How to Add a Video with Custom Controls in HTML for a Better User Experience?

 

How to add video in HTML with custom  controls?

In this guide, you'll learn how to build a custom video player with tailored controls using HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript. 

This allows you to go beyond the default browser controls and create a video player that aligns perfectly with your website's design and functionality needs.

 Additionally, we'll cover how to customize video controls in HTML5, how to show video controls in HTML5, and add custom controls to HTML5 video. 

you can also check out these The Ultimate Guide to Adding and Customizing Videos in HTML?

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What You’ll Learn

1. How to set up a basic custom video player structure.
2. Adding advanced video controls (e.g., play, pause, mute, fullscreen).
3. Customizing video controls in HTML5 for a unique experience.
4. Making your video responsive in HTML5 for any screen size.
5. Creating additional features like playback speed, volume slider, and progress bar.
6. Styling the player with CSS for a professional look.
7. Implementing advanced functionalities like skip buttons, subtitles, and picture-in-picture mode.

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Custom Video Players
2. Setting Up the Basic HTML Structure
3. Adding Core Functionality with JavaScript
4. Enhancing the User Interface with CSS
5. Advanced Features for a Pro-Grade Player
• Skip Forward/Backward
• Subtitles Toggle
• Loop Video
6. How to Make Video Responsive in HTML5
7. Complete Example Code
8. Conclusion

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1. Introduction to Custom Video Players

Default video players in browsers are functional but lack customization options for design and advanced features. A custom video player lets you:

• Match your website's design for consistency.
• Provide an intuitive and modern interface for better user experience.
• Add unique controls like playback speed, picture-in-picture, and more.

Want to learn how to show video controls in HTML5? Keep reading, as we'll demonstrate that and more.

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2. Setting Up the Basic HTML Structure

Here’s the foundational structure of your custom video player:

<div class="custom-video-player">
  <video id="myVideo" width="600" controls>
    <source src="example.mp4" type="video/mp4">
    Your browser does not support the video tag.
  </video>

  <div class="controls">
    <button onclick="playPause()">Play/Pause</button>
    <button onclick="muteVideo()">Mute/Unmute</button>
    <button onclick="toggleFullscreen()">Fullscreen</button>

    <input type="range" id="volumeSlider" min="0" max="1" step="0.1" onchange="changeVolume(this.value)">
  </div>
</div>

 

Explanation:

• The <video> element includes the controls attribute, which we'll override for custom controls video tag HTML5 functionality.
• Controls like play/pause, mute, fullscreen, and volume are added using buttons and sliders.

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3. Adding Core Functionality with JavaScript

Make the controls functional using JavaScript:

Play/Pause Functionality

const video = document.getElementById('myVideo');

 
function playPause() {
  video.paused ? video.play() : video.pause();
}

 

Mute/Unmute

function muteVideo() {
  video.muted = !video.muted;
}

 

Fullscreen Toggle

function toggleFullscreen() {

  if (video.requestFullscreen) {
    video.requestFullscreen();
  }

}

 

Adjust Volume

function changeVolume(value) {
  video.volume = value;
}

 

These features allow you to add custom controls to HTML5 video, making it more interactive.

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4. Enhancing the User Interface with CSS

Here’s how to style the video player:

.custom-video-player {
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  align-items: center;
  margin: 20px;
}

.custom-video-player video {
  border: 2px solid #333;
  border-radius: 10px;
}

.controls {
  margin-top: 10px;
  display: flex;
  gap: 10px;
}

.controls button,
.controls input {
  padding: 10px;
  border: none;
  border-radius: 5px;
  cursor: pointer;
  background-color: #007bff;
  color: #fff;
  font-size: 1rem;
  transition: 0.3s;
}

.controls button:hover {
  background-color: #0056b3;
}

 

Result: A clean and responsive layout for your video player.

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5. Advanced Features for a Pro-Grade Player

Skip Forward/Backward Buttons

Allow users to skip a few seconds forward or backward.

HTML:

<button onclick="skip(-10)">-10s</button>

<button onclick="skip(10)">+10s</button>

 

JavaScript:

function skip(seconds) {

  video.currentTime += seconds;

}

 

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6. How to Make Video Responsive in HTML5

Making your video player responsive ensures it works seamlessly across devices.

Add this CSS:

.custom-video-player video {

  max-width: 100%;
  height: auto;

}

 

This guarantees the video resizes dynamically, which is essential for modern web design.

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7. Complete Example Code

Here’s the final implementation:

<div class="custom-video-player">
  <video id="myVideo" width="600" controls>
    <source src="example.mp4" type="video/mp4">
    Your browser does not support the video tag.
  </video>
  <div class="controls">
    <button onclick="playPause()">Play/Pause</button>
    <button onclick="muteVideo()">Mute/Unmute</button>
    <button onclick="toggleFullscreen()">Fullscreen</button>
    <button onclick="skip(-10)">-10s</button>
    <button onclick="skip(10)">+10s</button>
    <input type="range" id="volumeSlider" min="0" max="1" step="0.1" onchange="changeVolume(this.value)">
  </div>
</div>

<script>
  const video = document.getElementById('myVideo');

  function playPause() {
    if (video.paused) {
      video.play();
    } else {
      video.pause();
    }
  }

  function muteVideo() {
    video.muted = !video.muted;
  }

  function toggleFullscreen() {
    if (video.requestFullscreen) {
      video.requestFullscreen();
    } else if (video.webkitRequestFullscreen) { // For Safari
      video.webkitRequestFullscreen();
    } else if (video.msRequestFullscreen) { // For IE11
      video.msRequestFullscreen();
    }
  }

  function skip(seconds) {
    video.currentTime += seconds;
  }

  function changeVolume(value) {
    video.volume = value;
  }
</script>

<style>
  .custom-video-player {
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    align-items: center;
    margin: 20px;
  }

  video {
    border: 2px solid #333;
    border-radius: 8px;
    margin-bottom: 10px;
  }

  .controls {
    display: flex;
    gap: 10px;
  }

  button {
    background-color: #007bff;
    color: #fff;
    border: none;
    padding: 8px 12px;
    border-radius: 4px;
    cursor: pointer;
  }

  button:hover {
    background-color: #0056b3;
  }

  input[type="range"] {
    cursor: pointer;
  }
</style>

 

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8. Conclusion

By following this guide, you’ve learned:

• How to customize video controls in HTML5 to match your design.
• Advanced functionalities like skip buttons and responsive designs.
• How to show video controls in HTML5 with custom styling.

This custom video player not only enhances user experience but also showcases your ability to create engaging web experiences. Experiment further to make your video player truly stand out!