What are Pseudo-Elements?
A CSS pseudo-element is used to style specified parts of an element.
For example, it can be used to:
- Style the first letter, or line, of an element
- Insert content before, or after, the content of an element
Syntax
The syntax of pseudo-elements:
EXAMPLE:
selector::pseudo-element {
property: value;
}
The ::first-line Pseudo-element
The ::first-line pseudo-element is used to add a special style to the first line of a text.
The following example formats the first line of the text in all <p> elements:
EXAMPLE:
p::first-line {
color: #ff0000;
font-variant: small-caps;
}
Note: The ::first-line pseudo-element can only be applied to block-level elements.
The following properties apply to the ::first-line pseudo-element:
- font properties
- color properties
- background properties
- word-spacing
- letter-spacing
- text-decoration
- vertical-align
- text-transform
- line-height
- clear
The ::first-letter Pseudo-element
The ::first-letter pseudo-element is used to add a special style to the first letter of a text.
The following example formats the first letter of the text in all <p> elements:
EXAMPLE:
p::first-letter {
color: #ff0000;
font-size: xx-large;
}
Note: The ::first-letter pseudo-element can only be applied to block-level elements.
The following properties apply to the ::first-letter pseudo- element:
- font properties
- color properties
- background properties
- margin properties
- padding properties
- border properties
- text-decoration
- vertical-align (only if "float" is "none")
- text-transform
- line-height
- float
- clear
Pseudo-elements and CSS Classes
Pseudo-elements can be combined with CSS classes:
EXAMPLE:
p.intro::first-letter {
color: #ff0000;
font-size: 200%;
}
Multiple Pseudo-elements
Several pseudo-elements can also be combined.
In the following example, the first letter of a paragraph will be red, in an xx-large font size. The rest of the first line will be blue, and in small-caps. The rest of the paragraph will be the default font size and color:
EXAMPLE:
p::first-letter {
color: #ff0000;
font-size: xx-large;
}
p::first-line {
color: #0000ff;
font-variant: small-caps;
}
CSS - The ::before Pseudo-element
The ::before pseudo-element can be used to insert some content before the content of an element.
The following example inserts an image before the content of each <h1> element:
EXAMPLE:
h1::before {
content: url(smiley.gif);
}
CSS - The ::after Pseudo-element
The ::after pseudo-element can be used to insert some content after the content of an element.
The following example inserts an image after the content of each <h1> element:
EXAMPLE:
h1::after {
content: url(smiley.gif);
}
CSS - The ::selection Pseudo-element
The ::selection pseudo-element matches the portion of an element that is selected by a user.
The following CSS properties can be applied to ::selection: color, background, cursor, and outline.
The following example makes the selected text red on a yellow background:
EXAMPLE:
::selection {
color: red;
background: yellow;
}