css/docs/content/components/buttons.md

---
title: Buttons
path: components/buttons
status: Stable
source: 'https://github.com/primer/css/tree/master/src/buttons'
bundle: buttons
---

Buttons are used for **actions**, like in forms, while textual hyperlinks are used for **destinations**, or moving from one page to another.

## Default button

Use the standard—yet classy—`.btn` for form actions and primary page actions. These are used extensively around the site.

When using a `<button>` element, **always specify a `type`**. When using a `<a>` element, **always add `role="button"` for accessibility**.

```html live
<button class="btn mr-2" type="button">Button button</button>
<a class="btn" href="#url" role="button">Link button</a>
```

You can find them in two sizes: the default `.btn` and the smaller `.btn-sm`.

```html live
<button class="btn mr-2" type="button">Button</button>
<button class="btn btn-sm" type="button">Small button</button>
```

## Primary button

Primary buttons are green and are used to indicate the _primary_ action on a page. When you need your buttons to stand out, use `.btn.btn-primary`. You can use it with both button sizes—just add `.btn-primary`.

```html live
<button class="btn btn-primary mr-2" type="button">Primary button</button>
<button class="btn btn-sm btn-primary" type="button">Small primary button</button>
```

## Danger button

Danger buttons are red. They help reiterate that the intended action is important or potentially dangerous (e.g., deleting a repo or transferring ownership). Similar to the primary buttons, just add `.btn-danger`.

```html live
<button class="btn btn-danger mr-2" type="button">Danger button</button>
<button class="btn btn-sm btn-danger" type="button">Small danger button</button>
```

## Outline button

Outline buttons downplay an action as they appear like boxy links. Just add `.btn-outline` and go.

```html live
<button class="btn btn-outline mr-2" type="button">Outline button</button>
<button class="btn btn-sm btn-outline" type="button">Outline button</button>
```

## Large button

Use `.btn-large` to increase the padding and border radius of a button. This is useful for prominent calls to action in hero sections.

[Type scale utilities](https://styleguide.github.com/primer/utilities/typography/#type-scale-utilities) can be used to alter the font-size if needed. Padding is applied in em's so that it scales proportionally with the font-size.

```html live
<button class="btn btn-large mr-2" type="button">Large button</button>
<a class="btn btn-large" href="#url" role="button">Large link button</a>
```

Use `.btn-large` with a type scale utility to transform the text to a bigger size.

```html live
<div class="f3">
  <button class="btn btn-large btn-outline-blue mr-2" type="button">Large button button</button>
  <a class="btn btn-large" href="#url" role="button">Large link button</a>
</div>
```

## Disabled state

Disable `<button>` elements with the boolean `disabled` attribute and `<a>` elements with the `.disabled` class.

```html live
<button class="btn mr-2" type="button" disabled>Disabled button</button>
<a class="btn disabled" href="#url" role="button">Disabled button</a>
```

Similar styles are applied to primary, danger, and outline buttons:

```html live
<button class="btn btn-primary mr-2" type="button" disabled>Disabled button</button>
<a class="btn btn-primary disabled" href="#url" role="button">Disabled button</a>
```

```html live
<button class="btn btn-danger mr-2" type="button" disabled>Disabled button</button>
<a class="btn btn-danger disabled" href="#url" role="button">Disabled button</a>
```

```html live
<button class="btn btn-outline mr-2" type="button" disabled>Disabled button</button>
<a class="btn btn-outline disabled" href="#url" role="button">Disabled button</a>
```

## Block button

Make any button full-width by adding `.btn-block`. It adds `width: 100%;`, changes the `display` from `inline-block` to `block`, and centers the button text.

```html live
<button class="btn btn-block mb-2" type="button">Block button</button>
<button class="btn btn-sm btn-block" type="button">Small block button</button>
```

## Link button

Create a button that looks like a link with `.btn-link`. Rather than using an `<a>` to trigger JS, this style on a `<button>` should be used for better accessibility.

**The `.btn-link` class is not designed to be used with `.btn`; the overlapping styles are not compatible.**

```html live
<button class="btn-link" type="button">Link button</button>
```

## Invisible button

When you want a link, but you want it padded and line heighted like a button best for "cancel" actions on forms.

```html live
<button class="btn btn-invisible" type="button">Cancel</button>
<button class="btn" type="button">Submit</button>
```

## Close button

When using the `octicon-x` icon for a close button, add `.close-button` to remove the default button styles.

```html live
<button class="close-button" type="button">
  <!-- <%= octicon "x" %> -->
  <svg width="12" height="16" viewBox="0 0 12 16" class="octicon octicon-x" aria-hidden="true"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M7.48 8l3.75 3.75-1.48 1.48L6 9.48l-3.75 3.75-1.48-1.48L4.52 8 .77 4.25l1.48-1.48L6 6.52l3.75-3.75 1.48 1.48L7.48 8z" /></svg>
</button>
```

## Button with counts

You can easily append a count to a **small button**. Add the `.with-count` class to the `.btn-sm` and then add the `.social-count` after the button.

**Be sure to clear the float added by the additional class.**

```html live
<div class="clearfix">
  <a class="btn btn-sm btn-with-count" href="#url" role="button">
    <!-- <%= octicon "eye" %> -->
    <svg class="octicon octicon-eye" viewBox="0 0 16 16" version="1.1" width="16" height="16" aria-hidden="true"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M8.06 2C3 2 0 8 0 8s3 6 8.06 6C13 14 16 8 16 8s-3-6-7.94-6zM8 12c-2.2 0-4-1.78-4-4 0-2.2 1.8-4 4-4 2.22 0 4 1.8 4 4 0 2.22-1.78 4-4 4zm2-4c0 1.11-.89 2-2 2-1.11 0-2-.89-2-2 0-1.11.89-2 2-2 1.11 0 2 .89 2 2z"></path></svg>
    <span>Watch</span>
  </a>
  <a class="social-count" href="#url">6</a>
</div>
```

You can also use the [counter](./labels#counters) component within buttons:

```html live
<button class="btn mr-2" type="button">
  Button <span class="Counter">12</span>
</button>

<button class="btn btn-primary mr-2" type="button">
  Button <span class="Counter">12</span>
</button>

<button class="btn btn-danger mr-2" type="button">
  Button <span class="Counter">12</span>
</button>

<button class="btn btn-outline" type="button">
  Button <span class="Counter">12</span>
</button>
```

## Button groups

Have a hankering for a series of buttons that are attached to one another? Wrap them in a `.BtnGroup` and the buttons will be rounded and spaced automatically.

```html live
<div class="BtnGroup mr-2">
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item" type="button">Button</button>
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item" type="button">Button</button>
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item" type="button">Button</button>
</div>

<div class="BtnGroup mr-2">
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item btn-outline" type="button">Button</button>
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item btn-outline" type="button">Button</button>
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item btn-outline" type="button">Button</button>
</div>

<div class="BtnGroup">
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item btn-sm" type="button">Button</button>
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item btn-sm" type="button">Button</button>
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item btn-sm" type="button">Button</button>
</div>
```

Add `.BtnGroup-parent` to parent elements, like `<form>`s or `<details>`s, within `.BtnGroup`s for proper spacing and rounded corners.

```html live
<div class="BtnGroup">
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item" type="button">Button</button>
  <form class="BtnGroup-parent">
    <button class="btn BtnGroup-item" type="button">Button in a form</button>
  </form>
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item" type="button">Button</button>
  <button class="btn BtnGroup-item" type="button">Button</button>
</div>
```

## Hidden text button

Use `.hidden-text-expander` to indicate and toggle hidden text.

```html live
<span class="hidden-text-expander">
  <button type="button" class="ellipsis-expander" aria-expanded="false">&hellip;</button>
</span>
```

You can also make the expander appear inline by adding `.inline`.