/* section title (optional elegance – but the row is the focus) */
    .section-badge {
      text-align: center;
      margin-bottom: 2.5rem;
    }
    .section-badge span {
      background: rgba(37, 99, 235, 0.12);
      color: #1e40af;
      font-weight: 600;
      font-size: 0.85rem;
      letter-spacing: 0.5px;
      padding: 0.4rem 1.2rem;
      border-radius: 40px;
      backdrop-filter: blur(2px);
      display: inline-block;
    }

    /* responsive grid – 3 columns on desktop, flexible on tablet/mobile */
    .row-cards {
      display: grid;
      grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
      gap: 2rem;
      padding: 30px 10px;
    }

    /* CARD STYLES – modern, smooth, ready for animated hover */
    .card {
      background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.98);
      backdrop-filter: blur(0px);
      border-radius: 2rem;
      padding: 2rem 1.8rem 2.2rem 1.8rem;
      box-shadow: 0 20px 35px -12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.08), 0 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.02);
      transition: all 0.35s cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.9, 0.4, 1.1);
      border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6);
      position: relative;
      will-change: transform, box-shadow;
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      height: 100%;
    }

    /* HOVER ANIMATION – lift, smooth shadow expansion, border refinement, and inner scaling effect */
    .card:hover {
      transform: translateY(-12px) scale(1.01);
      box-shadow: 0 30px 45px -18px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.25), 0 4px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05);
      border-color: #247cae;
      background: #ffffff;
    }

    /* optional extra micro-interaction: icon + heading subtle move on hover? but we keep main card lift */
    /* card header (icon + heading) left aligned with gap */
    .card-header {
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      gap: 1rem;
      margin-bottom: 1.5rem;
      transition: transform 0.2s ease;
    }
    /* slight icon movement on card hover (part of animated system) */
    .card:hover .card-header i {
      transform: scale(1.05) translateX(2px);
    }
    .card:hover .card-header h3 {
      color: #247cae;
    }

    /* icon styling */
    .card-header i {
      font-size: 30px;
      color: #247cae;
      transition: all 0.3s ease;
      filter: drop-shadow(0 4px 6px rgba(37, 99, 235, 0.2));
      /* width: 2.4rem; */
      text-align: center;
    }

    /* heading style */
    .card-header h3 {
      font-size: 23px;
      font-weight: 700;
      letter-spacing: -0.01em;
      color: #0f172a;
      transition: color 0.3s ease;
      margin: 0;
      line-height: 1.2;
    }

    /* paragraph description */
    .card p {
      /* color: #2d3a4b; */
      /* font-size: 1rem; */
      line-height: 1.55;
      /* font-weight: 400; */
      margin-bottom: 1.2rem;
      flex: 1;
    }

    /* subtle divider or meta detail? adds flair but not necessary */
    .card-meta {
      margin-top: 0.75rem;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      gap: 0.5rem;
      font-size: 0.85rem;
      font-weight: 500;
      color: #4b5563;
      transition: color 0.25s;
      border-top: 1px solid #e9eef3;
      padding-top: 1rem;
    }
    .card-meta i {
      font-size: 0.9rem;
      color: #3b82f6;
      transition: transform 0.2s;
    }
    .card:hover .card-meta i {
      transform: translateX(4px);
    }
    .card-meta span {
      letter-spacing: 0.2px;
    }

    /* responsive breakpoints: tablet (medium screens) -> 2 columns */
    @media screen and (max-width: 950px) {
      .row-cards {
        gap: 1.75rem;
      }
      .card-header h3 {
        font-size: 1.5rem;
      }
      .card-header i {
        font-size: 2.1rem;
      }
      .card {
        padding: 1.6rem 1.5rem;
      }
    }

    @media screen and (max-width: 768px) {
      .row-cards {
        grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr);
        gap: 1.5rem;
      }
      
    }

    /* mobile: single column (fully responsive stacking) */
    @media screen and (max-width: 580px) {
      .row-cards {
        grid-template-columns: 1fr;
        gap: 1.8rem;
      }
      .card {
        padding: 1.8rem;
      }
      .card-header h3 {
        font-size: 1.6rem;
      }
    }

    /* accessibility & focus outline (keyboard friendly) */
    .card:focus-visible {
      outline: 3px solid #2563eb;
      outline-offset: 4px;
      transform: translateY(-4px);
    }

    /* smooth global transitions */
    a, button, .card {
      /* cursor: default; */
    }