A pseudo-class is a keyword added to a CSS selector, prefixed by a colon (:), to define a specific state or condition of an element. It is used to style elements like a hovered button, the first child of a container, or checked input fields.
Syntax
selector:pseudo-class {
/* styles */
}
Interactive/User Action Pseudo-Classes
1. :hover
This applies when the user hovers over an element.
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
button:hover {
background-color: lightblue;
color: white;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<button>Hover over me!</button>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
This will change the background color of the button when hovered over.
2. :focus
Applies when an element receives focus (e.g., a text input clicked)
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
input:focus {
border: 2px solid blue;
outline: none;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<input type="text" placeholder="Click to focus">
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
This will change the border of the input field to blue when it is focused.
3. :active
Applies when an element is being clicked .
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
button:active {
background-color: darkblue;
color: white;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<button>Click me!</button>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
This will change the background color of the button when it is being clicked (in the active state).
4. :visited
Applies to links the user has visited.
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
a:visited {
color: purple;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<a href="https://www.example.com">Visit this link</a>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
This will change the color of visited links to purple.
5. :link
Applies to links that the user has not visited yet.
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
a:link {
color: green;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<a href="https://www.example.com">Visit this link</a>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
This will make unvisited links appear in green.
6. :focus-visible
Applies when an element is focused, but only if the focus is visible (e.g., for accessibility).This Style is applied when user focus on an element using tab button.
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
button:focus-visible {
outline: 3px solid orange;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<button>Click or Tab to focus</button>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
7. :focus-within
Applies to an element if it or its descendants have focus.
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
.form-container:focus-within {
border: 2px solid green;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<div class="form-container">
<input type="text" placeholder="Type here">
</div>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
This will apply a green border to the .form-container element when any of its descendants (like the input field) has focus.
Structural targeting pseudo classes
1. :first-child
Matches the first child of its parent
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
p:first-child {
color: red;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<div>
<p>This is the first paragraph.</p>
<p>This is the second paragraph.</p>
</div>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
2. :last-child
Matches the last child of its parent
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
p:last-child {
color: blue;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<div>
<p>This is the first paragraph.</p>
<p>This is the last paragraph.</p>
</div>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
3. :nth-child(n)
Matches the nth child of its parent
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
p:nth-child(5) {
color: green;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<div>
<p>This is the first paragraph.</p>
<p>This is the second paragraph.</p>
<p>This is the third paragraph.</p>
<p>This is the fourth paragraph.</p>
<p>This is the fifth paragraph.</p>
</div>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
4. :nth-last-child(n)
Matches the nth child from the end of its parent
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
p:nth-last-child(1) {
color: orange;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<div>
<p>This is the first paragraph.</p>
<p>This is the second paragraph.</p>
<p>This is the third paragraph.</p>
</div>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
5. :first-of-type
Matches the first instance of a specific type within a parent element.
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
p:first-of-type {
color: purple;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<div>
<span>Some text</span>
<p>This is the first paragraph.</p>
<p>This is another paragraph.</p>
</div>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
6. :last-of-type
Matches the last instance of a specific type within a parent.
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
p:last-of-type {
color: yellow;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<div>
<p>This is the first paragraph.</p>
<span>Some text</span>
<p>This is the last paragraph.</p>
</div>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
7. :nth-of-type(n)
Matches the nth instance of a specific type.
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
p:nth-of-type(2) {
color: pink;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<div>
<p>This is the first paragraph.</p>
<span>Some text</span>
<p>This is the second paragraph.</p>
<p>This is the third paragraph.</p>
</div>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
8. :nth-last-of-type(n)
Matches the nth instance of a specific type from the end
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
p:nth-last-of-type(1) {
color: brown;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<div>
<p>This is the first paragraph.</p>
<span>Some text</span>
<p>This is the second paragraph.</p>
<p>This is the third paragraph.</p>
</div>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
9. :only-child
Matches elements that are the only child of their parent.
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
p:only-child {
color: teal;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<div>
<p>This is the only paragraph.</p>
</div>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
10. :only-of-type
Matches elements that are the only instance of their type within a parent.
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
p:only-of-type {
color: coral;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<div>
<p>This is the only paragraph.</p>
<span>Some text</span>
</div>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
11. :empty
Matches elements with no children or content.
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
div:empty {
background-color: green;
}
#one {
height: 100px;
width: 100px;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<div id="one"></div>
<div>
<p>This div has content.</p>
</div>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
1. :checked
Matches checkboxes or radio buttons that are selected.
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
input:checked {
outline: 5px solid red;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
Agree to terms <input type="checkbox">
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
2. :disabled
Matches elements that are disabled.
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
input:disabled {
background-color: lightgray;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<input type="text" disabled placeholder="Disabled input">
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
3. :enabled
Matches elements that are enabled.
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
input:enabled {
background-color: lightblue;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<input type="text" placeholder="Enabled input">
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
4. :required
Matches form fields marked as required.
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
input:required {
border: 2px solid red;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<form>
<input type="text" required placeholder="This field is required">
</form>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
5. :optional
Matches form fields that are not required.
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
input:optional {
border: 2px solid green;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<form>
<input type="text" placeholder="This field is optional">
</form>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
6. :valid
Matches form fields with valid input types entered in them.
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
input:valid {
border: 2px solid green;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<form>
<input type="email" placeholder="Enter valid email" required>
</form>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
7. :invalid
Matches form fields with invalid input entered in them.
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
input:invalid {
border: 2px solid red;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<form>
<input type="email" placeholder="Enter valid email" required>
</form>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
8. :in-range
Matches inputs within a valid range (e.g., a number input).
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
input:in-range {
background-color: lightgreen;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<form>
<input type="number" min="1" max="10" placeholder="Pick a number between 1 and 10">
</form>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
9. :out-of-range
Matches inputs outside the valid range.
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
input:out-of-range {
background-color: lightcoral;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<form>
<input type="number" min="1" max="10" placeholder="Pick a number between 1 and 10">
</form>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
10. :read-only
Matches elements that are read-only.
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
input:read-only {
background-color: lightgray;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<input type="text" value="This is read-only" readonly>
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
11. :read-write
Matches elements that are editable.
HTML
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<html>
<head>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
<style>
input:read-write {
background-color: lightyellow;
}
</style>
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</head>
<body>
<input type="text" placeholder="You can type here">
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
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