_mymonterey')" id="home_button_mymonterey">My Monterey</a></li> -->
<li><a href="javascript:void(0)" onMouseOver="showContent('home_visitors_content','home_button_visitors')" id="home_button_visitors">Visitor's Guide</a></li>
<li><a href="javascript:void(0)" onMouseOver="showContent('home_multimedia_content','home_button_multimedia')" id="home_button_multimedia">Multimedia Gallery</a></li>
<!-- <li><a href="javascript:void(0)" onMouseOver="showContent('home_travelblog_content','home_button_travel')" id="home_button_travel">Travel Blog</a></li> -->
<li><a href="javascript:void(0)" onMouseOver="showContent('home_weather_content','home_button_weather')" id="home_button_weather">Weather</a></li>
<li><a href="javascript:void(0)" onMouseOver="showContent('home_surf_content','home_button_surf')" id="home_button_surf">Surf Report</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li class="dateposted">Posted on: 19th November 2006</li>
<li>Posted by: <a href="http://ifelse.co.uk">Phu</a></li>
<li>Number of comments: <a href="http://ifelse.co.uk/archives/2006/11/19/cssedit-2-review/#comments">29</a></li>
<li><a href="http://ifelse.co.uk/archives/2006/11/19/cssedit-2-review/#commentform">Add a comment</a></li>
</ul>
Tutorials and Examples
1-Nested lists used to create a simple folder metaphore- A rough and ready example showing how to make a folder analalogy using a nested list.
3-html vs css pt2/navigation lists- This article will take a closer look at navigation lists and how an extra span + optional extra class can make our css work easier.
/* html code */ <li><a class="item"> nav item </a></li> <li class="active"><span class="item"> nav item </span></li> /* css code */ li .item {display:block; padding:0.5em;} /* css code alternative */ li a, li span {display:block; padding:0.5em;}
4-Floating next and back buttons using lists- For this exercise, you want to float a “back” button to the left and a “next” button to the right. You could use two divs, but to make it simpler you will use two list items.
/* html code */ <li><a class="item"> nav item </a></li> <li class="active"><span class="item"> nav item </span></li> /* css code */ li .item {display:block; padding:0.5em;} /* css code alternative */ li a, li span {display:block; padding:0.5em;}
5-Safe Lists Next to Left-Floated Elements- There are lots of different methods to format nice html lists. But are those methods reliable in all contexts and in all browsers? In this article, we’ll have a look at a simple context: a list with some left-floated element next to it.
6-Style Your Ordered List- Here is a quick CSS tutorial on how you can use the ordered list (ol) and paragraph (p) element to design a stylish numbered list.
7-Centering List Items Horizontally- Slightly Trickier Than You Might Think
8-Advanced CSS Menu Trick- Instead of simply altering the state of the navigation item the user is currently rolling over, we want to alter the non navigation items as well. This will help focus the users attention on the item they have selected on, and create a new look and feel for the site overall.
9-A Stripe of List Style Inspiration- Instead of simply altering the state of the navigation item the user is currently rolling over, we want to alter the non navigation items as well. This will help focus the users attention on the item they have selected on, and create a new look and feel for the site overall.
»liam
{July 7th, 2008}
Wow, really loving your collections more and more. These are brilliant.
»YaMTaR
{July 7th, 2008}
i like “8-Advanced CSS Menu Trick”
»Mike Robinson
{July 7th, 2008}
I’m keen to hear what people have to say about a post I wrote a little while ago, asking are lists appropriate in form mark-up. While it’s not a tutorial, I feel it turns the cogs a little
»verycheeky
{July 7th, 2008}
Hello!
thank you for this, good stuff. Question though, your using wordpress for this site, are you able to use any of these?
»Shaho
{July 7th, 2008}
Excellent!
»Pinkpetrol.com
{July 7th, 2008}
Great post might use some on mine! - http://www.pinkpetrol.com/blog - might be useful for people
thanks
»Paul
{July 7th, 2008}
Very nice list of lists.
Can sometimes be one of the harder elements to work with at times.
Great list.
»vasu
{July 7th, 2008}
Excellent!
»Zany
{July 7th, 2008}
Very useful ….. thank you for this
»John Jones
{July 7th, 2008}
Nice! Very good tutorials given here. Thank you
http://www.FireMe.To/udi
»Santiago
{July 7th, 2008}
Very nice tricks, I will be playing around with these for future projects.
»Madhav Tripathi
{July 7th, 2008}
Thanks, I can understand You would have hard work after this great work.
»BlackHat
{July 8th, 2008}
I’m disappointed noupe, a selection of poorly designed lists to be honest, first time i’ve been put off by your posts….gah maybe it’s just the advanced css menu trick that I liked but I mean who hasn’t heard or seen or even done that you know?
Anyway, happy belated 4th of july to noupe
»de
{July 8th, 2008}
This is great. Noupe rocks
»JSHAW
{July 8th, 2008}
CSS makes me excited especially in list form!
»An Jay
{July 8th, 2008}
Great list. I am going to try some of them soon. Thanks
»Wes
{July 8th, 2008}
Once again you guys rock! Great resources and plan on implementing some of them on my site.
»Patrick Sweeney
{July 8th, 2008}
Fantastic! Your site is quickly becoming one of those sites to watch constantly. Thanks!
»Guillaume
{July 8th, 2008}
Lists are always a simple way to create menus. Plus, it’s 100% W3C ready and it increases SEO.
It’s easy to tune them with CSS, I don’t consider making menus without lists.
Great links, thank you !
»Giovanna
{July 8th, 2008}
Great list. My blog has a terrible design and will definitely apply the tips on this list. I need to get a design first. Hmm.
»Christian
{July 8th, 2008}
Great list, go css!
»Andy
{July 9th, 2008}
wrong, wrong, wrong. Learn about graceful degradation and semantics before you show off your “best practices”.
This is clearly not it.
»Kim
{July 10th, 2008}
Great collection! Thanks
»Tl7
{July 10th, 2008}
Great collection thanks
»Jon S
{July 11th, 2008}
Great Post, I’ve been looking for some good tutorials on list styling.