JavaScript Custom Cursor with Icon and Text

This JavaScript code helps you to create a custom cursor with icon and text that changes based on hovered links. The cursor follows the mouse movement and displays letters from the link text along with corresponding Font Awesome icons. It helps improve visual interaction and navigation by enhancing cursor feedback on links.

You can use this code on websites to upgrade cursor interactions. The major benefit is improved visual feedback, making navigation more engaging and intuitive for visitors.

How to Create a Custom Cursor with Icon and Text

1. First of all, include the Font Awesome stylesheet in your HTML file’s header for the icons:

<link rel='stylesheet' href='https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/6.4.2/css/all.min.css'>

2. Create the HTML structure with a cursor container, icon, link, and navigation links:

<div class="cursor">
  <div class="icon"></div>
  <div class="link"></div>
</div>
<nav>
  <a href="" id="home">Home</a>
  <a href="">Services</a>
  <a href="">About</a>
  <a href="">Contact</a>
</nav>

<div class="youtube">
  <style>
    .youtube {
      position: absolute;
      bottom: 0;
      left: 0;
      background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
      color: white;
      left: auto;
      right: auto;
      margin: 0 auto;
      text-align: center;
      padding: 20px 50px;
      border-top-left-radius: 20px;
      border-top-right-radius: 20px;
      font-weight: 700;
            color: #0077ee !important;
    }

    .youtube a {
    }
  </style>youtube.com/@AdamCurzonDev
</div>

3. Style the cursor, navigation links, and additional elements using the following CSS code.

:root {
  --circle-size: 25px;
  --letter-width: 14px;
  --letter-space: 60px;
  --font-size: 10px;
  --letter-spacing-x: 20;
  --second-circle-border: 4px;
  --second-circle-size: 35px;
}

body {
  font-family: 'Ubuntu', sans-serif;
  margin: 0 auto;
  background-color: #191a1e !important;
  color: white;
  min-height: 100vh;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
}

.cursor {
  position: absolute;
  width: 25px;
  height: 25px;
  background: white;
  border-radius: 100%;
  cursor: none;
  z-index: 100;
  transition: background .1s ease;
  mix-blend-mode: difference;
}

.cursor .link {
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  color: white;
  animation: spin 5s infinite linear;
  transform-origin: center center;
  width: 25px;
  height: 25px;
}

.cursor .icon {
  width: var(--circle-size);
  height: var(--circle-size);
  line-height: var(--circle-size);
  position: absolute;
  top: 0;
  text-align: center;
}

.cursor:after {
  display: block;
  content: '';
  width: 35px;
  height: 35px;
  border-radius: 100%;
  z-index: -1;
  border: var(--second-circle-border) solid white;
  left: -9px;
  top: -9px;
  position: relative;
  transition: opacity .2s ease, transform .3s ease;
}

.cursor.active {
  background: rgba(0,0,0,0);
}

.cursor.active:after {
  opacity: 0;
  transform: scale(2);
}

nav {
  display: flex;
}

nav a {
  text-decoration: none !important;
  color: white;
  font-weight: 700;
  font-size: 30px;
  padding: 20px 40px;
}


.circle-letter {
  position: absolute;
  width: var(--letter-width);
  text-align: center;
  height: calc(var(--circle-size) + var(--letter-space));
  left: calc(var(--circle-size) / 2 - var(--letter-width) / 2);
  top: calc(var(--letter-space) / 2 * -1);
  text-transform: uppercase;
  font-weight: 700;
  font-size: var(--font-size);
}

.circle-letter-bottom {
  width: var(--letter-width);
  height: var(--letter-width);
  text-align: center;
  position: absolute;
  bottom: 0;
  transform: rotate(180deg);
}

@keyframes spin {
  0% {
    transform: rotate(0deg);
  }
  100% {
    transform: rotate(360deg);
  }
}

4. Finally, add the following JavaScript code at the end of your HTML body or within a script tag. This code dynamically updates the cursor based on mouse movements and hovered links.

const letterSpacing = getComputedStyle(
  document.querySelector(":root")
).getPropertyValue("--letter-spacing-x");

var cursor = document.querySelector(".cursor");
var cursorLink = document.querySelector(".link");
var cursorIcon = document.querySelector(".icon");

var iconMap = {
  Home: "fa-house",
  Services: "fa-bell",
  About: "fa-user",
  Contact: "fa-envelope"
};

document.addEventListener("mousemove", (event) => {
  cursor.style.left = event.clientX - cursor.offsetWidth / 2 + "px";
  cursor.style.top = event.clientY - cursor.offsetHeight / 2 + "px";

  cursor.classList.remove("active");
  cursorLink.innerHTML = "";
  cursorIcon.innerHTML = "";

  let elements = document.elementsFromPoint(event.clientX, event.clientY);
  elements.forEach((elem) => {
    if (elem.tagName == "A") {
      cursor.classList.add("active");

      elem.innerHTML.split("").forEach((letter, i) => {
        var circleLetter = document.createElement("div");
        circleLetter.classList.add("circle-letter");
        circleLetter.innerHTML = letter;
        circleLetter.style.transform = "rotate(" + i * letterSpacing + "deg)";

        var circleLetterBottom = document.createElement("div");
        circleLetterBottom.classList.add("circle-letter-bottom");
        circleLetterBottom.innerHTML = letter;
        circleLetter.appendChild(circleLetterBottom);

        cursorLink.appendChild(circleLetter);
      });

      if (iconMap[elem.innerHTML]) {
        var circleIcon = document.createElement("i");
        circleIcon.classList.add("fa");
        circleIcon.classList.add(iconMap[elem.innerHTML]);
        cursorIcon.appendChild(circleIcon);
      }
    }
  });
});

You can customize the iconMap object to map specific link texts to Font Awesome icons.

That’s all! hopefully, you have successfully created Javascript Custom Cursor With javascript custom cursor with icon and text. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to comment below.

Asif Mughal

I code and create web elements for amazing people around the world. I like work with new people. New people new Experiences.
I truly enjoy what I’m doing, which makes me more passionate about web development and coding. I am always ready to do challenging tasks whether it is about creating a custom CMS from scratch or customizing an existing system.