Bootstrap Buttons

Buttons are a fundamental element of any user interface. In Bootstrap 3, buttons are not just functional—they are also highly customizable and responsive, making them an essential tool for modern web development.

In this guide, TheCodingCollege.com will walk you through the basics of Bootstrap Buttons, their types, customizations, and practical use cases to help you build intuitive user interfaces.

Why Use Bootstrap Buttons?

Bootstrap Buttons provide:

1. Predefined Styles: A variety of ready-made button designs.
2. Responsiveness: Buttons that work seamlessly across all devices.
3. Customizability: Options to adjust sizes, colors, and icons.
4. Enhanced User Experience: Buttons make interactions smooth and engaging.

Basic Syntax for Bootstrap Buttons

A button in Bootstrap is created using the <button> or <a> element with the appropriate classes.

Basic Example:

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

Output:

A blue, primary-styled button appears on the page.

Bootstrap Button Classes

Bootstrap provides a variety of button classes to represent different actions.

Examples:

<button type="button" class="btn btn-primary">Primary</button>
<button type="button" class="btn btn-success">Success</button>
<button type="button" class="btn btn-info">Info</button>
<button type="button" class="btn btn-warning">Warning</button>
<button type="button" class="btn btn-danger">Danger</button>
<button type="button" class="btn btn-default">Default</button>

Bootstrap Button Sizes

Buttons in Bootstrap can be resized using size classes.

Examples:

<button type="button" class="btn btn-primary btn-lg">Large Button</button>
<button type="button" class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Small Button</button>
<button type="button" class="btn btn-primary btn-xs">Extra Small Button</button>

Output:

• btn-lg creates a larger button.
• btn-sm and btn-xs reduce the size of the button, making them suitable for compact layouts.

Button States

Bootstrap Buttons can reflect different states such as active, disabled, or loading.

Active Buttons:

Use the active class to indicate an active button.

<button type="button" class="btn btn-primary active">Active Button</button>

Disabled Buttons:

To disable a button, add the disabled attribute or the disabled class.

<button type="button" class="btn btn-secondary" disabled>Disabled Button</button>

Block-Level Buttons

For buttons that span the full width of their parent container, use the btn-block class.

Example:

<button type="button" class="btn btn-success btn-block">Full-Width Button</button>

Use Case: Block buttons are ideal for forms or mobile designs where full-width buttons are needed.

Buttons with Icons

Bootstrap Buttons work great with icons, enhancing the visual appeal and functionality. You can use Font Awesome or Bootstrap Icons to add icons to your buttons.

Example with Icons:

<button type="button" class="btn btn-info">
    <i class="glyphicon glyphicon-download"></i> Download
</button>

Using Buttons as Links

You can also use <a> elements styled as buttons to create clickable links with button-like appearances.

Example:

<a href="http://thecodingcollege.com" class="btn btn-primary" role="button">Visit The Coding College</a>

Customizing Bootstrap Buttons

You can style Bootstrap Buttons to match your design needs by modifying their background colors, borders, and hover effects with custom CSS.

Example – Custom Button Style:

<style>
    .custom-btn {
        background-color: #6a1b9a;
        border-color: #4a0d66;
        color: white;
    }
    .custom-btn:hover {
        background-color: #4a0d66;
        color: #f1f1f1;
    }
</style>
<button type="button" class="btn custom-btn">Custom Button</button>

Responsive Button Groups

You can group multiple buttons together using the Button Group component in Bootstrap.

Example – Button Group:

<div class="btn-group" role="group">
    <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary">Left</button>
    <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary">Middle</button>
    <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary">Right</button>
</div>

Output:

A horizontal group of buttons aligned next to each other.

Best Practices for Bootstrap Buttons

1. Keep Actions Clear: Use descriptive labels for buttons (e.g., “Submit” instead of “Click Here”).
2. Be Consistent: Maintain uniform button styles across your website for better UX.
3. Test Responsiveness: Ensure buttons are accessible and clickable on all devices, including mobile.
4. Optimize for Accessibility: Add ARIA labels for buttons, especially for screen reader users.

Conclusion

Bootstrap Buttons are an essential UI element that makes your website interactive and user-friendly. Whether you’re building forms, call-to-actions, or navigation, Bootstrap provides all the tools you need to create stylish, responsive buttons.