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For a standard crosshair, apply cursor: crosshair to the area where it should appear. If you want a custom shape that follows the pointer or trails behind it, add a separate decorative element and position it with JavaScript. Keep that element out of the way of page controls, respect reduced-motion preferences, and provide a fallback for visitors who do not use a mouse.
Choose the kind of crosshair you need
There are two distinct approaches: use the browser’s built-in crosshair cursor, or create a custom visual that tracks pointer movement. The built-in option is simpler and usually the better starting point. A custom cursor is useful when you need a particular shape, size, or animation.
| Approach | Best for | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
CSS cursor: crosshair |
A straightforward crosshair over a specific region | You use the browser-provided appearance rather than defining its shape. MDN’s cursor reference documents the keyword. |
| CSS cursor image or JavaScript-positioned overlay | A custom graphic, a pointer-following effect, or animation | Requires fallback behavior and attention to hit-testing, visibility, motion preferences, and device differences. MDN documents cursor images; see also the guidance on pointer events and reduced motion. |
Apply the native crosshair with CSS
Use the CSS cursor property on the element or region where the crosshair makes sense:
.drawing-area {
cursor: crosshair;
}For example, a canvas-like drawing area may benefit from a crosshair, while ordinary text and buttons should generally retain cursor behavior that communicates their function. As MDN puts it, “The cursor setting should inform users of the mouse operations that can be performed at the current location, including: text selection, activating help or context menus, copying content, resizing tables, and so on.”
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Use a custom cursor image when you need a specific design
CSS can load a cursor image and then name a fallback cursor keyword. The optional two numbers identify the hotspot—the active point in the image—relative to its top-left corner:
.drawing-area {
cursor: url("/images/crosshair.png") 16 16, crosshair;
}In this example, the hotspot is at coordinate 16, 16. Set the values to match the point in your image that should align with the pointer; omit them if the image’s top-left corner is the intended active point. The fallback keyword after the image is required. User agents commonly limit cursor-image dimensions: MDN recommends 32 × 32 pixels and notes a default restriction of 128 × 128 pixels in Firefox and Chromium. Those documentation notes are not a guarantee for every browser or version.
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Build a pointer-following crosshair with JavaScript
A follow effect uses a normal HTML element as a visual overlay. Give it fixed positioning so its coordinates correspond to the viewport, and disable pointer targeting so it cannot intercept clicks or hover events. This example follows a mouse or pen and keeps a built-in crosshair as the CSS fallback.
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Move a mouse or pen over this area.
</div>
<div class="crosshair" aria-hidden="true"></div>.drawing-area {
min-height: 18rem;
cursor: crosshair;
}
.crosshair {
position: fixed;
left: 0;
top: 0;
width: 24px;
height: 24px;
border: 1px solid currentColor;
border-radius: 50%;
pointer-events: none;
opacity: 0;
transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
z-index: 10;
}
.crosshair::before,
.crosshair::after {
content: "";
position: absolute;
background: currentColor;
}
.crosshair::before {
width: 1px;
height: 34px;
left: 50%;
top: 50%;
transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
}
.crosshair::after {
width: 34px;
height: 1px;
left: 50%;
top: 50%;
transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.crosshair {
transition: none;
}
}const area = document.querySelector(".drawing-area");
const crosshair = document.querySelector(".crosshair");
area.addEventListener("pointermove", (event) => {
if (event.pointerType === "touch") return;
crosshair.style.left = `${event.clientX}px`;
crosshair.style.top = `${event.clientY}px`;
crosshair.style.opacity = "1";
});
area.addEventListener("pointerleave", () => {
crosshair.style.opacity = "0";
});The Pointer Events API provides a common event model for mouse, pen, and touch. Here, clientX and clientY are viewport coordinates, which pair with position: fixed. The effect is limited to the drawing area, and touch input does not reveal the overlay. If the effect is meant to cover the whole page, attach the movement and leave handlers to an appropriate page-level element instead. See MDN’s Pointer Events guide.
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Keep the overlay decorative
pointer-events: none lets pointer events target the content underneath the overlay instead. That matters for links, buttons, and hover states: the crosshair should not become an interaction blocker. The aria-hidden="true" attribute marks this visual decoration as irrelevant to assistive technology; do not put interactive content inside it.
Do not hide the system cursor prematurely
This example leaves the native cursor available. If you choose to hide it for a custom effect, do so only when the replacement is initialized and visible, and preserve a fallback when JavaScript is unavailable or the device does not support the intended interaction. Otherwise a visitor can lose the visible pointer without gaining a working replacement.
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Account for motion and different pointer devices
Honor reduced-motion preferences
If you add easing, a trailing animation, or other movement, use the prefers-reduced-motion media feature to remove or simplify it when the visitor’s system requests reduced motion. The CSS example disables transitions under that preference; for a more elaborate effect, apply the same principle to every animation that moves the cursor decoration. See MDN’s reduced-motion reference.
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Do not assume everyone has a mouse
A mouse-following decoration has little purpose on a touch-only screen. Check event.pointerType when handling Pointer Events, and decide whether the effect should be absent, use a different interaction, or respond to a pen. Pointer Events cover mouse, pen, and touch, but cursor appearance is not uniform across devices. MDN notes that iPadOS uses a circular pointer for pointer devices and that only the text cursor value changes its appearance by default; do not promise that custom cursor styling will look the same on iPadOS as on desktop. See MDN’s Pointer Events guide and cursor reference.
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Check visibility and interaction
- Choose a crosshair color and size that remain visible against the region’s backgrounds.
- Keep the decoration from obscuring text or important controls.
- Test that links and buttons beneath it still receive pointer events.
- Ensure the native cursor or another usable fallback remains available if the custom effect cannot run.
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