Popular Animation — Reference
Glowing Container
The Glowing Container is a CSS animation component that a card component with an animated hue-shifting border glow that intensifies on hover. Ideal for feature cards, testimonial blocks, or any container you want to highlight with a vibrant edge effect. It ships as self-contained HTML and CSS with no external dependencies, making it drop-in ready for any modern web project regardless of framework or build system.
cardglowhoverhue-shiftcontainer
When to use the Glowing Container
- Feature grids, testimonial layouts, and product comparison tables
- Active state indicators, premium plan highlights, and status badges
- Product cards, navigation items, and link interactions
- Component libraries and design systems that need consistent motion patterns
- Progressive enhancement — works in all modern browsers, degrades gracefully
Performance characteristics
- GPU-accelerated — uses CSS transform and opacity so compositing happens off the main thread
- Zero JavaScript dependency in most configurations — no framework, no bundler required
- Approximately 60 fps on any device that supports CSS animations (Chrome 43+, Firefox 16+, Safari 9+)
- Self-contained in a single HTML file — no npm install, no build step, paste and ship
How it compares
Unlike equivalent JavaScript implementations, the Glowing Container does not require any runtime library — there is nothing to install, bundle, or load asynchronously.
Compared to animated GIFs or video embeds, this CSS component is resolution-independent, theme-able via CSS custom properties, and weighs a fraction of the equivalent media file.
Source code
CSS
css
@property --hue {
syntax: "<number>";
inherits: true;
initial-value: 0;
}
@property --rotate {
syntax: "<number>";
inherits: true;
initial-value: 0;
}
@property --bg-y {
syntax: "<number>";
inherits: true;
initial-value: 0;
}
@property --bg-x {
syntax: "<number>";
inherits: true;
initial-value: 0;
}
@property --glow-translate-y {
syntax: "<number>";
inherits: true;
initial-value: 0;
}
@property --bg-size {
syntax: "<number>";
inherits: true;
initial-value: 0;
}
@property --glow-opacity {
syntax: "<number>";
inherits: true;
initial-value: 0;
}
@property --glow-blur {
syntax: "<number>";
inherits: true;
initial-value: 0;
}
@property --glow-scale {
syntax: "<number>";
inherits: true;
initial-value: 2;
}
@property --glow-radius {
syntax: "<number>";
inherits: true;
initial-value: 2;
}
@property --white-shadow {
syntax: "<number>";
inherits: true;
initial-value: 0;
}
body {
margin: 0;
min-height: 100vh;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
justify-content: center;
background: hsl(260deg 100% 2%);
font-family: 'Geist', system-ui, -apple-system, sans-serif;
}
.glow-container {
--card-color: hsl(260deg 100% 3%);
--text-color: hsl(260deg 10% 55%);
--card-radius: 3.6vw;
--card-width: 35vw;
--border-width: 3px;
--bg-size: 1;
--hue: 0;
--hue-speed: 1;
--rotate: 0;
--animation-speed: 4s;
--interaction-speed: 0.55s;
--glow-scale: 1.5;
--scale-factor: 1;
--glow-blur: 6;
--glow-opacity: 1;
--glow-radius: 100;
--glow-rotate-unit: 1deg;
width: var(--card-width);
width: min(480px, var(--card-width));
aspect-ratio: 1.5/1;
color: white;
margin: auto;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
justify-content: center;
position: relative;
z-index: 2;
border-radius: var(--card-radius);
cursor: pointer;
}
.glow-container:before,
.glow-container:after {
content: "";
display: block;
position: absolute;
width: 100%;
height: 100%;
border-radius: var(--card-radius);
}
.glow-content {
position: absolute;
background: var(--card-color);
border-radius: calc(var(--card-radius) * 0.9);
display: flex;
align-items: center;
justify-content: center;
padding: calc(var(--card-width) / 8);
}
.glow-content:before {
content: "";
display: block;
position: absolute;
width: calc(100% + var(--border-width));
height: calc(100% + var(--border-width));
border-radius: calc(var(--card-radius) * 0.9);
box-shadow: 0 0 20px black;
mix-blend-mode: color-burn;
z-index: -1;
background: hsl(0deg 0% 16%) radial-gradient(
30% 30% at calc(var(--bg-x) * 1%) calc(var(--bg-y) * 1%),
hsl(calc(var(--hue) * var(--hue-speed) * 1deg) 100% 90%) calc(0% * var(--bg-size)),
hsl(calc(var(--hue) * var(--hue-speed) * 1deg) 100% 80%) calc(20% * var(--bg-size)),
hsl(calc(var(--hue) * var(--hue-speed) * 1deg) 100% 60%) calc(40% * var(--bg-size)),
transparent 100%
);
animation: hue-animation var(--animation-speed) linear infinite,
rotate-bg var(--animation-speed) linear infinite;
transition: --bg-size var(--interaction-speed) ease;
}
.glow {
--glow-translate-y: 0;
display: block;
position: absolute;
width: calc(var(--card-width) / 5);
height: calc(var(--card-width) / 5);
animation: rotate var(--animation-speed) linear infinite;
transform: rotateZ(calc(var(--rotate) * var(--glow-rotate-unit)));
transform-origin: center;
border-radius: calc(var(--glow-radius) * 10vw);
}
.glow:after {
content: "";
display: block;
z-index: -2;
filter: blur(calc(var(--glow-blur) * 10px));
width: 130%;
height: 130%;
left: -15%;
top: -15%;
background: hsl(calc(var(--hue) * var(--hue-speed) * 1deg) 100% 60%);
position: relative;
border-radius: calc(var(--glow-radius) * 10vw);
animation: hue-animation var(--animation-speed) linear infinite;
transform: scaleY(calc(var(--glow-scale) * var(--scale-factor) / 1.1))
scaleX(calc(var(--glow-scale) * var(--scale-factor) * 1.2))
translateY(calc(var(--glow-translate-y) * 1%));
opacity: var(--glow-opacity);
}
.glow-container:hover .glow-content {
mix-blend-mode: darken;
--text-color: white;
box-shadow: 0 0 calc(var(--white-shadow) * 1vw) calc(var(--white-shadow) * 0.15vw) rgb(255 255 255 / 20%);
animation: shadow-pulse calc(var(--animation-speed) * 2) linear infinite;
}
.glow-container:hover .glow-content:before {
--bg-size: 15;
animation-play-state: paused;
transition: --bg-size var(--interaction-speed) ease;
}
.glow-container:hover .glow {
--glow-blur: 1.5;
--glow-opacity: 0.6;
--glow-scale: 2.5;
--glow-radius: 0;
--rotate: 900;
--glow-rotate-unit: 0;
--scale-factor: 1.25;
animation-play-state: paused;
}
.glow-container:hover .glow:after {
--glow-translate-y: 0;
animation-play-state: paused;
transition: --glow-translate-y 0s ease, --glow-blur 0.05s ease,
--glow-opacity 0.05s ease, --glow-scale 0.05s ease,
--glow-radius 0.05s ease;
}
@keyframes shadow-pulse {
0%, 24%, 46%, 73%, 96% {
--white-shadow: 0.5;
}
12%, 28%, 41%, 63%, 75%, 82%, 98% {
--white-shadow: 2.5;
}
6%, 32%, 57% {
--white-shadow: 1.3;
}
18%, 52%, 88% {
--white-shadow: 3.5;
}
}
@keyframes rotate-bg {
0% {
--bg-x: 0;
--bg-y: 0;
}
25% {
--bg-x: 100;
--bg-y: 0;
}
50% {
--bg-x: 100;
--bg-y: 100;
}
75% {
--bg-x: 0;
--bg-y: 100;
}
100% {
--bg-x: 0;
--bg-y: 0;
}
}
@keyframes rotate {
from {
--rotate: -70;
--glow-translate-y: -65;
}
25% {
--glow-translate-y: -65;
}
50% {
--glow-translate-y: -65;
}
60%, 75% {
--glow-translate-y: -65;
}
85% {
--glow-translate-y: -65;
}
to {
--rotate: calc(360 - 70);
--glow-translate-y: -65;
}
}
@keyframes hue-animation {
0% {
--hue: 0;
}
100% {
--hue: 360;
}
}HTML
html
<div class="glow-container" role="button">
<span class="glow"></span>
<div class="glow-content"></div>
</div>Full source
html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
@property --hue {
syntax: "<number>";
inherits: true;
initial-value: 0;
}
@property --rotate {
syntax: "<number>";
inherits: true;
initial-value: 0;
}
@property --bg-y {
syntax: "<number>";
inherits: true;
initial-value: 0;
}
@property --bg-x {
syntax: "<number>";
inherits: true;
initial-value: 0;
}
@property --glow-translate-y {
syntax: "<number>";
inherits: true;
initial-value: 0;
}
@property --bg-size {
syntax: "<number>";
inherits: true;
initial-value: 0;
}
@property --glow-opacity {
syntax: "<number>";
inherits: true;
initial-value: 0;
}
@property --glow-blur {
syntax: "<number>";
inherits: true;
initial-value: 0;
}
@property --glow-scale {
syntax: "<number>";
inherits: true;
initial-value: 2;
}
@property --glow-radius {
syntax: "<number>";
inherits: true;
initial-value: 2;
}
@property --white-shadow {
syntax: "<number>";
inherits: true;
initial-value: 0;
}
body {
margin: 0;
min-height: 100vh;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
justify-content: center;
background: hsl(260deg 100% 2%);
font-family: 'Geist', system-ui, -apple-system, sans-serif;
}
.glow-container {
--card-color: hsl(260deg 100% 3%);
--text-color: hsl(260deg 10% 55%);
--card-radius: 3.6vw;
--card-width: 35vw;
--border-width: 3px;
--bg-size: 1;
--hue: 0;
--hue-speed: 1;
--rotate: 0;
--animation-speed: 4s;
--interaction-speed: 0.55s;
--glow-scale: 1.5;
--scale-factor: 1;
--glow-blur: 6;
--glow-opacity: 1;
--glow-radius: 100;
--glow-rotate-unit: 1deg;
width: var(--card-width);
width: min(480px, var(--card-width));
aspect-ratio: 1.5/1;
color: white;
margin: auto;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
justify-content: center;
position: relative;
z-index: 2;
border-radius: var(--card-radius);
cursor: pointer;
}
.glow-container:before,
.glow-container:after {
content: "";
display: block;
position: absolute;
width: 100%;
height: 100%;
border-radius: var(--card-radius);
}
.glow-content {
position: absolute;
background: var(--card-color);
border-radius: calc(var(--card-radius) * 0.9);
display: flex;
align-items: center;
justify-content: center;
padding: calc(var(--card-width) / 8);
}
.glow-content:before {
content: "";
display: block;
position: absolute;
width: calc(100% + var(--border-width));
height: calc(100% + var(--border-width));
border-radius: calc(var(--card-radius) * 0.9);
box-shadow: 0 0 20px black;
mix-blend-mode: color-burn;
z-index: -1;
background: hsl(0deg 0% 16%) radial-gradient(
30% 30% at calc(var(--bg-x) * 1%) calc(var(--bg-y) * 1%),
hsl(calc(var(--hue) * var(--hue-speed) * 1deg) 100% 90%) calc(0% * var(--bg-size)),
hsl(calc(var(--hue) * var(--hue-speed) * 1deg) 100% 80%) calc(20% * var(--bg-size)),
hsl(calc(var(--hue) * var(--hue-speed) * 1deg) 100% 60%) calc(40% * var(--bg-size)),
transparent 100%
);
animation: hue-animation var(--animation-speed) linear infinite,
rotate-bg var(--animation-speed) linear infinite;
transition: --bg-size var(--interaction-speed) ease;
}
.glow {
--glow-translate-y: 0;
display: block;
position: absolute;
width: calc(var(--card-width) / 5);
height: calc(var(--card-width) / 5);
animation: rotate var(--animation-speed) linear infinite;
transform: rotateZ(calc(var(--rotate) * var(--glow-rotate-unit)));
transform-origin: center;
border-radius: calc(var(--glow-radius) * 10vw);
}
.glow:after {
content: "";
display: block;
z-index: -2;
filter: blur(calc(var(--glow-blur) * 10px));
width: 130%;
height: 130%;
left: -15%;
top: -15%;
background: hsl(calc(var(--hue) * var(--hue-speed) * 1deg) 100% 60%);
position: relative;
border-radius: calc(var(--glow-radius) * 10vw);
animation: hue-animation var(--animation-speed) linear infinite;
transform: scaleY(calc(var(--glow-scale) * var(--scale-factor) / 1.1))
scaleX(calc(var(--glow-scale) * var(--scale-factor) * 1.2))
translateY(calc(var(--glow-translate-y) * 1%));
opacity: var(--glow-opacity);
}
.glow-container:hover .glow-content {
mix-blend-mode: darken;
--text-color: white;
box-shadow: 0 0 calc(var(--white-shadow) * 1vw) calc(var(--white-shadow) * 0.15vw) rgb(255 255 255 / 20%);
animation: shadow-pulse calc(var(--animation-speed) * 2) linear infinite;
}
.glow-container:hover .glow-content:before {
--bg-size: 15;
animation-play-state: paused;
transition: --bg-size var(--interaction-speed) ease;
}
.glow-container:hover .glow {
--glow-blur: 1.5;
--glow-opacity: 0.6;
--glow-scale: 2.5;
--glow-radius: 0;
--rotate: 900;
--glow-rotate-unit: 0;
--scale-factor: 1.25;
animation-play-state: paused;
}
.glow-container:hover .glow:after {
--glow-translate-y: 0;
animation-play-state: paused;
transition: --glow-translate-y 0s ease, --glow-blur 0.05s ease,
--glow-opacity 0.05s ease, --glow-scale 0.05s ease,
--glow-radius 0.05s ease;
}
@keyframes shadow-pulse {
0%, 24%, 46%, 73%, 96% {
--white-shadow: 0.5;
}
12%, 28%, 41%, 63%, 75%, 82%, 98% {
--white-shadow: 2.5;
}
6%, 32%, 57% {
--white-shadow: 1.3;
}
18%, 52%, 88% {
--white-shadow: 3.5;
}
}
@keyframes rotate-bg {
0% {
--bg-x: 0;
--bg-y: 0;
}
25% {
--bg-x: 100;
--bg-y: 0;
}
50% {
--bg-x: 100;
--bg-y: 100;
}
75% {
--bg-x: 0;
--bg-y: 100;
}
100% {
--bg-x: 0;
--bg-y: 0;
}
}
@keyframes rotate {
from {
--rotate: -70;
--glow-translate-y: -65;
}
25% {
--glow-translate-y: -65;
}
50% {
--glow-translate-y: -65;
}
60%, 75% {
--glow-translate-y: -65;
}
85% {
--glow-translate-y: -65;
}
to {
--rotate: calc(360 - 70);
--glow-translate-y: -65;
}
}
@keyframes hue-animation {
0% {
--hue: 0;
}
100% {
--hue: 360;
}
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<div class="glow-container" role="button">
<span class="glow"></span>
<div class="glow-content"></div>
</div>
</body>
</html>Frequently asked questions
How do I add the Glowing Container to my project?
Copy the full source code from the code block on this page. Paste the <style> block into your stylesheet (or a <style> tag in your HTML head) and the HTML markup into your template. No npm install or build step is required — the animation is self-contained. To customize colors, speed, or size, use Grepped's workspace at grepped.dev/animations/popular/glowing-container.
Is the Glowing Container free to use?
Yes. All Grepped preset animations are free to use in personal and commercial projects. You may copy, modify, and redistribute the code without attribution. The only limitation is that you may not resell the presets themselves as part of a competing animation library.
Does the Glowing Container work on mobile browsers?
Yes. The Glowing Container uses standard CSS animations and transforms that are supported in all modern mobile browsers — Chrome for Android, Safari on iOS 9+, Samsung Internet, and Firefox for Android. Where JavaScript is used for interactivity (e.g. cursor effects), it falls back gracefully on touch devices.
Can I customize the Glowing Container's colors, speed, or size?
Yes. Open the live customization workspace at grepped.dev/animations/popular/glowing-container to adjust the animation with real-time sliders, color pickers, and toggles — no code required. For deeper changes, the source code uses CSS custom properties (variables) so you can edit them directly in your stylesheet.
Want to customize this animation or generate a new one from a text prompt?
Open in Workspace — it's free