I’ll take you on a journey through my fun little experiment, creating a Netflix Clone using just HTML and CSS. This project was not only a great way to strengthen my layout and design skills but also an opportunity to understand the essence of a modern, clean UI.
Build a Netflix Clone?
Netflix has one of the most recognizable designs on the web. The sleek layout, responsive grid, and minimalist color scheme make it an ideal target for a design exercise. Here’s what I wanted to achieve:
- UI Practice: Replicating Netflix’s interface is a great way to learn modern design techniques.
- CSS Layout Exploration: Mastering CSS properties like Flexbox, Grid, and responsive design.
- Just for Fun: Because who doesn’t enjoy saying, “I built Netflix!” even if it’s just a clone .
Project Goals
- Recreate Netflix’s homepage layout.
- Add a responsive design that works well on mobile, tablet, and desktop.
- Stick to pure HTML and CSS no JavaScript, no frameworks.
- Incorporate some basic hover effects for interactivity.
Key Features of the Netflix Clone
- Hero Section: Includes a banner area with a bold title, subtitle, and call-to-action buttons.
- Horizontal Scrolling Sections: Displaying movie thumbnails.
- Sticky Navigation Bar: A sleek navigation bar that stays at the top as you scroll.
- Footer: A simple footer with links mimicking Netflix’s footer design.
Setting Up the HTML
The HTML structure is simple. Here’s how I broke it down:
- Header: A navigation bar with the Netflix logo, links, and a login button.
- Hero Section: A large banner section with a title, subtitle, and two call-to-action buttons.
- Movie Rows: Horizontal scrolling sections for categories like Trending Now or Top Picks.
- Footer: Links to mimic Netflix’s footer with policies and contact options.
Example Code:
code<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>Netflix Clone</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="styles.css">
</head>
<body>
<!-- Navigation -->
<header class="nav-bar">
<div class="logo">Netflix</div>
<nav>
<ul>
<li><a href="#">Home</a></li>
<li><a href="#">TV Shows</a></li>
<li><a href="#">Movies</a></li>
<li><a href="#">New & Popular</a></li>
<li><a href="#">My List</a></li>
</ul>
</nav>
<button class="btn-login">Sign In</button>
</header>
<!-- Hero Section -->
<section class="hero">
<div class="hero-content">
<h1>Unlimited Movies, TV Shows, and More.</h1>
<p>Watch anywhere. Cancel anytime.</p>
<div class="hero-buttons">
<button class="btn-primary">Get Started</button>
<button class="btn-secondary">Learn More</button>
</div>
</div>
</section>
<!-- Movie Rows -->
<section class="movie-row">
<h2>Trending Now</h2>
<div class="row">
<img src="movie1.jpg" alt="Movie 1">
<img src="movie2.jpg" alt="Movie 2">
<img src="movie3.jpg" alt="Movie 3">
<img src="movie4.jpg" alt="Movie 4">
</div>
</section>
<!-- Footer -->
<footer class="footer">
<p>Questions? Call 1-800-NETFLIX</p>
<div class="footer-links">
<a href="#">FAQ</a>
<a href="#">Help Center</a>
<a href="#">Terms of Use</a>
<a href="#">Privacy</a>
</div>
</footer>
</body>
</html>
Adding Style with CSS
Netflix’s design revolves around dark themes and bold text. Here’s how I styled it:
- Color Palette: Used black for the background, white for text, and red for highlights.
- Typography: Bold, sans-serif fonts for headings and buttons.
- Flexbox and Grid: Organized the layout with Flexbox for the navigation bar and Grid for the movie rows.
Example CSS:
code/* General Reset */
* {
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
body {
background-color: #000;
color: #fff;
font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
line-height: 1.6;
}
/* Navigation */
.nav-bar {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
align-items: center;
padding: 20px;
background-color: #141414;
}
.nav-bar .logo {
font-size: 24px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #e50914;
}
.nav-bar ul {
display: flex;
gap: 15px;
list-style: none;
}
.nav-bar a {
color: #fff;
text-decoration: none;
}
/* Hero Section */
.hero {
background-image: url('hero.jpg');
background-size: cover;
background-position: center;
padding: 100px 20px;
text-align: center;
}
.hero h1 {
font-size: 3rem;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.hero p {
font-size: 1.5rem;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.hero-buttons .btn-primary,
.hero-buttons .btn-secondary {
padding: 10px 20px;
border: none;
cursor: pointer;
}
.btn-primary {
background-color: #e50914;
color: #fff;
}
.btn-secondary {
background-color: #333;
color: #fff;
}
/* Movie Rows */
.movie-row {
padding: 20px;
}
.movie-row h2 {
font-size: 1.5rem;
margin-bottom: 10px;
}
.row {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 1fr);
gap: 10px;
}
.row img {
width: 100%;
border-radius: 5px;
}
/* Footer */
.footer {
padding: 20px;
text-align: center;
background-color: #141414;
}
Lessons Learned
- CSS Grid is Powerful: I discovered how easy it is to create complex layouts with Grid.
- Importance of Responsiveness: Ensuring the site looked good on all devices was both challenging and rewarding.
- Minimalism Works: Netflix’s design proves you don’t need clutter to create an impact.
Conclusion
Building a Netflix Clone with just HTML and CSS was a fantastic learning experience. It taught me about layout techniques, responsive design, and the beauty of minimalism. If you’re looking to sharpen your front-end skills, I highly recommend taking on a similar project.