listhover

Listhover is a user interface pattern in which moving the cursor over an item in a list reveals additional content or actions related to that item. The technique allows designers to provide quick access to context-sensitive controls without expanding the list or cluttering the primary view. Listhover is commonly used in desktop interfaces such as email clients, file managers, or task lists, where items can have associated operations (edit, delete, preview) that are not always needed.

Implementation typically relies on CSS and optional JavaScript. A hidden panel or inline controls are positioned within or beside each list item and revealed when the item is hovered. Common approaches include slide-in or fade-in effects and the use of the :hover pseudo-class, sometimes augmented with transitions and a small delay to reduce accidental activations. For richer interactions or for non-mouse input, scripts may trigger the same content on focus or touch events.

Accessibility considerations are important. Hover-based patterns should not be the sole means of access; provide keyboard or screen reader access via focus and visible focus styles, and consider a non-hover alternative for touch devices. Performance and consistency across browsers should be tested, and motion suited to user preferences should be used.

See also: hover card, progressive disclosure, contextual actions.