CSS Pseudo-classes

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CSS pseudo-classes are used to add special effects to some selectors.

Syntax

The syntax of pseudo-classes:

selector:pseudo-class {property:value;}

CSS classes can also be used with pseudo-classes:

selector.class:pseudo-class {property:value;}

Anchor Pseudo-classes

Links can be displayed in different ways in a CSS-supporting browser:

Example

a:link {color:#FF0000;} /* unvisited link */
a:visited {color:#00FF00;} /* visited link */
a:hover {color:#FF00FF;} /* mouse over link */
a:active {color:#0000FF;} /* selected link */

Note: a:hover MUST come after a:link and a:visited in the CSS definition in order to be effective!!

Note: a:active MUST come after a:hover in the CSS definition in order to be effective!!

Note: Pseudo-class names are not case-sensitive.

Pseudo-classes and CSS Classes

Pseudo-classes can be combined with CSS classes:

a.red:visited {color:#FF0000;}

<a class="red" href="css_syntax.asp">CSS Syntax</a>

If the link in the example above has been visited, it will be displayed in red.

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 element

In the following example, the selector matches any element that is the first child of any element:

Example

<html>
<head>
<style type="text/css">
p:first-child
{
color:blue;
}
</style>
</head>

<body>
I am a strong man.
I am a strong man.
</body>
</html>

Match the first element in all elements

In the following example, the selector matches the first element in all elements:

Example

<html>
<head>
<style type="text/css">
p > i:first-child
{
font-weight:bold;
}
</style>
</head>

<body>
I am a strong man. I am a strong man.
I am a strong man. I am a strong man.
</body>
</html>

Match all elements in all first child elements

In the following example, the selector matches all elements in elements that are the first child of another element:

Example

<html>
<head>
<style type="text/css">
p:first-child i
{
color:blue;
}
</style>
</head>

<body>
I am a strong man. I am a strong man.
I am a strong man. I am a strong man.
</body>
</html>

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 type="text/css">
q:lang(no) {quotes: "~" "~";}
</style>
</head>

<body>
Some text <q lang="no">A quote in a paragraph</q> Some text.
</body>
</html>

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CSS, Tips and Tricks

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Post Date:: May 19, 2011
Posted By:: Zakk Cica
Versions:: v.3

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CSS Pseudo-classes