CSS Nav Menu Fade Out OFF Hover

Question

Still learning as I go with CSS styling, and I want to implement a fade-in/fade-out navigation menu. Reading up, I was able to code a fade in on hover successfully to the effect that I want. Now I'm being challenged logically and can't seem to come up with how to code that menu to fade out when the mouse no longer hovers over that specific class.

* {
  -moz-box-sizing: border-box;
  -webkit-box-sizing: border-box;
  box-sizing: border-box;
  padding: 0;
  margin: 0;
  background-color: grey;
}
body {
  position: fixed;
  font-family: Serif, sans-serif;
  background: white;
  font-size: 62.5%;
  color: black;
}
/*Nav Wrapper*/

#navWrapper {
  width: 1100px;
  position: fixed;
  top: 30px;
  left: 0px;
  right: 0px;
  margin: 0px;
  margin-left: auto;
  margin-right: auto;
}
/*Banner Wrapper*/

.bannerWrap {
  width: 1100px;
  position: fixed;
  left: 0px;
  right: 0px;
  margin: 0px;
  margin-left: auto;
  margin-right: auto;
}
/*Banner Styling*/

.banner {
  border: 1px solid black;
}
/*Main Nav Box Styling*/

.nav {
  position: fixed;
  list-style: none;
  width: 1102px;
  top: 70px;
  margin: 30px auto 0px auto;
  height: 43px;
  padding: 0px 20px 0px 20px;
  background: #323552;
  background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #323552, #1a1b24);
  background: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0% 0%, 0% 100%, from(#323552), to(#1a1b24));
  border: 1px solid #002232;
}
/*Main Nav Button Styling*/

.nav li {
  float: left;
  text-align: center;
  position: relative;
  padding: 4px 10px 4px 10px;
  margin-right: 30px;
  margin-top: 7px;
  border: none;
  background-color: transparent;
}
/*Main Nav Button Styling*/

.nav > li > a {
  font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
  font-size: 14px;
  color: #EEEEEE;
  display: block;
  outline: 0;
  text-decoration: none;
  text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  background-color: transparent;
}
/*Drop Down On Hover Action*/

.nav > li:hover > div {
  display: block;
  left: 0;
  -webkit-animation: fadein .5s;
  /* Safari and Chrome */
  -moz-animation: fadein .5s;
  /* Firefox */
  -ms-animation: fadein .5s;
  /* Internet Explorer */
  -o-animation: fadein .5s;
  /* Opera */
  animation: fadein .5s;
}
/*Drop Down Container*/

.nav > li > div {
  position: fixed;
  right: -1px;
  top: 147px;
  height: 300px;
  display: none;
  padding: 10px 10px;
  box-shadow: 2px 4px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
  background: #323552;
  background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #323552, #1a1b24);
  background: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0% 0%, 0% 100%, from(#323552), to(#1a1b24));
  overflow: hidden;
}
/*Drop Down*/

.navMain {
  margin: -4px auto;
  position: fixed;
  text-align: left;
  border: 1px solid #777777;
  border-top: none;
  width: 1060px;
  border: 1px solid black;
}
/*Nav Text Styling*/

.dropContent {
  background: transparent;
  color: #b9b9b9;
}
/*Nav Text Styling*/

.nav-titles {
  display: inline-block;
  font-size: 1.2em;
  font-weight: bold;
  text-align: left;
  padding-right: 3px;
  background: transparent;
}
/*Nav Icons Styling*/

.navIcon {
  width: 15px;
  height: 15px;
  background: transparent;
}
/*Nav Sub Menu*/

.navDropLinks {
  font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
  font-size: 14px;
  display: block;
  padding-bottom: 6px;
  background: transparent;
}
/*Nav Sub Menu Hyper*/

.navDropLinks > a {
  color: black;
  text-decoration: none;
  font-weight: bold;
  background: transparent;
}
/*Nav Sub Menu Left Column*/

.navLeft {
  position: absolute;
  left: 10px;
  width: 330px;
  display: inline-block;
  font-size: 11px;
  text-align: left;
  padding-right: 3px;
  background: transparent;
}
/*Nav Sub Menu Center Column*/

.navCenter {
  position: absolute;
  width: 330px;
  left: 357px;
  font-size: 11px;
  text-align: center;
  background: transparent;
}
/*Nav Sub Menu Right Column*/

.navRight {
  position: absolute;
  right: 10px;
  width: 330px;
  display: inline-block;
  font-size: 11px;
  text-align: center;
  padding-left: 3px;
  background: transparent;
}
/*Nav Sub Menu Focus Images*/

.navImage {
  display: inline-block;
  width: 275px;
  height: 120px;
  background: transparent;
}
/*Alt Nav Sub Menus*/

.navMain1 {
  margin: -4px auto;
  position: fixed;
  text-align: left;
  border: 1px solid #777777;
  border-top: none;
  width: 1060px;
  /* Gradient background */
  background: #F4F4F4;
  background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #EEEEEE, #BBBBBB);
  background: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0% 0%, 0% 100%, from(#EEEEEE), to(#BBBBBB));
  border: 1px solid black;
}
/*Alt Nav Sub Menus*/

.navMain2 {
  margin: -4px auto;
  position: fixed;
  text-align: left;
  border: 1px solid #777777;
  border-top: none;
  width: 1060px;
  /* Gradient background */
  background: #F4F4F4;
  background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #EEEEEE, #BBBBBB);
  background: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0% 0%, 0% 100%, from(#EEEEEE), to(#BBBBBB));
  border: 1px solid black;
}
/*To Line 270: Keyframes for Nav Animation*/

@keyframes fadein {
  from {
    opacity: 0;
  }
  to {
    opacity: 1;
  }
}
/* Firefox */

@-moz-keyframes fadein {
  from {
    opacity: 0;
  }
  to {
    opacity: 1;
  }
}
/* Safari and Chrome */

@-webkit-keyframes fadein {
  from {
    opacity: 0;
  }
  to {
    opacity: 1;
  }
}
/* Internet Explorer */

@-ms-keyframes fadein {
  from {
    opacity: 0;
  }
  to {
    opacity: 1;
  }
}
/* Opera */

@-o-keyframes fadein {
  from {
    opacity: 0;
  }
  to {
    opacity: 1;
  }
}
@keyframes fadeout {
  from {
    opacity: 1;
  }
  to {
    opacity: 0;
  }
}
@-moz-keyframes fadeout {
  from {
    opacity: 1;
  }
  to {
    opacity: 0;
  }
}
@-webkit-keyframes fadeout {
  from {
    opacity: 1;
  }
  to {
    opacity: 0;
  }
}
@-o-keyframes fadeout {
  from {
    opacity: 1;
  }
  to {
    opacity: 0;
  }
}

<!--Nav Wrapper-->
<div class="bannerWrap">
  <img class="banner" src="images/general/site/bannerlg.png">
</div>
<div id="navWrapper">
  <ul class="nav">
    <li><a href="#">Final Cut</a>

      <!--Begin Main Div-->
      <div class="navMain">
        <!--Begin Sub Nav-->
        <div class="navLeft"> <span class="nav-titles">DBZ Final Cut: Navi</span>
          <br>
          <br>
          <br>
          <div class="navDropLinks">
            <img class="navIcon" src="images/general/site/4staricon.png"><a href="#"> Home</a>
          </div>
          <div class="navDropLinks">
            <img class="navIcon" src="images/general/site/4staricon.png"><a href="#"> Archived News</a>
          </div>
          <div class="navDropLinks">
            <img class="navIcon" src="images/general/site/4staricon.png"><a href="#"> About Us</a>
          </div>
          <div class="navDropLinks">
            <img class="navIcon" src="images/general/site/4staricon.png"><a href="#"> Contact Us</a>
          </div>
          <br>
          <br><span class="dropContent">This is some random text that is describing the current article. The picture above will relate to the article. This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.</span>

        </div>
        <!--End Sub Nav-->
        <!--Begin Nav Center-->
        <div class="navCenter"> <span class="nav-titles">Latest News</span>
          <br>
          <img class="navImage" src="images/general/setsellsheets/mc.jpg" alt="article image" />
          <br> <span class="dropContent">This is some random text that is describing the current article. The picture above will relate to the article. This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                </span>

        </div>
        <!--End of Nav Center-->
        <!--Begin Nav Right-->
        <div class="navRight"> <span class="nav-titles">Latest News</span>
          <br>
          <img class="navImage" src="images/general/setsellsheets/mc.jpg" alt="article image" />
          <br> <span class="dropContent">This is some random text that is describing the current article. The picture above will relate to the article. This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                </span>

        </div>
        <!--End Nave Right-->
      </div>
      <!--End Main Div-->
    </li>
    <li><a href="#">News</a>

      <!--Begin Main Div-->
      <div class="navMain1">
        <!--Begin Sub Nav-->
        <div class="navLeft"> <span class="nav-titles">DBZ Final Cut: Navi</span>
          <br>
          <br>
          <br>
          <div class="navDropLinks">
            <img class="navIcon" src="images/general/site/4staricon.png"><a href="#"> Home</a>
          </div>
          <div class="navDropLinks">
            <img class="navIcon" src="images/general/site/4staricon.png"><a href="#"> Archived News</a>
          </div>
          <div class="navDropLinks">
            <img class="navIcon" src="images/general/site/4staricon.png"><a href="#"> About Us</a>
          </div>
          <div class="navDropLinks">
            <img class="navIcon" src="images/general/site/4staricon.png"><a href="#"> Contact Us</a>
          </div>
          <br>
          <br><span class="dropContent">This is some random text that is describing the current article. The picture above will relate to the article. This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.</span>

        </div>
        <!--End Sub Nav-->
        <!--Begin Nav Center-->
        <div class="navCenter"> <span class="nav-titles">Latest News</span>
          <br>
          <img class="navImage" src="images/general/setsellsheets/mc.jpg" alt="article image" />
          <br> <span class="dropContent">This is some random text that is describing the current article. The picture above will relate to the article. This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                </span>

        </div>
        <!--End of Nav Center-->
        <!--Begin Nav Right-->
        <div class="navRight"> <span class="nav-titles">Latest News</span>
          <br>
          <img class="navImage" src="images/general/setsellsheets/mc.jpg" alt="article image" />
          <br> <span class="dropContent">This is some random text that is describing the current article. The picture above will relate to the article. This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                </span>

        </div>
        <!--End Nav Right-->
        <!--End Main Div-->
    </li>
    <li><a href="#">Articles</a>

      <!--Begin Main Div-->
      <div class="navMain2">
        <!--Begin Sub Nav-->
        <div class="navLeft"> <span class="nav-titles">DBZ Final Cut: Navi</span>
          <br>
          <br>
          <br>
          <div class="navDropLinks">
            <img class="navIcon" src="images/general/site/4staricon.png"><a href="#"> Home</a>
          </div>
          <div class="navDropLinks">
            <img class="navIcon" src="images/general/site/4staricon.png"><a href="#"> Archived News</a>
          </div>
          <div class="navDropLinks">
            <img class="navIcon" src="images/general/site/4staricon.png"><a href="#"> About Us</a>
          </div>
          <div class="navDropLinks">
            <img class="navIcon" src="images/general/site/4staricon.png"><a href="#"> Contact Us</a>
          </div>
          <br>
          <br><span class="dropContent">This is some random text that is describing the current article. The picture above will relate to the article. This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.</span>

        </div>
        <!--End Sub Nav-->
        <!--Begin Nav Center-->
        <div class="navCenter"> <span class="nav-titles">Latest News</span>
          <br>
          <img class="navImage" src="images/general/setsellsheets/mc.jpg" alt="article image" />
          <br> <span class="dropContent">This is some random text that is describing the current article. The picture above will relate to the article. This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                </span>

        </div>
        <!--End of Nav Center-->
        <!--Begin Nav Right-->
        <div class="navRight"> <span class="nav-titles">Latest News</span>
          <br>
          <img class="navImage" src="images/general/setsellsheets/mc.jpg" alt="article image" />
          <br> <span class="dropContent">This is some random text that is describing the current article. The picture above will relate to the article. This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                </span>

        </div>
        <!--End Nav Right-->
        <!--End Main Div-->
    </li>
    <li><a href="#">Sets</a>

      <!--Begin Main Div-->
      <div class="navMain1">
        <!--Begin Sub Nav-->
        <div class="navLeft"> <span class="nav-titles">DBZ Final Cut: Navi</span>
          <br>
          <br>
          <br>
          <div class="navDropLinks">
            <img class="navIcon" src="images/general/site/4staricon.png"><a href="#"> Home</a>
          </div>
          <div class="navDropLinks">
            <img class="navIcon" src="images/general/site/4staricon.png"><a href="#"> Archived News</a>
          </div>
          <div class="navDropLinks">
            <img class="navIcon" src="images/general/site/4staricon.png"><a href="#"> About Us</a>
          </div>
          <div class="navDropLinks">
            <img class="navIcon" src="images/general/site/4staricon.png"><a href="#"> Contact Us</a>
          </div>
          <br>
          <br><span class="dropContent">This is some random text that is describing the current article. The picture above will relate to the article. This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.</span>

        </div>
        <!--End Sub Nav-->
        <!--Begin Nav Center-->
        <div class="navCenter"> <span class="nav-titles">Latest News</span>
          <br>
          <img class="navImage" src="images/general/setsellsheets/mc.jpg" alt="article image" />
          <br> <span class="dropContent">This is some random text that is describing the current article. The picture above will relate to the article. This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                </span>

        </div>
        <!--End of Nav Center-->
        <!--Begin Nav Right-->
        <div class="navRight"> <span class="nav-titles">Latest News</span>
          <br>
          <img class="navImage" src="images/general/setsellsheets/mc.jpg" alt="article image" />
          <br> <span class="dropContent">This is some random text that is describing the current article. The picture above will relate to the article. This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                </span>

        </div>
        <!--End Nav Right-->
        <!--End Main Div-->
    </li>
    <li><a href="#">Resources</a>

      <!--Begin Main Div-->
      <div class="navMain1">
        <!--Begin Sub Nav-->
        <div class="navLeft"> <span class="nav-titles">DBZ Final Cut: Navi</span>
          <br>
          <br>
          <br>
          <div class="navDropLinks">
            <img class="navIcon" src="images/general/site/4staricon.png"><a href="#"> Home</a>
          </div>
          <div class="navDropLinks">
            <img class="navIcon" src="images/general/site/4staricon.png"><a href="#"> Archived News</a>
          </div>
          <div class="navDropLinks">
            <img class="navIcon" src="images/general/site/4staricon.png"><a href="#"> About Us</a>
          </div>
          <div class="navDropLinks">
            <img class="navIcon" src="images/general/site/4staricon.png"><a href="#"> Contact Us</a>
          </div>
          <br>
          <br><span class="dropContent">This is some random text that is describing the current article. The picture above will relate to the article. This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.</span>

        </div>
        <!--End Sub Nav-->
        <!--Begin Nav Center-->
        <div class="navCenter"> <span class="nav-titles">Latest News</span>
          <br>
          <img class="navImage" src="images/general/setsellsheets/mc.jpg" alt="article image" />
          <br> <span class="dropContent">This is some random text that is describing the current article. The picture above will relate to the article. This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                </span>

        </div>
        <!--End of Nav Center-->
        <!--Begin Nav Right-->
        <div class="navRight"> <span class="nav-titles">Latest News</span>
          <br>
          <img class="navImage" src="images/general/setsellsheets/mc.jpg" alt="article image" />
          <br> <span class="dropContent">This is some random text that is describing the current article. The picture above will relate to the article. This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.This is filler text.
                </span>

        </div>
        <!--End Nav Right-->
        <!--End Main Div-->
    </li>
  </ul>
  <!--End Nav List-->
  </div>

Fiddle

I just want a simple fade out without hopefully having to change my structure too much and keeping with CSS.

Thanks for any help!

Answer 1

Following on from Jackson's answer, below is an example of the use of transition delays to achieve the effect.

This method is in some ways simpler as you don't have to move all the padding/border settings to the hover state. Instead you move the divs far off left when not hovered, then set a left: 0; on the hover state.

The transitions have to be set twice (once for on hover and once for off) because you want the left: 0; to take effect immediately on hover and wait till the opacity has transitioned before moving back off.

The full syntax for transitions is transition: <property> <duration> <style: ease> <delay: 0s>

/*Drop Down On Hover Action*/

.nav > li:hover > div {
    opacity: 1;
    left: 0;
    -webkit-transition: opacity .5s ease-in-out; 
    -moz-transition: opacity .5s ease-in-out;
    -ms-transition: opacity .5s  ease-in-out;
    -o-transition: opacity .5s ease-in-out;
    transition: opacity .5s ease-in-out;
}

/*Drop Down Container*/

.nav > li > div {
    position: fixed;
    left: -9999em; 
    top: 337px;
    opacity: 0;     
    box-shadow: 2px 4px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
    background: #323552;
    background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #323552, #1a1b24);
    background: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0% 0%, 0% 100%, from(#323552), to(#1a1b24));
    overflow: hidden;
    -webkit-transition: opacity .5s ease-in-out, left .5s ease .5s; 
    -moz-transition: opacity .5s ease-in-out, left .5s ease .5s;
    -ms-transition: opacity .5s  ease-in-out, left .5s ease .5s;
    -o-transition: opacity .5s ease-in-out, left .5s ease .5s;
    transition: opacity .5s ease-in-out, left .5s ease .5s;
}

Updated Fiddle

Answer 2

You can acheive a good fade in/out effect using only transitions. This is how I do it

.sub-menu {
    position: absolute;
    left: -9999em;
    width: 200px;
    background-color: #eee;
    opacity: 0;
    transition: left 0.5s ease 0.5s, opacity 0.5s ease; /* Transition on left position */
}
.main-nav li:hover .sub-menu {
    left: 0;
    opacity: 1;
    transition: opacity 0.5s ease; /* No transition on left position when hovering */
}

If you position the sub menu so that it is off the screen using left: -9999em then apply a transition delay on that property so that it will first fade out, then move offscreen when invisible.

But you will need to put another transition to override this when the hover state is activated. This will prevent the position property to be animated on hover-on

Take a look at this jsFiddle

Answer 3

Natalie is absolutely right, transitions are the way to do this.

The only bits that need a change are your CSS for the /*Drop Down Container*/ and the /*Drop Down On Hover Action*/

Rather than hiding the divs with display: none; hide them with opacity: 0; then set an opacity transition. All you need to do to show them is put opacity: 1; on the hover state and they'll fade in and out nicely.

In order to have them usable without them appearing when the mouse passes below the menu you need to set their height, padding and borders to 0 then apply those as part of the hover state.

(Separate hover stated for .navMain, .navMain1 etc could be used if different border styles are required)

You can also remove all the keyframes at the bottom of course.

New CSS:

/*Drop Down On Hover Action*/

.nav > li:hover > div {
    opacity: 1;
    height: 300px;
    padding: 10px 10px;
    border:1px solid #777777; // removed borders from .navMain, .navMain1 etc
    border: 1px solid black;
}

/*Drop Down Container*/

.nav > li > div {
    position: fixed;
    left: 0;        // added the left: 0; here
    top: 337px;
    height: 0;  // height: 0 when not hovered
    opacity: 0;             // swapped for display:none;
    box-shadow: 2px 4px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
    background: #323552;
    background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #323552, #1a1b24);
    background: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0% 0%, 0% 100%, from(#323552), to(#1a1b24));
    overflow: hidden;
    -webkit-transition: opacity .5s ease-in-out; 
    -moz-transition: opacity .5s ease-in-out;
    -ms-transition: opacity .5s  ease-in-out;
    -o-transition: opacity .5s ease-in-out;
    transition: opacity .5s ease-in-out;
}

Updated Fiddle