Primer Buttons

Buttons are used for actions, like in forms, while textual hyperlinks are used for destinations, or moving from one page to another.

This repository is a module of the full primer repository.

Install

This repository is distributed with npm. After installing npm, you can install primer-buttons with this command.

$ npm install --save primer-buttons

Usage

The source files included are written in Sass (scss) You can simply point your sass include-path at your node_modules directory and import it like this.

@import "primer-buttons/index.scss";

You can also import specific portions of the module by importing those partials from the /lib/ folder. Make sure you import any requirements along with the modules.

Build

For a compiled css version of this module, a npm script is included that will output a css version to build/build.css The built css file is also included in the npm package.

$ npm run build

Documentation

Buttons are used for actions, like in forms, while textual hyperlinks are used for destinations, or moving from one page to another.

{:toc}

Default button

Use the standard—yet classy—.btn for form actions and primary page actions. These are used extensively around the site.

When using a <button> element, always specify a type. When using a <a> element, always add role="button" for accessibility.

<button class="btn" type="button">Button button</button>
<a class="btn" href="#url" role="button">Link button</a>

You can find them in two sizes: the default .btn and the smaller .btn-sm.

<button class="btn" type="button">Button</button>
<button class="btn btn-sm" type="button">Small button</button>

Primary button

Primary buttons are green and are used to indicate the primary action on a page. When you need your buttons to stand out, use .btn.btn-primary. You can use it with both button sizes—just add .btn-primary.

<button class="btn btn-primary" type="button">Primary button</button>
<button class="btn btn-sm btn-primary" type="button">Small primary button</button>

Danger button

Danger buttons are red. They help reiterate that the intended action is important or potentially dangerous (e.g., deleting a repo or transferring ownership). Similar to the primary buttons, just add .btn-danger.

<button class="btn btn-danger" type="button">Danger button</button>
<button class="btn btn-sm btn-danger" type="button">Small danger button</button>

Outline button

Outline buttons downplay an action as they appear like boxy links. Just add .btn-outline and go.

<button class="btn btn-outline" type="button">Outline button</button>
<button class="btn btn-sm btn-outline" type="button">Outline button</button>

Large button

Use .btn-large to increase the padding and border radius of a button. This is useful for prominent calls to action in hero sections.

Type scale utilities can be used to alter the font-size if needed. Padding is applied in em's so that it scales proportionally with the font-size.

<p>
  <a class="btn btn-large btn-purple" href="#url" role="button">Large link button</a>
  <button class="btn btn-large" type="button">Large button button</button>
</p>
 

Use .btn-large with a type scale utility to transform the text to a bigger size.

<p class="f3">
  <a class="btn btn-large btn-purple" href="#url" role="button">Large link button</a>
  <button class="btn btn-large btn-outline-blue" type="button">Large button button</button>
</p>

Disabled state

Disable <button> elements with the boolean disabled attribute and <a> elements with the .disabled class.

<button class="btn" type="button" disabled>Disabled button</button>
<a class="btn disabled" href="#url" role="button">Disabled button</a>

Similar styles are applied to primary, danger, and outline buttons:

<button class="btn btn-primary" type="button" disabled>Disabled button</button>
<a class="btn btn-primary disabled" href="#url" role="button">Disabled button</a>

<button class="btn btn-danger" type="button" disabled>Disabled button</button>
<a class="btn btn-danger disabled" href="#url" role="button">Disabled button</a>

<button class="btn btn-outline" type="button" disabled>Disabled button</button>
<a class="btn btn-outline disabled" href="#url" role="button">Disabled button</a>

Block button

Make any button full-width by adding .btn-block. It adds width: 100%;, changes the display from inline-block to block, and centers the button text.

<p><button class="btn btn-block" type="button">Block button</button></p>
<p><button class="btn btn-sm btn-block" type="button">Small block button</button></p>

Link button

Create a button that looks like a link with .btn-link. Rather than using an <a> to trigger JS, this style on a <button> should be used for better accessibility.

The .btn-link class is not designed to be used with .btn; the overlapping styles are not compatible.

<p><button class="btn-link" type="button">Link button</button></p>

Button with counts

You can easily append a count to a small button. Add the .with-count class to the .btn-sm and then add the .social-count after the button.

Be sure to clear the float added by the additional class.

<div class="clearfix">
  <a class="btn btn-sm btn-with-count" href="#url" role="button">
    <%= octicon "eye" %>
    Watch
  </a>
  <a class="social-count" href="#url">6</a>
</div>

You can also use the counter component within buttons:

<button class="btn" type="button">
  Button
  <span class="Counter">12</span>
</button>
 
<button class="btn btn-primary" type="button">
  Button
  <span class="Counter">12</span>
</button>
 
<button class="btn btn-danger" type="button">
  Button
  <span class="Counter">12</span>
</button>
 
<button class="btn btn-outline" type="button">
  Button
  <span class="Counter">12</span>
</button>

Button groups

Have a hankering for a series of buttons that are attached to one another? Wrap them in a .BtnGroup and the buttons will be rounded and spaced automatically.

<div class="BtnGroup mr-2">
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item" type="button">Button</button>
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item" type="button">Button</button>
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item" type="button">Button</button>
</div>
 
<div class="BtnGroup mr-2">
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item btn-outline" type="button">Button</button>
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item btn-outline" type="button">Button</button>
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item btn-outline" type="button">Button</button>
</div>
 
<div class="BtnGroup">
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item btn-sm" type="button">Button</button>
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item btn-sm" type="button">Button</button>
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item btn-sm" type="button">Button</button>
</div>

Add .BtnGroup-parent to parent elements, like <form>s or <details>s, within .BtnGroups for proper spacing and rounded corners.

<div class="BtnGroup">
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item" type="button">Button</button>
  <form class="BtnGroup-parent">
    <button class="btn BtnGroup-item" type="button">Button in a form</button>
  </form>
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item" type="button">Button</button>
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item" type="button">Button</button>
</div>

Hidden text button

Use .hidden-text-expander to indicate and toggle hidden text.

<span class="hidden-text-expander">
  <button type="button" class="ellipsis-expander" aria-expanded="false">&hellip;</button>
</span>

You can also make the expander appear inline by adding .inline.

Using button styles with the details summary element

You can add .btn and .btn-* classes to any <summary> element so that it gains the appearance of a button, and selected/active styles when the parent <details> element is open.

<details>
  <summary class="btn btn-block btn-primary">Toggle the content</summary>
  <p class="mt-2">
    This content will be toggled.
  </p>
</details>

License

MIT © GitHub