whover

Whover is an informal term used in web design and user interface discourse to describe a pattern where contextual information, tooltips, menus, or controls are revealed when the user positions a pointer over a target element and remains there briefly. The term blends web and hover, and is used to distinguish hover-driven disclosures from other interaction patterns such as click-to-open or always-visible panels.

Origin and scope: Whover is not an official standard but a descriptive label used by designers to discuss hover-enabled interfaces across websites and applications. It commonly refers to lightweight, transient disclosures that help preserve screen space while providing access to additional context or actions.

Implementation and patterns: Whover effects are usually implemented with CSS hover selectors, sometimes enhanced with JavaScript for delayed display, fade transitions, or positioning adjustments. Common applications include product cards that reveal extra details on hover, navigation menus that appear when a user hovers a category, or tooltips that emerge to explain icons. Designers often pair whover with progressive enhancement, ensuring the experience works on devices without precise pointing devices.

Accessibility and considerations: Whover patterns require careful attention to accessibility. Content that appears on hover should also be accessible via keyboard focus or alternative gestures. Content dependent on hover should not convey essential information and should degrade gracefully on touch devices. When used, designers should provide clear focus indicators, implement a sensible activation method (such as focus-visible), and consider offering a persistent or tap-to-reveal alternative for non-hover environments.