.the-button {
    font-size: 0.875em;
    background-color: #15803D; /* Base Green */
    background: linear-gradient(270deg, #15803D, #1bb353); /* Green Gradient */
    color: #fff;
    position: relative;
    overflow: hidden;
    border: none;
    border-radius: 5px;
    cursor: pointer;
    display: inline-block;
    text-align: center;
    transition: background 0.5s ease, color 0.5s ease, transform 0.3s ease, box-shadow 0.3s ease;
    box-shadow: 0 4px 15px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);
}
.the-button:disabled {
    cursor: not-allowed;
    opacity: 0.5; /* Dim the button */
}

/* Mask layer for hover effects */
.the-button .button-mask {
    position: absolute;
    top: 0;
    left: 0;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%;
    pointer-events: none;
    overflow: hidden;
}

.the-button .button-mask:before,
.the-button .button-mask:after {
    content: "";
    position: absolute;
    top: 0;
    left: 0;
    height: 100%;
    transform: translateX(-110%);
    transition: transform 0.5s cubic-bezier(0.42, 0, 0.58, 1);
    will-change: transform;
}

/* Blue gradient for hover mask */
.the-button .button-mask:before {
    width: 100%;
    background: linear-gradient(270deg, #235aa6, #101b3b); /* Blue transition */
    z-index: 1;
}

.the-button .button-mask:after {
    width: 80%;
    background: linear-gradient(270deg, #213777, #235aa6); /* Slightly darker blue */
    z-index: 2;
}

/* Hover mask animation */
.the-button:hover .button-mask:before,
.the-button:hover .button-mask:after {
    transform: translateX(200%);
}

/* Button text styling */
.the-button .button-text {
    position: relative;
    z-index: 5;
    color: #fff;
}

/* Hover effect for the button */
.the-button:hover {
    background: linear-gradient(270deg, #1bb353, #15803D); /* Adjusted green gradient for hover */
    color: #fff;
    box-shadow: 0 6px 20px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3); /* Enhanced shadow effect */
    /* transform: translateY(-2px);  */
}

/* Icon sliding effect */
.the-button .button-icon {
    position: absolute;
    top: 50%;
    right: -30px;
    width: 30px;
    height: 30px;
    transform: translateY(-50%) translateX(0);
    transition: transform 0.3s cubic-bezier(0.42, 0, 0.58, 1);
}

.the-button:hover .button-icon {
    transform: translateY(-50%) translateX(10px); /* Icon slides slightly */
}