Creating Skewed Highlights with CSS: A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction to Skewed Highlights

Adding a touch of creativity to your website’s text can make a huge difference in user engagement. One way to achieve this is by using skewed highlights. In this article, we’ll explore how to create skewed highlights using CSS.

Method 1: Using Background-Image Property

To create a skewed highlight using the background-image property, you’ll need to divide the text into three parts with gradients. The first gradient creates a slope on the left side of the highlight, the second gradient ensures a uniform color in the middle, and the third gradient creates the slope at the end.

span {
  background-image: linear-gradient(to bottom right, transparent 50%, red 50%),
                    linear-gradient(red, red),
                    linear-gradient(to top left, transparent 50%, red 50%);
  background-size: 100% 100%;
  background-position: 0% 0%, 50% 50%, 100% 100%;
  padding: 10px;
}

Adding Padding to the Skewed Highlight

To ensure the highlight covers the entire text, add some padding to the span element. You can also adjust the margin to remove any unwanted space between the highlighted text and the next word.

Method 2: Using a Pseudo-Element

Another way to create a skewed highlight is by using a pseudo-element. This method produces smooth edges on all sides of the highlight and is easier to implement.

span {
  position: relative;
}

span:before {
  content: "";
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  left: 0;
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  background-color: red;
  transform: skewX(20deg);
}

Adding a Second Highlight

To add a second highlight, simply wrap the text in another span element and apply the same styling.

Creating a Skewed Highlight with Clip-Path

If you want to create a skewed highlight with a more complex shape, you can use the clip-path property. This method allows you to create a custom shape for the highlight.

Mitigating Accessibility Concerns

When creating skewed highlights, it’s essential to consider accessibility. Ensure that the highlight color has sufficient contrast with the text color, and avoid using colors that may be difficult for users with color blindness to distinguish.

Browser Support

The techniques discussed in this article have good browser support, but it’s essential to note that some properties may require vendor prefixes or have limited support in older browsers.

• Check browser support for background-image property
• Check browser support for pseudo-elements
• Check browser support for clip-path property