Start CSS underline animation from center instead of left

Question

I have a ul with a given hover effect using :after. This works fine, but I want it to start from the middle instead of the left.

My Code:

ul.my-list{ margin: 20px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;}
ul.my-list li{ list-style: none; position: relative; display: inline;}
ul.my-list li a{ color:#333; text-decoration: none;}
ul.my-list li:after{ content: ''; position: absolute; left: 0px; bottom: -2px; width:0px; height: 2px; background: #333; transition: all 0.45s;}
ul.my-list li:hover:after{ width: 100%;}
ul.my-list li a:hover{ text-decoration: none;}

<ul class="my-list">
  <li><a href="#">Welcome to my website</a></li>
</ul>

score 9 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 28 '19 at 13:26

Quick solution:

Move the original position to left:50% and then, on hover, move it to left:0.

ul.my-list {
  margin: 20px;
  padding: 0px;
  width: 200px;
}

ul.my-list li {
  list-style: none;
  position: relative;
  display: inline;
}

ul.my-list li a {
  color: #333;
  text-decoration: none;
}

ul.my-list li:after {
  content: '';
  position: absolute;
  left: 50%;
  bottom: -2px;
  width: 0px;
  height: 2px;
  background: #333;
  transition: all 0.45s;
}

ul.my-list li:hover:after {
  width: 100%;
  left: 0;
}

ul.my-list li a:hover {
  text-decoration: none;
}

<ul class="my-list">
  <li><a href="#">Welcome to my website</a></li>
</ul>

Temani Afif · Answer 2 · 2019-03-28T13:31:51.333

You can simplify your code using background like below

ul.my-list {
  margin: 20px;
  padding: 0px;
  width: 200px;
}

ul.my-list li {
  list-style: none;
  display: inline-block;
  padding-bottom:2px; /*the space for the gradient*/
  background: linear-gradient(#333,#333) center bottom; /*OR bottom right OR bottom left*/
  background-size: 0% 2px; /*width:0% height:2px*/
  background-repeat:no-repeat; /* Don't repeat !!*/
  transition: all 0.45s;
}

ul.my-list li a {
  color: #333;
  text-decoration: none;
}


ul.my-list li:hover {
  background-size: 100% 2px; /*width:100% height:2px*/
}

<ul class="my-list">
  <li><a href="#">Welcome to my website</a></li>
</ul>

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 28 '19 at 13:41

This is simple, you call the element after left 50% that means this it's the goon left to the middle when you hover the element after the width 100% and left 0, you already added some transition So, it looks middle to left and right. here the code;

ul.my-list{ margin: 20px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;}
ul.my-list li{ list-style: none; position: relative; display: inline;}
ul.my-list li a{ color:#333; text-decoration: none;}
ul.my-list li:after{ 
  content: ''; 
  position: absolute; 
  left: 50%; /* change this code 0 to 50%*/
  bottom: -2px; 
  width:0px; 
  height: 2px; 
  background: #333; 
  transition: all 0.45s;
}
ul.my-list.rtl li:after { right: 0; left: inherit; }
ul.my-list li:hover:after{ left:0; width: 100%;} /* add poperty left 0 */
ul.my-list li a:hover{ text-decoration: none;}

<ul class="my-list">
  <li><a href="#">Welcome to my website</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>left start and end right</h2>
<ul class="my-list rtl">
  <li><a href="#">Welcome to my website</a></li>
</ul>

= = = Thank you = = =

Start CSS underline animation from center instead of left

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