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 IE 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
<html>
<head>
<style type="text/css">
p:first-child
{
color:blue;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>I am a strong man.</p>
<p>I am a strong man.</p>
</body>
</html>
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
<html>
<head>
<style type="text/css">
p > i:first-child
{
font-weight:bold;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>I am a <i>strong</i> man. I am a <i>strong</i> man.</p>
<p>I am a <i>strong</i> man. I am a <i>strong</i> man.</p>
</body>
</html>
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
<html>
<head>
<style type="text/css">
p:first-child i
{
color:blue;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>I am a <i>strong</i> man. I am a <i>strong</i> man.</p>
<p>I am a <i>strong</i> man. I am a <i>strong</i> man.</p>
</body>
</html>
CSS – The :lang Pseudo-class
The :lang pseudo-class allows you to define special rules for different languages.
Note: Internet Explorer 8 (and higher) supports the :lang pseudo-class 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>
<p>Some text <q lang="no">A quote in a paragraph</q> Some text.</p>
</body>
</html>
More Examples
Add different styles to hyperlinks
This example demonstrates how to add other styles to hyperlinks.
Use of :focus
This example demonstrates how to use the :focus pseudo-class.
Pseudo-classes
The "CSS" column indicates in which CSS version the property is defined (CSS1 or CSS2).
Pseudo name
Description
CSS
:active
Adds a style to an element that is activated
1
:first-child
Adds a style to an element that is the first child of another element
2
:focus
Adds a style to an element that has keyboard input focus
2
:hover
Adds a style to an element when you mouse over it
1
:lang
Adds a style to an element with a specific lang attribute
2
:link
Adds a style to an unvisited link
1
:visited
Adds a style to a visited link
1