Building a macOS Aesthetic in CSS

Introduction

The macOS interface has always been a benchmark for beautiful, functional design. In this tutorial, we'll explore how to recreate that signature glassmorphism effect using pure CSS.

The Traffic Light Buttons

One of the most recognizable elements of macOS is the window control buttons. Here's how to create them:

1.traffic-lights {
2  display: flex;
3  gap: 8px;
4}
5
6.traffic-light {
7  width: 12px;
8  height: 12px;
9  border-radius: 50%;
10}
11
12.close {
13  background: #ff5f56;
14  border: 1px solid #e0443e;
15}
16
17.minimize {
18  background: #ffbd2e;
19  border: 1px solid #dea123;
20}
21
22.maximize {
23  background: #27c93f;
24  border: 1px solid #1aab29;
25}

Glassmorphism Effect

The frosted glass effect is achieved using backdrop-filter:

1.glass-panel {
2  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
3  backdrop-filter: blur(10px);
4  -webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(10px);
5  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2);
6  border-radius: 12px;
7}

Box Shadows for Depth

macOS windows have subtle shadows that give them depth:

1.window {
2  box-shadow: 
3    0 25px 50px -12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5),
4    0 0 0 1px rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
5}

Conclusion

With these techniques, you can bring that polished macOS aesthetic to your web applications. The key is subtlety – the best UI effects are often the ones users don't consciously notice but make the experience feel premium.