What are Pseudo-classes?
A pseudo-class is used to define a special state of an element.For example, it can be used to:
- Style an element when a user mouses over it
- Style visited and unvisited links differently
- Style an element when it gets focus
Mouse Over Me
Syntax
The syntax of pseudo-classes:selector:pseudo-class {
property:value;}
Anchor Pseudo-classes
Links can be displayed in different ways:Example
/* unvisited link */
a:link {
color: #FF0000;}
/* visited link */
a:visited {
color: #00FF00;}
/* mouse over link */
a:hover {
color: #FF00FF;}
/* selected link */
a:active {
color: #0000FF;}
Note:
a:hover
MUST come after a:link
and a:visited
in the CSS definition in order to be effective! a:active
MUST come after a:hover
in the CSS definition in order to be effective! Pseudo-class names are not case-sensitive.Pseudo-classes and CSS Classes
Pseudo-classes can be combined with CSS classes:When you hover over the link in the example, it will change color:
Example
a.highlight:hover {
color: #ff0000;}
Hover on <div>
An example of using the:hover
pseudo-class on a <div> element:Example
div:hover {
background-color: blue;}
Simple Tooltip Hover
Hover over a <div> element to show a <p> element (like a tooltip):Hover over me to show the <p> element.
Example
p {
display: none;
background-color: yellow;
padding: 20px;}
div:hover p {
display: block;}
CSS - The :first-child Pseudo-class
The:first-child
pseudo-class matches a specified element that is the first child of another element.Match the first <p> element
In the following example, the selector matches any <p> element that is the first child of any element:Example
p:first-child {
color: blue;}
Match the first <i> element in all <p> elements
In the following example, the selector matches the first <i> element in all <p> elements:Example
p i:first-child {
color: blue;}
Match all <i> elements in all first child <p> elements
In the following example, the selector matches all <i> elements in <p> elements that are the first child of another element:Example
p:first-child i {
color: blue;}
CSS - The :lang Pseudo-class
The:lang
pseudo-class allows you to define special rules for different languages.In the example below,
:lang
defines the quotation marks for <q> elements with lang="no":Example
<html>
<head>
<style>
q:lang(no) {
quotes: "~" "~";
}</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>Some text <q lang="no">A quote in a paragraph</q> Some text.</p>
</body>
</html>
All CSS Pseudo Classes
Selector | Example | Example description |
---|---|---|
:active | a:active | Selects the active link |
:checked | input:checked | Selects every checked <input> element |
:disabled | input:disabled | Selects every disabled <input> element |
:empty | p:empty | Selects every <p> element that has no children |
:enabled | input:enabled | Selects every enabled <input> element |
:first-child | p:first-child | Selects every <p> elements that is the first child of its parent |
:first-of-type | p:first-of-type | Selects every <p> element that is the first <p> element of its parent |
:focus | input:focus | Selects the <input> element that has focus |
:hover | a:hover | Selects links on mouse over |
:in-range | input:in-range | Selects <input> elements with a value within a specified range |
:invalid | input:invalid | Selects all <input> elements with an invalid value |
:lang(language) | p:lang(it) | Selects every <p> element with a lang attribute value starting with "it" |
:last-child | p:last-child | Selects every <p> elements that is the last child of its parent |
:last-of-type | p:last-of-type | Selects every <p> element that is the last <p> element of its parent |
:link | a:link | Selects all unvisited links |
:not(selector) | :not(p) | Selects every element that is not a <p> element |
:nth-child(n) | p:nth-child(2) | Selects every <p> element that is the second child of its parent |
:nth-last-child(n) | p:nth-last-child(2) | Selects every <p> element that is the second child of its parent, counting from the last child |
:nth-last-of-type(n) | p:nth-last-of-type(2) | Selects every <p> element that is the second <p> element of its parent, counting from the last child |
:nth-of-type(n) | p:nth-of-type(2) | Selects every <p> element that is the second <p> element of its parent |
:only-of-type | p:only-of-type | Selects every <p> element that is the only <p> element of its parent |
:only-child | p:only-child | Selects every <p> element that is the only child of its parent |
:optional | input:optional | Selects <input> elements with no "required" attribute |
:out-of-range | input:out-of-range | Selects <input> elements with a value outside a specified range |
:read-only | input:read-only | Selects <input> elements with a "readonly" attribute specified |
:read-write | input:read-write | Selects <input> elements with no "readonly" attribute |
:required | input:required | Selects <input> elements with a "required" attribute specified |
:root | root | Selects the document's root element |
:target | #news:target | Selects the current active #news element (clicked on a URL containing that anchor name) |
:valid | input:valid | Selects all <input> elements with a valid value |
:visited | a:visited | Selects all visited links |
All CSS Pseudo Elements
Selector | Example | Example description |
---|---|---|
::after | p::after | Insert content after every <p> element |
::before | p::before | Insert content before every <p> element |
::first-letter | p::first-letter | Selects the first letter of every <p> element |
::first-line | p::first-line | Selects the first line of every <p> element |
::selection | p::selection | Selects the portion of an element that is selected by a user |