Developing modals using only CSS and the Popover API

Over the past decade, the development of modals has been simplified by the introduction of the `<dialog>` element, which enhanced usability and accessibility through JavaScript methods and CSS properties. However, using JavaScript for modals can lead to potential errors and interference from other JavaScript snippets or frameworks. To overcome these issues, the article explores creating modals without JavaScript by utilizing the Dialog API in conjunction with the new Popover API and CSS. Popovers differ from dialogs in that they allow interaction with elements beneath them, whereas dialogs, when implemented correctly, prevent such interaction by containing the focus to the dialog itself. The tutorial demonstrates how to replace JavaScript with HTML attributes and CSS to develop modals, focusing on accessibility and the ability to prevent scrolling. Additionally, the article highlights that while popovers and dialogs can utilize backdrops, popovers do not inherently require JavaScript, offering a lightweight and efficient alternative. This approach not only reduces code complexity but also introduces cutting-edge web features, providing robust and easier-to-manage modals in web development.