Customizing Text Underline Appearance with CSS

When it comes to styling text with underlines using CSS, there are several properties and techniques that can help you achieve the desired appearance. One common requirement is to increase the gap between the text and the underline. In this tutorial, we will explore how to customize the text underline appearance, including increasing the distance between the text and the underline.

Using text-underline-offset Property

The most straightforward way to increase the gap between the text and the underline is by using the text-underline-offset property. This property allows you to specify the distance between the text and the underline.

.text-with-custom-underline {
  text-decoration: underline;
  text-underline-offset: 2px; /* adjust the value as needed */
}

Note that the text-underline-offset property should be used in conjunction with the text-decoration: underline property. You can adjust the value of text-underline-offset to achieve the desired gap between the text and the underline.

Using border-bottom Property

Another approach is to use the border-bottom property instead of the text-decoration: underline property. This method provides more flexibility in terms of styling, but it requires additional markup and styles.

.text-with-custom-underline {
  border-bottom: 1px solid #000; /* adjust the color and thickness as needed */
  padding-bottom: 3px; /* adjust the value to increase or decrease the gap */
}

Keep in mind that using border-bottom may not provide the same level of control as the text-underline-offset property, especially when dealing with multiline text.

Using Pseudo-Elements

You can also use pseudo-elements, such as :after, to create a custom underline. This method provides pixel-perfect control over the underline position and appearance.

.text-with-custom-underline {
  position: relative;
  text-decoration: none;
}

.text-with-custom-underline:after {
  content: '';
  width: 100%;
  position: absolute;
  left: 0;
  bottom: 1px; /* adjust the value to increase or decrease the gap */
  border-width: 0 0 1px;
  border-style: solid;
}

This method requires additional markup and styles, but it provides a high degree of control over the underline appearance.

Browser Compatibility

When using the text-underline-offset property, keep in mind that browser compatibility may vary. As of now, most modern browsers support this property, but older versions may not. You can check the browser compatibility on websites like Can I Use or MDN Web Docs.

In conclusion, customizing the text underline appearance with CSS can be achieved using various properties and techniques. The text-underline-offset property provides a straightforward way to increase the gap between the text and the underline, while other methods, such as using border-bottom or pseudo-elements, offer more flexibility and control.