How to increase the clickable area of a `<a>` tag button?

html

responsive-design

best-practices

css

byAnton Shumikhin·Oct 17, 2024

Boost the clickable zone of your hyperlink by applying padding to the <a> element. This enhances the interaction surface, thus making the hyperlink easier to click. For quick implementation, apply inline CSS:

<a href="#" style="display: block; padding: 15px;">Click Me!</a>

Defining display: block; ensures padding evenly extends around the hyperlink text, expanding the clickable area without altering its spatial positioning.

Padding vs. margin: Which expands clickable areas?

Take note of the conceptual difference between padding and margin. While both can distort the clickable area, padding amplifies the genuine interactive zone that responds to a click. Margin alters the space surrounding the clickable element, without expanding the actual clickable zone.

Invisible expansion: Pseudo-elements

Pseudo-elements :before or :after can create a bigger establishment zone without changing the visual aesthetics of the button. Here's the magic trick:

a {
  /* 💍 positioning ring */
  position: relative;
}

a:before {
  /* 🐇 magic rabbit */
  content: '';
  /* 🎩 magic hat */
  position: absolute;
  /* 🪄 magic wand */
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  top: -10px;
  right: -10px;
  bottom: -10px;
  left: -10px;
  /* 🕳️ magic hole */
  z-index: -1;
  cursor: pointer;
}

This junction of styles improves the clickable zone while preserving the initial look and feel of the button. It's like magic, isn't it?

Controlling size and position: Display block and dimensions

By setting the <a> tag to display: block;, you can define exact width and height properties. This customization offers precise control over the button's dimensions, and subsequently the clickable area:

a {
  /* 🧱 building block */
  display: block;
  /* 📏 ruler magic */
  width: 200px;
  height: 50px;
}

Hyperlink evolution: HTML5 & clickable containers

In HTML5, it's permissible to nest block-level elements like a <div> inside an <a> tag. Thus, you can wrap an entire <div> within an <a> tag to design a significantly large, clickable container:

<a href="#">
  <!-- 🔲 div box -->
  <div style="padding: 20px;">
    <p><!-- 🖍️ Speak your truth --></p>
  </div>
</a>

This technique ensures all content within the <div> presents a clickable and interactive nature.

Responsive designs: Using overlay techniques

To enhance the mobile experience, especially the touch targets, overlay a :before pseudo-element. This approach also visually communicates the clickable nature of the element:

a:before {
  /* 🖱️ literally pointing at the obvious */
  cursor: pointer;
}

Outer focus: Border strategy

Instead of padding, using borders can visibly enlarge the clickable zone while retaining the element's visual boundaries. Alternatively, you can use pseudo-elements to create an invisible but clickable extension:

a {
  /* 🟨 yellow block */
  display: block;
  /* 🔄 center of the world */
  position: relative;
  /* 🌈 invisible rainbow */
  border: 10px solid transparent;
}