CSS Liquid Glass Effects

Apple's Design Revolution

At WWDC 2025, Apple unveiled the most significant interface design update since iOS 7 — Liquid Glass, a revolutionary design language. This groundbreaking approach spans all Apple platforms, achieving true design system unity.

Apple's VP of Human Interface Design, Alan Dye, stated: "This is our most extensive software design update. By reimagining the fundamental elements of software, the new design employs a revolutionary material called Liquid Glass, combining the optical properties of real glass with Apple's signature fluidity."

Core Technologies

Lensing Technology

Dynamically bends and shapes light for authentic optical refraction

Real-time Adaptation

Intelligently adjusts transparency and color based on background content

Fluid Animation

Simulates natural liquid flow and deformation characteristics

Environmental Awareness

Responds to device motion and lighting changes

CSS Implementation

Creating authentic liquid glass effects requires combining multiple CSS techniques. The key is layering different visual elements to simulate the complex optical properties of real glass materials.

Implementation Strategy

Layer-based approach: Use pseudo-elements for depth
Backdrop filters: Blur background content realistically
SVG distortion: Add organic noise patterns
Strategic opacity: Balance visibility and transparency

Step 1: Base Glass Structure

The foundation uses a three-layer system: main element for borders and basic styling, ::before for inner shadows and tinting, and ::after for backdrop effects and distortion.

.glass-card {
  position: relative;
  border-radius: 20px;
  isolation: isolate;
  transition: all 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1);
  box-shadow: 0px 6px 24px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);
  backdrop-filter: blur(1px);
  -webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(1px);
  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.3);
}

Step 2: Inner Shadow Layer

The ::before pseudo-element creates internal depth using inset box-shadows and a subtle background tint that mimics light refraction through glass.

.glass-card::before {
  content: '';
  position: absolute;
  inset: 0;
  z-index: 0;
  border-radius: 20px;
  box-shadow: inset 0 0 20px -5px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6);
  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.05);
}

Step 3: Backdrop Blur Effects

The ::after layer applies backdrop-filter for realistic background blur. This is the core effect that creates the frosted glass appearance by blurring content behind the element.

.glass-card::after {
  content: '';
  position: absolute;
  inset: 0;
  z-index: -1;
  border-radius: 28px;
  backdrop-filter: blur(8px);
  filter: url(#glass-distortion);
  isolation: isolate;
}

Step 4: Optional SVG Enhancement

While the SVG filter is included for potential future enhancements, the primary glass effect is achieved through backdrop-filter and carefully crafted shadows and transparency layers.

<svg
  xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
  width="0"
  height="0"
  style="position:absolute; overflow:hidden"
  className="hidden"
>
  <defs>
    <filter
      id="glass-distortion"
      x="0%"
      y="0%"
      width="100%"
      height="100%"
      className="hidden"
    >
      <feTurbulence 
        type="fractalNoise"
        baseFrequency="0.008 0.008"
        numOctaves="2"
        seed="92"
        result="noise"
        className="hidden"
      />
      <feGaussianBlur
        in="noise"
        stdDeviation="2"
        result="blurred"
        className="hidden"
      />
      <feDisplacementMap
        in="SourceGraphic"
        in2="blurred"
        scale="77"
        xChannelSelector="R"
        yChannelSelector="G"
        className="hidden"
      />
    </filter>
  </defs>
</svg>

Customization Guide

Glass Properties

Blur intensity: Adjust backdrop-filter blur(1px-30px)
Border opacity: Control rgba alpha values (0-0.5)
Corner radius: Match your design system (8px-32px)
Shadow depth: Modify box-shadow blur and spread

Live Demo

The interactive demo on the right showcases a complete Liquid Glass implementation with:

• Real-time clock display with glass typography effects
• Interactive music player with translucent controls and progress
• Notification cards demonstrating proper layering techniques
• Backdrop-filter blur creating authentic frosted glass appearance
• Responsive design adapting to different screen sizes

All effects are created using pure CSS properties, primarily backdrop-filter, box-shadow, and strategic transparency. This ensures optimal performance across modern browsers while maintaining authentic glass aesthetics.

DesignFast