How TO - Lightbox
Learn how to create a modal image gallery (lightbox) with CSS and JavaScript.
Lightbox (Modal Image Gallery)
Click on one of the images to open the lightbox:
Create A Lightbox
The following example combines code from Modals and Slideshows to create the lightbox.
Step 1) Add HTML:
Example
<!-- Images used to open the lightbox -->
<div class="row">
<div class="column">
<img src="img1.jpg" onclick="openModal();currentSlide(1)" class="hover-shadow">
</div>
<div class="column">
<img src="img2.jpg" onclick="openModal();currentSlide(2)" class="hover-shadow">
</div>
<div class="column">
<img src="img3.jpg" onclick="openModal();currentSlide(3)" class="hover-shadow">
</div>
<div class="column">
<img src="img4.jpg" onclick="openModal();currentSlide(4)" class="hover-shadow">
</div>
</div>
<!-- The Modal/Lightbox -->
<div id="myModal" class="modal">
<span class="close cursor" onclick="closeModal()">×</span>
<div class="modal-content">
<div class="mySlides">
<div class="numbertext">1 / 4</div>
<img src="img1_wide.jpg" style="width:100%">
</div>
<div class="mySlides">
<div class="numbertext">2 / 4</div>
<img src="img2_wide.jpg" style="width:100%">
</div>
<div class="mySlides">
<div class="numbertext">3 / 4</div>
<img src="img3_wide.jpg" style="width:100%">
</div>
<div class="mySlides">
<div class="numbertext">4 / 4</div>
<img src="img4_wide.jpg" style="width:100%">
</div>
<!-- Next/previous controls -->
<a class="prev" onclick="plusSlides(-1)">❮</a>
<a class="next" onclick="plusSlides(1)">❯</a>
<!-- Caption text -->
<div class="caption-container">
<p id="caption"></p>
</div>
<!-- Thumbnail image controls -->
<div class="column">
<img class="demo" src="img1.jpg" onclick="currentSlide(1)" alt="Nature">
</div>
<div class="column">
<img class="demo" src="img2.jpg" onclick="currentSlide(2)" alt="Snow">
</div>
<div class="column">
<img class="demo" src="img3.jpg" onclick="currentSlide(3)" alt="Mountains">
</div>
<div class="column">
<img class="demo" src="img4.jpg" onclick="currentSlide(4)" alt="Lights">
</div>
</div>
</div>
Step 2) Add CSS:
Example
.row > .column {
padding: 0 8px;
}
.row:after {
content: "";
display: table;
clear: both;
}
/* Create four equal columns that floats next to eachother */
.column {
float: left;
width: 25%;
}
/* The Modal (background) */
.modal {
display: none;
position: fixed;
z-index: 1;
padding-top: 100px;
left: 0;
top: 0;
width: 100%;
height: 100%;
overflow: auto;
background-color: black;
}
/* Modal Content */
.modal-content {
position: relative;
background-color: #fefefe;
margin: auto;
padding: 0;
width: 90%;
max-width: 1200px;
}
/* The Close Button */
.close {
color: white;
position: absolute;
top: 10px;
right: 25px;
font-size: 35px;
font-weight: bold;
}
.close:hover,
.close:focus {
color: #999;
text-decoration: none;
cursor: pointer;
}
/* Hide the slides by default */
.mySlides {
display: none;
}
/* Next & previous buttons */
.prev,
.next {
cursor: pointer;
position: absolute;
top: 50%;
width: auto;
padding: 16px;
margin-top: -50px;
color: white;
font-weight: bold;
font-size: 20px;
transition: 0.6s ease;
border-radius: 0 3px 3px 0;
user-select: none;
-webkit-user-select: none;
}
/* Position the "next button" to the right */
.next {
right: 0;
border-radius: 3px 0 0 3px;
}
/* On hover, add a black background color with a little bit see-through */
.prev:hover,
.next:hover {
background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8);
}
/* Number text (1/3 etc) */
.numbertext {
color: #f2f2f2;
font-size: 12px;
padding: 8px 12px;
position: absolute;
top: 0;
}
/* Caption text */
.caption-container {
text-align: center;
background-color: black;
padding: 2px 16px;
color: white;
}
img.demo {
opacity: 0.6;
}
.active,
.demo:hover {
opacity: 1;
}
img.hover-shadow {
transition: 0.3s;
}
.hover-shadow:hover {
box-shadow: 0 4px 8px 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2), 0 6px 20px 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.19);
}
Step 3) Add JavaScript:
Example
<script>
// Open the Modal
function openModal() {
document.getElementById("myModal").style.display = "block";
}
// Close the Modal
function closeModal() {
document.getElementById("myModal").style.display = "none";
}
var slideIndex = 1;
showSlides(slideIndex);
// Next/previous controls
function plusSlides(n) {
showSlides(slideIndex += n);
}
//
Thumbnail image controls
function currentSlide(n) {
showSlides(slideIndex = n);
}
function showSlides(n) {
var i;
var slides = document.getElementsByClassName("mySlides");
var dots = document.getElementsByClassName("demo");
var captionText = document.getElementById("caption");
if (n > slides.length) {slideIndex = 1}
if (n < 1) {slideIndex = slides.length}
for (i = 0; i < slides.length; i++) {
slides[i].style.display = "none";
}
for (i = 0; i < dots.length; i++) {
dots[i].className = dots[i].className.replace(" active", "");
}
slides[slideIndex-1].style.display = "block";
dots[slideIndex-1].className += " active";
captionText.innerHTML = dots[slideIndex-1].alt;
}
</script>
Try it Yourself »
Tip: Also check out Modals and Slideshows.
