CSS Pseudo-classes

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

---

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:

Example

a.highlight:hover {
    color: #ff0000;
} 

When you hover over the link in the example, it will change color.

---

CSS - The :first-child Pseudo-class

The :first-child pseudo-class matches a specified element that is the first child of another element.

	Note: For :first-child to work in IE8 and earlier, a <!DOCTYPE> must be declared.

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.

	Note: IE8 supports the :lang pseudo-class only if a <!DOCTYPE> is specified.

In the example below, the :lang class 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>

Need help? Try KimmyJusTips!