Shiny notification boxes provide an elegant way to display alerts, success messages, or important information on websites. These CSS3-powered elements combine visual appeal with functional design, offering developers a lightweight alternative to traditional alert dialogs.
Key Features of Shiny Notification Boxes
These notification boxes stand out with their impressive set of features:
- Vibrant color options: Choose from eight distinct colors including green for success, red for errors, blue for information, and more
- Dynamic effects: Seven animation effects like blinking, fading, and sliding to capture user attention
- Pure CSS implementation: No image dependencies means faster loading and easier customization
- jQuery-powered animations: Smooth transitions and effects handled by jQuery for cross-browser compatibility
- Complete design assets: Includes PSD files for designers who want to modify the visual elements
Implementation Guide
Adding these notification boxes to your project is straightforward:
<div class="notification_green"> <strong>Success!</strong>The message has been sent. </div>
The system requires just three simple components:
- notification.css for styling
- notification.js for behaviors
- jQuery library (any recent version)
Browser Compatibility Considerations
While these boxes leverage modern CSS3 features, they maintain excellent cross-browser support:
- Modern browsers: Full CSS3 gradients and shadows in Chrome, Firefox, Safari
- Internet Explorer: Special filters provide gradient support in IE6-IE8
- Opera: Falls back to solid colors where gradients aren’t supported
Practical Applications
These notification boxes work particularly well for:
- Form validation messages
- System status updates
- User action confirmations
- Temporary announcements
- Error notifications
Customization Options
The included PSD file allows for easy visual modifications. Developers can:
- Adjust color schemes to match brand guidelines
- Modify animation timing and effects
- Extend functionality with additional jQuery events
- Create custom size variations for different contexts
Performance Considerations
The CSS-only approach offers significant advantages:
- Reduced HTTP requests compared to image-based solutions
- Small file sizes (typically under 10KB for both CSS and JS)
- Hardware-accelerated animations in modern browsers
- Minimal impact on page rendering performance
Version History and Updates
The notification boxes have evolved with these key improvements:
1.1.1 (Feb 6 2011) * Added live preview functionality * Enhanced demo files * Corrected documentation errors 1.1.0 (Feb 1 2011) * Improved JavaScript documentation * Added legacy IE support * Implemented IE gradient solutions 1.0.0 (Jan 11 2011) * Initial release
Best Practices for Implementation
To get the most from these notification boxes:
- Use color coding consistently (green=success, red=error, etc.)
- Keep messages concise and actionable
- Consider automatic dismissal for non-critical notifications
- Test across target browsers during development
- Combine with sound effects cautiously (if at all)
For visual reference and implementation examples, watch the detailed screencast demonstrating all features and customization options.



