Alert Dialog

Confirmation modal with destructive/cancel actions, focus trap, backdrop click to close, and keyboard Escape support.

css vanilla-js

Targets: JS HTML

Code

*,
*::before,
*::after {
  box-sizing: border-box;
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
}

body {
  font-family: Inter, system-ui, sans-serif;
  background: #050910;
  color: #f2f6ff;
  min-height: 100vh;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
  padding: 2rem;
}

.demo {
  text-align: center;
}
.demo-title {
  font-size: 1.5rem;
  font-weight: 800;
  margin-bottom: 0.375rem;
}
.demo-sub {
  color: #475569;
  font-size: 0.875rem;
  margin-bottom: 2rem;
}
.triggers {
  display: flex;
  gap: 1rem;
  justify-content: center;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
}

/* ── Buttons ── */
.btn {
  display: inline-flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: 0.5rem;
  padding: 0.625rem 1.25rem;
  border-radius: 0.625rem;
  font-size: 0.875rem;
  font-weight: 600;
  border: 1px solid transparent;
  cursor: pointer;
  transition: background 0.15s, opacity 0.15s;
  font-family: inherit;
}
.btn--primary {
  background: #38bdf8;
  color: #0f172a;
}
.btn--primary:hover {
  background: #7dd3fc;
}
.btn--ghost {
  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.06);
  color: #94a3b8;
  border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
}
.btn--ghost:hover {
  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
  color: #f2f6ff;
}
.btn--danger {
  background: #ef4444;
  color: #fff;
}
.btn--danger:hover {
  background: #f87171;
}
.btn--warning {
  background: #f59e0b;
  color: #0f172a;
}
.btn--warning:hover {
  background: #fbbf24;
}

/* ── Backdrop ── */
.backdrop {
  position: fixed;
  inset: 0;
  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8);
  backdrop-filter: blur(6px);
  -webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(6px);
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
  padding: 1rem;
  z-index: 1000;
  opacity: 0;
  pointer-events: none;
  transition: opacity 0.2s ease;
}
.backdrop.is-open {
  opacity: 1;
  pointer-events: auto;
}

/* ── Dialog panel ── */
.dialog {
  background: #0d1320;
  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
  border-radius: 1.25rem;
  width: 100%;
  max-width: 400px;
  padding: 2rem 2rem 1.75rem;
  text-align: center;
  transform: translateY(16px) scale(0.96);
  transition: transform 0.28s cubic-bezier(0.34, 1.56, 0.64, 1);
  outline: none;
}
.backdrop.is-open .dialog {
  transform: translateY(0) scale(1);
}

/* ── Icon ── */
.dialog-icon {
  width: 60px;
  height: 60px;
  border-radius: 50%;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
  margin: 0 auto 1.25rem;
}
.dialog-icon--danger {
  background: rgba(239, 68, 68, 0.15);
  color: #ef4444;
}
.dialog-icon--neutral {
  background: rgba(148, 163, 184, 0.12);
  color: #94a3b8;
}
.dialog-icon--warning {
  background: rgba(245, 158, 11, 0.15);
  color: #f59e0b;
}

/* ── Content ── */
.dialog-title {
  font-size: 1.125rem;
  font-weight: 700;
  color: #f2f6ff;
  margin-bottom: 0.625rem;
}
.dialog-desc {
  font-size: 0.875rem;
  color: #64748b;
  line-height: 1.65;
  margin-bottom: 1.75rem;
}

/* ── Actions ── */
.dialog-actions {
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  gap: 0.625rem;
}
.dialog-actions .btn {
  width: 100%;
  justify-content: center;
  padding: 0.75rem 1.25rem;
}

(() => {
  const FOCUSABLE =
    'a[href],button:not([disabled]),input,select,textarea,[tabindex]:not([tabindex="-1"])';

  let currentDialog = null;
  let previousFocus = null;

  function getFocusable(el) {
    return [...el.querySelectorAll(FOCUSABLE)].filter(
      (n) => !n.closest("[hidden]") && n.offsetParent !== null
    );
  }

  function openDialog(dialog) {
    if (currentDialog) closeDialog(currentDialog);
    previousFocus = document.activeElement;
    currentDialog = dialog;
    dialog.classList.add("is-open");
    document.body.style.overflow = "hidden";
    const panel = dialog.querySelector(".dialog");
    panel.focus();
    trapFocus(dialog);
  }

  function closeDialog(dialog) {
    dialog.classList.remove("is-open");
    document.body.style.overflow = "";
    if (previousFocus) previousFocus.focus();
    currentDialog = null;
    previousFocus = null;
  }

  function trapFocus(dialog) {
    dialog.addEventListener("keydown", onKeyDown);
  }

  function onKeyDown(e) {
    const dialog = e.currentTarget;
    if (e.key === "Escape") {
      closeDialog(dialog);
      return;
    }
    if (e.key !== "Tab") return;
    const focusable = getFocusable(dialog);
    if (!focusable.length) {
      e.preventDefault();
      return;
    }
    const first = focusable[0];
    const last = focusable[focusable.length - 1];
    if (e.shiftKey) {
      if (document.activeElement === first) {
        e.preventDefault();
        last.focus();
      }
    } else {
      if (document.activeElement === last) {
        e.preventDefault();
        first.focus();
      }
    }
  }

  // Wire open triggers
  document
    .getElementById("open-delete")
    .addEventListener("click", () => openDialog(document.getElementById("dialog-delete")));
  document
    .getElementById("open-logout")
    .addEventListener("click", () => openDialog(document.getElementById("dialog-logout")));
  document
    .getElementById("open-revoke")
    .addEventListener("click", () => openDialog(document.getElementById("dialog-revoke")));

  // Wire cancel buttons
  document.querySelectorAll(".dialog-cancel").forEach((btn) => {
    btn.addEventListener("click", () => {
      const id = btn.dataset.dialog;
      closeDialog(document.getElementById(id));
    });
  });

  // Backdrop click closes
  document.querySelectorAll(".backdrop").forEach((backdrop) => {
    backdrop.addEventListener("click", (e) => {
      if (e.target === backdrop) closeDialog(backdrop);
    });
  });
})();

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8" />
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
  <title>Alert Dialog</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css" />
</head>
<body>
  <div class="demo">
    <h1 class="demo-title">Alert Dialog</h1>
    <p class="demo-sub">Confirmation dialogs — focus trap, Escape to close, backdrop click.</p>
    <div class="triggers">
      <button class="btn btn--danger" id="open-delete">Delete Account</button>
      <button class="btn btn--ghost" id="open-logout">Sign Out</button>
      <button class="btn btn--warning" id="open-revoke">Revoke Access</button>
    </div>
  </div>

  <!-- Delete account dialog -->
  <div
    class="backdrop"
    id="dialog-delete"
    role="alertdialog"
    aria-modal="true"
    aria-labelledby="dd-title"
    aria-describedby="dd-desc"
  >
    <div class="dialog" tabindex="-1">
      <div class="dialog-icon dialog-icon--danger" aria-hidden="true">
        <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="28" height="28" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><polyline points="3 6 5 6 21 6"/><path d="M19 6l-1 14a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8a2 2 0 0 1-2-2L5 6"/><path d="M10 11v6"/><path d="M14 11v6"/><path d="M9 6V4a1 1 0 0 1 1-1h4a1 1 0 0 1 1 1v2"/></svg>
      </div>
      <h2 class="dialog-title" id="dd-title">Delete Account</h2>
      <p class="dialog-desc" id="dd-desc">
        This will permanently delete your account, all your data, and cannot be undone.
        You will lose access immediately.
      </p>
      <div class="dialog-actions">
        <button class="btn btn--ghost dialog-cancel" data-dialog="dialog-delete">Cancel</button>
        <button class="btn btn--danger">Delete Account</button>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>

  <!-- Sign out dialog -->
  <div
    class="backdrop"
    id="dialog-logout"
    role="alertdialog"
    aria-modal="true"
    aria-labelledby="dl-title"
    aria-describedby="dl-desc"
  >
    <div class="dialog" tabindex="-1">
      <div class="dialog-icon dialog-icon--neutral" aria-hidden="true">
        <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="28" height="28" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><path d="M9 21H5a2 2 0 0 1-2-2V5a2 2 0 0 1 2-2h4"/><polyline points="16 17 21 12 16 7"/><line x1="21" y1="12" x2="9" y2="12"/></svg>
      </div>
      <h2 class="dialog-title" id="dl-title">Sign Out?</h2>
      <p class="dialog-desc" id="dl-desc">
        You will be signed out of your account on this device. Any unsaved changes will be lost.
      </p>
      <div class="dialog-actions">
        <button class="btn btn--ghost dialog-cancel" data-dialog="dialog-logout">Stay Signed In</button>
        <button class="btn btn--primary">Sign Out</button>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>

  <!-- Revoke access dialog -->
  <div
    class="backdrop"
    id="dialog-revoke"
    role="alertdialog"
    aria-modal="true"
    aria-labelledby="dr-title"
    aria-describedby="dr-desc"
  >
    <div class="dialog" tabindex="-1">
      <div class="dialog-icon dialog-icon--warning" aria-hidden="true">
        <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="28" height="28" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><path d="M10.29 3.86L1.82 18a2 2 0 0 0 1.71 3h16.94a2 2 0 0 0 1.71-3L13.71 3.86a2 2 0 0 0-3.42 0z"/><line x1="12" y1="9" x2="12" y2="13"/><line x1="12" y1="17" x2="12.01" y2="17"/></svg>
      </div>
      <h2 class="dialog-title" id="dr-title">Revoke API Access</h2>
      <p class="dialog-desc" id="dr-desc">
        Revoking this token will immediately break any integrations using it.
        You will need to generate a new token to restore access.
      </p>
      <div class="dialog-actions">
        <button class="btn btn--ghost dialog-cancel" data-dialog="dialog-revoke">Cancel</button>
        <button class="btn btn--warning">Revoke Token</button>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>

  <script src="script.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Alert Dialog

A fully accessible alert dialog for destructive or confirmation-requiring actions. Unlike a regular modal, an alert dialog demands an explicit user decision before proceeding.

Features

Focus trap — keyboard focus is locked inside the dialog while open
Escape to close — pressing Escape dismisses the dialog
Backdrop click — clicking outside the panel closes it
Destructive action style — primary action uses a danger color to signal intent
ARIA roles — uses role="alertdialog" and aria-describedby for screen readers
Scroll lock — body scroll is disabled while the dialog is open

When to use

Use an alert dialog (not a regular modal) whenever the action is irreversible or has significant consequences — deleting data, revoking access, cancelling a subscription, etc.

Accessibility

role="alertdialog" signals to assistive technologies that a response is required
aria-labelledby and aria-describedby provide context for screen readers
Focus moves to the dialog on open and returns to the trigger on close