How to add Smooth CSS drop down menu - html

Question

I managed to create a menu with drop-down-menu (sub menu) using CSS. But I can't able to add smooth drop down-menu effect to my coding. I tried to add -moz-transition and more. I didn't know where to add those transition to make my normal drop-down-menu as smooth drop down-menu effect.
Below is my HTML coding
<div id='cssmenu'>
<ul>
<li class='active'><a href='index.html'><span>Home</span></a></li>
<li class='has-sub'><a href='#'><span>Products</span></a>
<ul>
<li class='has-sub'><a href='#'><span>Product 1</span></a>
<ul>
<li><a href='#'><span>Sub Item</span></a></li>
<li class='last'><a href='#'><span>Sub Item</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class='has-sub'><a href='#'><span>Product 2</span></a>
<ul>
<li><a href='#'><span>Sub Item</span></a></li>
<li class='last'><a href='#'><span>Sub Item</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href='#'><span>About</span></a></li>
<li class='last'><a href='#'><span>Contact</span></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Here is the css
<style media="screen" type="text/css">
#cssmenu ul,
#cssmenu li,
#cssmenu span,
#cssmenu a {
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
position: relative;
}
#cssmenu {
height: 49px;
border-radius: 5px 5px 0 0;
-moz-border-radius: 5px 5px 0 0;
-webkit-border-radius: 5px 5px 0 0;
background: #fefefe;
background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #fefefe 0%, #eee9f0 100%);
background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%, #fefefe), color-stop(100%, #eee9f0));
background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, #fefefe 0%, #eee9f0 100%);
background: -o-linear-gradient(top, #fefefe 0%, #eee9f0 100%);
background: -ms-linear-gradient(top, #fefefe 0%, #eee9f0 100%);
background: linear-gradient(top, #fefefe 0%, #eee9f0 100%);
border-bottom: 2px solid #db000b;
width: auto;
}
#cssmenu:after,
#cssmenu ul:after {
content: '';
display: block;
clear: both;
}
#cssmenu a {
background: #fefefe;
background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #fefefe 0%, #ececec 100%);
background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%, #fefefe), color-stop(100%, #ececec));
background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, #fefefe 0%, #ececec 100%);
background: -o-linear-gradient(top, #fefefe 0%, #ececec 100%);
background: -ms-linear-gradient(top, #fefefe 0%, #ececec 100%);
background: linear-gradient(top, #fefefe 0%, #ececec 100%);
color: #000;
display: inline-block;
font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;
font-size: 12px;
line-height: 49px;
padding: 0 20px;
text-decoration: none;
}
#cssmenu ul {
list-style: none;
}
#cssmenu > ul {
float: left;
}
#cssmenu > ul > li {
float: left;
}
#cssmenu > ul > li > a {
color: #000;
font-size: 12px;
}
#cssmenu > ul > li:hover:after {
content: '';
display: block;
width: 0;
height: 0;
position: absolute;
left: 50%;
bottom: 0;
border-left: 10px solid transparent;
border-right: 10px solid transparent;
border-bottom: 10px solid #db000b;
margin-left: -10px;
}
#cssmenu > ul > li:first-child > a {
border-radius: 5px 0 0 0;
-moz-border-radius: 5px 0 0 0;
-webkit-border-radius: 5px 0 0 0;
}
#cssmenu > ul > li.active:after {
content: '';
display: block;
width: 0;
height: 0;
position: absolute;
left: 50%;
bottom: 0;
border-left: 10px solid transparent;
border-right: 10px solid transparent;
border-bottom: 10px solid #db000b;
margin-left: -10px;
}
#cssmenu > ul > li.active > a {
-moz-box-shadow: inset 0 0 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
-webkit-box-shadow: inset 0 0 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
box-shadow: inset 0 0 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
background: #ececec;
background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #ececec 0%, #ffeeff ef 100%);
background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%, #ececec), color-stop(100%, #ffeeff ef));
background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, #ececec 0%, #ffeeff ef 100%);
background: -o-linear-gradient(top, #ececec 0%, #ffeeff ef 100%);
background: -ms-linear-gradient(top, #ececec 0%, #ffeeff ef 100%);
background: linear-gradient(top, #ececec 0%, #ffeeff ef 100%);
}
#cssmenu > ul > li:hover > a {
background: #ececec;
background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #ececec 0%, #ffeeff ef 100%);
background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%, #ececec), color-stop(100%, #ffeeff ef));
background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, #ececec 0%, #ffeeff ef 100%);
background: -o-linear-gradient(top, #ececec 0%, #ffeeff ef 100%);
background: -ms-linear-gradient(top, #ececec 0%, #ffeeff ef 100%);
background: linear-gradient(top, #ececec 0%, #ffeeff ef 100%);
-moz-box-shadow: inset 0 0 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
-webkit-box-shadow: inset 0 0 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
box-shadow: inset 0 0 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
}
#cssmenu .has-sub {
z-index: 1;
}
#cssmenu .has-sub:hover > ul {
display: block;
}
#cssmenu .has-sub ul {
display: none;
position: absolute;
width: 200px;
top: 100%;
left: 0;
}
#cssmenu .has-sub ul li {
*margin-bottom: -1px;
}
#cssmenu .has-sub ul li a {
background: #db000b;
border-bottom: 1px dotted #ff0f1b;
filter: none;
font-size: 11px;
display: block;
line-height: 120%;
padding: 10px;
color: #ffffff;
}
#cssmenu .has-sub ul li:hover a {
background: #a80008;
}
#cssmenu .has-sub .has-sub:hover > ul {
display: block;
}
#cssmenu .has-sub .has-sub ul {
display: none;
position: absolute;
left: 100%;
top: 0;
}
#cssmenu .has-sub .has-sub ul li a {
background: #a80008;
border-bottom: 1px dotted #ff0f1b;
}
#cssmenu .has-sub .has-sub ul li a:hover {
background: #8f0007;
}
</style>

Answer 1

When you wrote 'smooth CSS menu' you meant without javascript and only CSS ?
If so, use css level 3 transition.
#cssmenu ul ul {
/* this will apply to inner UL, adapt to your desired selector */
-webkit-transition: height 0.3s ease-in-out;
-o-transition: height 0.3s ease-in-out;
-moz-transition: height 0.3s ease-in-out;
transition: height 0.3s ease-in-out;
}
[EDIT]
If it is not working for your context, perhaps it is because there is no 'height to your inner UL element.
#cssmenu .has-sub:hover > ul {
display: block;
height:auto; /* add this */
}
#cssmenu .has-sub ul {
display: none;
position: absolute;
width: 200px;
height:0; /* add this */
top: 100%;
left: 0;
}
For more about the topic for a cross-browser solution, search the net for css transition generator

Answer 2

I'd recommend using something a little more extensive, such as jQuery, to give your desired effect. Here's a link to the 'accordion' effect that sounds like something you're going for. The layout of the accordion menu is completely adjustable - so don't worry if you don't like the design of the default layout.
http://jqueryui.com/accordion/#default
Adding jQuery to your webpage takes about 30 seconds, but gives you an eternity of useful additions, animations, and interactive content manipulation for your page!

Answer 3

u can use jquery for easing effects for your dropdwon menu here is one example
http://devsnippets.com/article/slick-drop-down-menu-with-easing-effect-using-jquery-css.html

Answer 4

I use this
http://cssdeck.com/labs/pure-css3-smooth-drop-down-menu
This menu is created only in CSS3 which is inspired from this post on Forrst! This consists of a nested ul structure to create the second level of the menu which is initially hidden with it's opacity set to 0. When the link is hovered, the respective ul shows up and slides down. This is achieved by setting its opacity to 1 and changing it's top offset when it's hovered in conjuction with the CSS3 transitions to animate the process smoothly.
Check out the code and play with it as much as you like :)