Can the background shadow animation shown on the Build microinteractions around mouse movement example on the Webflow Interaction feature page be achieved using just interactions or does it require custom code?

The background shadow animation shown in Webflow’s "Build microinteractions around mouse movement" example requires custom code, as Webflow’s native Interactions panel does not provide direct control over dynamic shadow movements based on mouse position. However, you can achieve a similar effect using Webflow interactions for basic hover-based transformations.

1. Why Custom Code is Needed

• Webflow interactions allow for hover-based or scroll-based effects, but they don’t have a built-in way to adjust box-shadow dynamically based on continuous mouse position.
• The effect in the example responds dynamically to the mouse location, which requires JavaScript to track cursor movement and apply CSS box-shadow or transform properties accordingly.

2. Partial Alternative Using Webflow Interactions

If you want a simplified version of this effect without JavaScript, you can:

• Create a div block with a blurred shadow positioned behind the main element.
• Use "Mouse Move Over Element" interaction under Webflow’s Interactions panel to shift the shadow left or right based on mouse movement.
• Adjust opacity and scale to create the illusion of depth.

3. Using Custom Code for Full Effect

To fully mimic the dynamic shadow behavior:

• Use JavaScript to track mouse position relative to the element.
• Apply box-shadow adjustments dynamically based on X/Y coordinates.
• Insert the script inside a Custom Code Embed (<style> or <script> in Webflow’s “Before ” section).

Summary

Webflow’s native interactions alone cannot fully replicate the example’s dynamic mouse-based shadow movement. A simplified version can be created with hover interactions, but for a true real-time tracking effect, you’ll need custom JavaScript.