CSS Pseudo-elements

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CSS Pseudo-Elements

A CSS pseudo-element is a keyword that can be added to a selector, to style a specific part of an element.

Some common use for pseudo-elements:

Style the first letter or first line, of an element
Insert content before or after an element
Style the markers of list items
Style the user-selected portion of an element
Style the viewbox behind a dialog box

Syntax

Pseudo-elements are denoted by a double colon (::) followed by the pseudo-element name:

selector::pseudo-element-name {
CSS properties
}

The CSS ::first-line Pseudo-element

The ::first-line pseudo-element is used to add a special style to the first line of a text.

Note: The ::first-line pseudo-element can only be applied to block-level elements.

Example

Format the first line of text in all <p> elements:

p::first-line {
color: red;
font-variant: small-caps;
font-size: 19px;
}

Try it Yourself »

The CSS ::first-letter Pseudo-element

The ::first-letter pseudo-element is used to add a special style to the first letter of a text.

Note: The ::first-letter pseudo-element can only be applied to block-level elements.

Example

Format the first letter of the text in all <p> elements:

p::first-letter {
color: red;
font-size: xx-large;
}

Try it Yourself »

The CSS ::before Pseudo-element

The ::before pseudo-element is used to insert some content before the content of a specified element.

Use the content property to specify the content to insert.

Example

Insert an image before the content of each <h3> element:

h3::before {
content: url(smiley.gif);
}

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The CSS ::after Pseudo-element

The ::after pseudo-element is used to insert some content after the content of a specified element.

Use the content property to specify the content to insert.

Example

Insert an image after the content of each <h3> element:

h3::after {
content: url(smiley.gif);
}

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The CSS ::marker Pseudo-element

The ::marker pseudo-element is used to style the list item markers.

Example

Style the markers of list items:

::marker {
color: red;
font-size: 23px;
}

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The CSS ::selection Pseudo-element

The ::selection pseudo-element is used to style the part of a text that is selected by a user.

Example

Style the user-selected text with a red color, and a yellow background:

::selection {
color: red;
background: yellow;
}

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The CSS ::backdrop Pseudo-element

The ::backdrop pseudo-element is used to style the viewbox behind a dialog box or popover element..

Example

Style the viewbox behind a dialog box:

dialog::backdrop {
background-color: lightgreen;
}

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Pseudo-elements and HTML Classes

Pseudo-elements can easily be combined with HTML classes.

Example

Display the first letter of <p> elements with class="intro", in red and in a larger size:

p.intro::first-letter {
color: #ff0000;
font-size: 200%;
}

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Multiple Pseudo-elements

Several pseudo-elements can also be combined.

In the following example, the first letter of <p> elements will be red and 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 in the default font size and color:

Example

p::first-letter {
color: red;
font-size: xx-large;
}

p::first-line {
color: blue;
font-variant: small-caps;
}

Try it Yourself »