Pseudo-element Selectors

Content insertion, ::before, ::after, ::first-letter, and decorative effects.

Overview

Pseudo-elements style specific parts of elements.

Key Concepts

• ::before/::after — Insert content
• ::first-letter — Style first letter
• ::first-line — Style first line
• ::selection — Style selected text
• ::placeholder — Style input placeholders

Code Examples

/* Decorative content */
.quote::before {
  content: open-quote;
  font-size: 3rem;
  line-height: 0;
  vertical-align: -0.4em;
  margin-right: 0.25em;
}

.quote::after {
  content: close-quote;
  font-size: 3rem;
  line-height: 0;
  vertical-align: -0.4em;
  margin-left: 0.25em;
}

/* Tooltips */
.tooltip::after {
  content: attr(data-tooltip);
  position: absolute;
  bottom: 100%;
  left: 50%;
  transform: translateX(-50%);
  background: #333;
  color: white;
  padding: 0.5rem 1rem;
  border-radius: 4px;
  white-space: nowrap;
  opacity: 0;
  pointer-events: none;
  transition: opacity 0.2s;
}

.tooltip:hover::after {
  opacity: 1;
}

/* Drop cap */
.article p:first-of-type::first-letter {
  float: left;
  font-size: 4rem;
  line-height: 0.8;
  padding-right: 0.5rem;
  font-weight: bold;
  color: var(--primary);
}

/* First line styling */
.intro::first-line {
  font-weight: bold;
  color: var(--primary);
}

/* Selection styling */
::selection {
  background: var(--primary);
  color: white;
}

/* Placeholder styling */
.input::placeholder {
  color: #999;
  font-style: italic;
}

/* Icon with pseudo-element */
.icon::before {
  content: '★';
  margin-right: 0.5em;
}

/* Decorative line */
.heading {
  position: relative;
  display: inline-block;
}

.heading::after {
  content: '';
  position: absolute;
  bottom: -8px;
  left: 0;
  width: 50px;
  height: 3px;
  background: var(--primary);
}

/* Custom list markers */
.custom-list li::before {
  content: '→';
  color: var(--primary);
  margin-right: 0.5em;
}

/* Status indicators */
.status::before {
  content: '';
  display: inline-block;
  width: 8px;
  height: 8px;
  border-radius: 50%;
  margin-right: 0.5em;
}

.status.online::before {
  background: green;
}

.status.offline::before {
  background: red;
}

/* Content insertion with counter */
.list {
  counter-reset: item;
}

.list-item::before {
  counter-increment: item;
  content: counter(item) '.';
  font-weight: bold;
  margin-right: 0.5em;
}

Practice

Create a blog with decorative drop caps and custom list markers.