.notification-bell {
        position: relative;
        cursor: pointer;
    }

    .notification-count {
        position: absolute;
        top: 10;
        right: 5px;
        background: red;
        color: white;
        font-size: 12px;
        font-weight: bold;
        border-radius: 50%;
        padding: 2px 6px;
    }

    .dropdown-menu {
        width: 400px;
        max-height: 350px;
        overflow-y: auto;
    }

    .notification-card {
        margin: 5px 10px;
        color: inherit;
        text-decoration: none;
        display: block;
        border-radius: 0.5rem;
        transition: background-color 0.4s ease;
        position: relative;
    }

    .notification-card:hover {
        background-color: #f8f9fa;
    }

    .notification-card.unread {
        background-color: #e9f5ff;
        /* light blue for unread */
    }

    .notification-card.fade-read {
        background-color: #ffffff !important;
        transition: background-color 0.6s ease;
    }

    .notification-card .card-body {
        padding: 10px;
    }

    .notification-title {
        font-size: 14px;
        font-weight: 600;
        margin-bottom: 4px;
        transition: font-weight 0.4s ease;
    }

    .notification-card.unread .notification-title {
        font-weight: 700;
    }

    .notification-text {
        font-size: 13px;
        color: #6c757d;
        margin: 0 0 5px 0;
    }

    .mark-read {
        font-size: 12px;
        color: #007bff;
        text-decoration: none;
        cursor: pointer;
        position: absolute;
        bottom: 8px;
        right: 12px;
        z-index: 10000;   
        /* display: inline-block; */
    }

    .mark-read:hover {
        text-decoration: underline;
    }

    .dropdown-footer {
        display: flex;
        justify-content: space-between;
        align-items: center;
        padding: 6px 12px;
        border-top: 1px solid #f1f1f1;
    }

    .dropdown-footer a {
        font-size: 13px;
    }