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
A link that is active, visited, unvisited, or when you mouse over a link can all be displayed in different ways in a CSS-supporting browser:
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.
CSS2 - 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:
<html>
<head>
<style type="text/css">
p:first-child
{
font-weight:bold
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>I am a <em>strong</em> man. I am a <em>strong</em> man.</p>
<p>I am a <em>strong</em> man. I am a <em>strong</em> man.</p>
</body>
</html>
Match the first <em> element in all <p> elements
<html>
<head>
<style type="text/css">
p > em:first-child
{
font-weight:bold
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>I am a <em>strong</em> man. I am a <em>strong</em> man.</p>
<p>I am a <em>strong</em> man. I am a <em>strong</em> man.</p>
</body>
</html>
Match all <em> elements in all first child <p> elements
In the following example, the selector matches any <em> elements in <p> elements that are the first child of another element:
<html>
<head>
<style type="text/css">
p:first-child em
{
font-weight:bold
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>I am a <em>strong</em> man. I am a <em>strong</em> man.</p>
<p>I am a <em>strong</em> man. I am a <em>strong</em> man.</p>
</body>
</html>
CSS2 - The :lang Pseudo-class
The :lang pseudo-class allows you to define special rules for different languages. In the example below, the :lang class defines the type of quotation marks for q elements with a lang attribute with a value of "no":
<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>
Pseudo-classes
Browser support: IE: Internet Explorer, F: Firefox, N: Netscape.
PHPGURU: The number in the "PHPGURU" column indicates in which CSS recommendation the property is defined (CSS1 or CSS2).
Pseudo-class | Purpose | IE | F | N | PHPGURU |
:active | Adds special style to an activated element | 4 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
:focus | Adds special style to an element while the element has focus | - | 1.5 | 8 | 2 |
:hover | Adds special style to an element when you mouse over it | 4 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
:link | Adds special style to an unvisited link | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
:visited | Adds special style to a visited link | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
:first-child | Adds special style to an element that is the first child of some other element | 7 | 1 | 7 | 2 |
:lang | Allows the author to specify a language to use in a specified element | - | 1 | 8 | 2 |
Examples
Hyperlink 1
This example demonstrates how to add different colors to a hyperlink in a document.
Hyperlink 2
This example demonstrates how to add other styles to hyperlinks.
Hyperlink: use of :focus (does not work in IE)
This example demonstrates how to use the :focus pseudo-class on a hyperlink.
:first-child - change first child <p>
This example sets any <p> element that is the first child of any element to bold.
(for IE <!DOCTYPE> must be declared)
:first-child - change first child <em> in all <p> elements
This example sets the first <em> element in all <p> elements to bold.
(for IE <!DOCTYPE> must be declared)
:first-child - change all <em> elements in first child <p>
This example sets any <em> elements in first child <p> elements to bold.
(for IE <!DOCTYPE> must be declared)
:lang (does not work in IE)
This example demonstrates the use of the :lang pseudo-class.
