How to Create a Modal with CSS (4 Methods)

<!-- HTML -->
<a href="#modal" class="open-btn">Open Modal</a>

<div id="modal" class="modal">
  <div class="modal-overlay"></div>
  <div class="modal-content">
    <h2>Modal Title</h2>
    <p>This modal uses the :target selector.</p>
    <a href="#" class="close-btn">&times;</a>
  </div>
</div>

<!-- CSS -->
<style>
.open-btn {
  padding: 12px 24px;
  background: #3b82f6;
  color: white;
  border-radius: 8px;
  text-decoration: none;
  font-weight: 600;
}

.modal {
  position: fixed;
  inset: 0;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
  opacity: 0;
  visibility: hidden;
  transition: all 0.3s ease;
}

.modal:target {
  opacity: 1;
  visibility: visible;
}

.modal-overlay {
  position: absolute;
  inset: 0;
  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
}

.modal-content {
  position: relative;
  background: white;
  padding: 32px;
  border-radius: 16px;
  max-width: 400px;
  width: 90%;
  transform: scale(0.9);
  transition: transform 0.3s ease;
}

.modal:target .modal-content {
  transform: scale(1);
}

.close-btn {
  position: absolute;
  top: 12px;
  right: 16px;
  font-size: 24px;
  color: #666;
  text-decoration: none;
}

.close-btn:hover {
  color: #000;
}
</style>

<!-- HTML -->
<label for="modal-toggle" class="open-btn">Open Modal</label>

<input type="checkbox" id="modal-toggle" class="modal-checkbox" />

<div class="modal">
  <label for="modal-toggle" class="modal-overlay"></label>
  <div class="modal-content">
    <h2>Modal Title</h2>
    <p>This modal uses checkbox state.</p>
    <label for="modal-toggle" class="close-btn">&times;</label>
  </div>
</div>

<!-- CSS -->
<style>
.open-btn {
  display: inline-block;
  padding: 12px 24px;
  background: #3b82f6;
  color: white;
  border-radius: 8px;
  cursor: pointer;
  font-weight: 600;
}

.modal-checkbox {
  display: none;
}

.modal {
  position: fixed;
  inset: 0;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
  opacity: 0;
  visibility: hidden;
  transition: all 0.3s ease;
}

.modal-checkbox:checked ~ .modal {
  opacity: 1;
  visibility: visible;
}

.modal-overlay {
  position: absolute;
  inset: 0;
  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
  cursor: pointer;
}

.modal-content {
  position: relative;
  background: white;
  padding: 32px;
  border-radius: 16px;
  max-width: 400px;
  width: 90%;
  transform: translateY(-20px);
  transition: transform 0.3s ease;
}

.modal-checkbox:checked ~ .modal .modal-content {
  transform: translateY(0);
}

.close-btn {
  position: absolute;
  top: 12px;
  right: 16px;
  font-size: 24px;
  color: #666;
  cursor: pointer;
}

.close-btn:hover {
  color: #000;
}
</style>

<!-- HTML -->
<div class="modal-container">
  <button class="open-btn">Open Modal</button>

  <div class="modal">
    <div class="modal-overlay"></div>
    <div class="modal-content" tabindex="-1">
      <h2>Modal Title</h2>
      <p>This modal uses :focus-within.</p>
      <p>Click outside or press Tab to close.</p>
      <button class="action-btn">Action</button>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

<!-- CSS -->
<style>
.modal-container {
  position: relative;
}

.open-btn {
  padding: 12px 24px;
  background: #3b82f6;
  color: white;
  border: none;
  border-radius: 8px;
  cursor: pointer;
  font-weight: 600;
}

.modal {
  position: fixed;
  inset: 0;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
  opacity: 0;
  visibility: hidden;
  pointer-events: none;
  transition: all 0.3s ease;
}

.modal-container:focus-within .modal {
  opacity: 1;
  visibility: visible;
  pointer-events: auto;
}

.modal-overlay {
  position: absolute;
  inset: 0;
  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
}

.modal-content {
  position: relative;
  background: white;
  padding: 32px;
  border-radius: 16px;
  max-width: 400px;
  width: 90%;
  outline: none;
  transform: scale(0.95);
  transition: transform 0.3s ease;
}

.modal-container:focus-within .modal-content {
  transform: scale(1);
}

.action-btn {
  margin-top: 16px;
  padding: 8px 16px;
  background: #3b82f6;
  color: white;
  border: none;
  border-radius: 6px;
  cursor: pointer;
}
</style>

<!-- HTML -->
<button class="open-btn" onclick="document.getElementById('myDialog').showModal()">
  Open Modal
</button>

<dialog id="myDialog" class="modal-dialog">
  <h2>Modal Title</h2>
  <p>This uses the native dialog element.</p>
  <p>Press ESC or click outside to close.</p>
  <form method="dialog">
    <button class="close-btn">Close</button>
  </form>
</dialog>

<!-- CSS -->
<style>
.open-btn {
  padding: 12px 24px;
  background: #3b82f6;
  color: white;
  border: none;
  border-radius: 8px;
  cursor: pointer;
  font-weight: 600;
}

.modal-dialog {
  padding: 32px;
  border: none;
  border-radius: 16px;
  max-width: 400px;
  width: 90%;
  box-shadow: 0 25px 50px -12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.25);
}

.modal-dialog::backdrop {
  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
  backdrop-filter: blur(4px);
}

.modal-dialog[open] {
  animation: fadeIn 0.3s ease;
}

@keyframes fadeIn {
  from {
    opacity: 0;
    transform: scale(0.95);
  }
  to {
    opacity: 1;
    transform: scale(1);
  }
}

.modal-dialog h2 {
  margin: 0 0 16px;
  font-size: 1.5rem;
}

.modal-dialog p {
  margin: 0 0 12px;
  color: #666;
}

.close-btn {
  margin-top: 16px;
  padding: 8px 24px;
  background: #3b82f6;
  color: white;
  border: none;
  border-radius: 6px;
  cursor: pointer;
  font-weight: 600;
}

.close-btn:hover {
  background: #2563eb;
}

/* Click outside to close */
.modal-dialog {
  max-height: 90vh;
  overflow: auto;
}
</style>

<!-- Optional: Close on backdrop click -->
<script>
const dialog = document.getElementById('myDialog');
dialog.addEventListener('click', (e) => {
  if (e.target === dialog) dialog.close();
});
</script>