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Pseudo-classes

A CSS pseudo-class is a keyword added to a selector that specifies a special state of the selected element(s). For example, the pseudo-class {{CSSxRef(":hover")}} can be used to select a button when a user's pointer hovers over the button and this selected button can then be styled.

/* Any button over which the user's pointer is hovering */
button:hover {
  color: blue;
}

A pseudo-class consists of a colon (:) followed by the pseudo-class name (e.g., :hover). A functional pseudo-class also contains a pair of parentheses to define the arguments (e.g., :dir()). The element that a pseudo-class is attached to is defined as an anchor element (e.g., button in case button:hover).

Pseudo-classes let you apply a style to an element not only in relation to the content of the document tree, but also in relation to external factors like the history of the navigator ({{CSSxRef(":visited")}}, for example), the status of its content (like {{CSSxRef(":checked")}} on certain form elements), or the position of the mouse (like {{CSSxRef(":hover")}}, which lets you know if the mouse is over an element or not).

[!NOTE] In contrast to pseudo-classes, pseudo-elements can be used to style a specific part of an element.

Element display state pseudo-classes​

These pseudo-classes enable the selection of elements based on their display states.

  • {{CSSxRef(":fullscreen")}}
    • : Matches an element that is currently in fullscreen mode.
  • {{CSSxRef(":modal")}}
    • : Matches an element that is in a state in which it excludes all interaction with elements outside it until the interaction has been dismissed.
  • {{CSSxRef(":picture-in-picture")}}
    • : Matches an element that is currently in picture-in-picture mode.

Input pseudo-classes​

These pseudo-classes relate to form elements, and enable selecting elements based on HTML attributes and the state that the field is in before and after interaction.

  • {{CSSxRef(":autofill")}}
    • : Matches when an has been autofilled by the browser.
  • {{CSSxRef(":enabled")}}
    • : Represents a user interface element that is in an enabled state.
  • {{CSSxRef(":disabled")}}
    • : Represents a user interface element that is in a disabled state.
  • {{CSSxRef(":read-only")}}
    • : Represents any element that cannot be changed by the user.
  • {{CSSxRef(":read-write")}}
    • : Represents any element that is user-editable.
  • {{CSSxRef(":placeholder-shown")}}
    • : Matches an input element that is displaying placeholder text. For example, it will match the placeholder attribute in the and {{htmlelement("textarea")}} elements.
  • {{CSSxRef(":default")}}
    • : Matches one or more UI elements that are the default among a set of elements.
  • {{CSSxRef(":checked")}}
    • : Matches when elements such as checkboxes and radio buttons are toggled on.
  • {{CSSxRef(":indeterminate")}}
    • : Matches UI elements when they are in an indeterminate state.
  • {{CSSxRef(":blank")}}
    • : Matches a user-input element which is empty, containing an empty string or other null input.
  • {{CSSxRef(":valid")}}
    • : Matches an element with valid contents. For example, an input element with the type 'email' that contains a validly formed email address or an empty value if the control is not required.
  • {{CSSxRef(":invalid")}}
    • : Matches an element with invalid contents. For example, an input element with type 'email' with a name entered.
  • {{CSSxRef(":in-range")}}
    • : Applies to elements with range limitations. For example, a slider control when the selected value is in the allowed range.
  • {{CSSxRef(":out-of-range")}}
    • : Applies to elements with range limitations. For example, a slider control when the selected value is outside the allowed range.
  • {{CSSxRef(":required")}}
    • : Matches when a form element is required.
  • {{CSSxRef(":optional")}}
    • : Matches when a form element is optional.
  • {{CSSxRef(":user-valid")}}
    • : Represents an element with correct input, but only when the user has interacted with it.
  • {{CSSxRef(":user-invalid")}}
    • : Represents an element with incorrect input, but only when the user has interacted with it.

Linguistic pseudo-classes​

These pseudo-classes reflect the document language and enable the selection of elements based on language or script direction.

  • {{CSSxRef(":dir", ":dir()")}}
    • : The directionality pseudo-class selects an element based on its directionality as determined by the document language.
  • {{CSSxRef(":lang", ":lang()")}}
    • : Select an element based on its content language.

Location pseudo-classes​

These pseudo-classes relate to links, and to targeted elements within the current document.

  • {{CSSxRef(":any-link")}}
    • : Matches an element if the element would match either {{CSSxRef(":link")}} or {{CSSxRef(":visited")}}.
  • {{CSSxRef(":link")}}
    • : Matches links that have not yet been visited.
  • {{CSSxRef(":visited")}}
    • : Matches links that have been visited.
  • {{CSSxRef(":local-link")}}
    • : Matches links whose absolute URL is the same as the target URL. For example, anchor links to the same page.
  • {{CSSxRef(":target")}}
    • : Matches the element which is the target of the document URL.
  • {{CSSxRef(":target-within")}}
    • : Matches elements which are the target of the document URL, but also elements which have a descendant which is the target of the document URL.
  • {{CSSxRef(":scope")}}
    • : Represents elements that are a reference point for selectors to match against.

Resource state pseudo-classes​

These pseudo-classes apply to media that is capable of being in a state where it would be described as playing, such as a video.

  • {{CSSxRef(":playing")}}
    • : Represents a media element that is capable of playing when that element is playing.
  • {{CSSxRef(":paused")}}
    • : Represents a media element that is capable of playing when that element is paused.

Time-dimensional pseudo-classes​

These pseudo-classes apply when viewing something which has timing, such as a WebVTT caption track.

  • {{CSSxRef(":current")}}
    • : Represents the element or ancestor of the element that is being displayed.
  • {{CSSxRef(":past")}}
    • : Represents an element that occurs entirely before the {{CSSxRef(":current")}} element.
  • {{CSSxRef(":future")}}
    • : Represents an element that occurs entirely after the {{CSSxRef(":current")}} element.

Tree-structural pseudo-classes​

These pseudo-classes relate to the location of an element within the document tree.

  • {{CSSxRef(":root")}}
    • : Represents an element that is the root of the document. In HTML this is usually the <html> element.
  • {{CSSxRef(":empty")}}
    • : Represents an element with no children other than white-space characters.
  • {{CSSxRef(":nth-child")}}
    • : Uses An+B notation to select elements from a list of sibling elements.
  • {{CSSxRef(":nth-last-child")}}
    • : Uses An+B notation to select elements from a list of sibling elements, counting backwards from the end of the list.
  • {{CSSxRef(":first-child")}}
    • : Matches an element that is the first of its siblings.
    • : Matches an element that is the last of its siblings.
  • {{CSSxRef(":only-child")}}
    • : Matches an element that has no siblings. For example, a list item with no other list items in that list.
  • {{CSSxRef(":nth-of-type")}}
    • : Uses An+B notation to select elements from a list of sibling elements that match a certain type from a list of sibling elements.
  • {{CSSxRef(":nth-last-of-type")}}
    • : Uses An+B notation to select elements from a list of sibling elements that match a certain type from a list of sibling elements counting backwards from the end of the list.
  • {{CSSxRef(":first-of-type")}}
    • : Matches an element that is the first of its siblings, and also matches a certain type selector.
  • {{CSSxRef(":last-of-type")}}
    • : Matches an element that is the last of its siblings, and also matches a certain type selector.
  • {{CSSxRef(":only-of-type")}}
    • : Matches an element that has no siblings of the chosen type selector.

User action pseudo-classes​

These pseudo-classes require some interaction by the user in order for them to apply, such as holding a mouse pointer over an element.

  • {{CSSxRef(":hover")}}
    • : Matches when a user designates an item with a pointing device, such as holding the mouse pointer over the item.
  • {{CSSxRef(":active")}}
    • : Matches when an item is being activated by the user. For example, when the item is clicked on.
  • {{CSSxRef(":focus")}}
    • : Matches when an element has focus.
  • {{CSSxRef(":focus-visible")}}
    • : Matches when an element has focus and the user agent identifies that the element should be visibly focused.
  • {{CSSxRef(":focus-within")}}
    • : Matches an element to which {{CSSxRef(":focus")}} applies, plus any element that has a descendant to which {{CSSxRef(":focus")}} applies.

Functional pseudo-classes​

These pseudo-classes accept a selector list or forgiving selector list as a parameter.

  • :is()
    • : The matches-any pseudo-class matches any element that matches any of the selectors in the list provided. The list is forgiving.
  • :not()
    • : The negation, or matches-none, pseudo-class represents any element that is not represented by its argument.
  • :where()
    • : The specificity-adjustment pseudo-class matches any element that matches any of the selectors in the list provided without adding any specificity weight. The list is forgiving.
  • :has()
    • : The relational pseudo-class represents an element if any of the relative selectors match when anchored against the attached element.

Syntax​

selector:pseudo-class {
  property: value;
}

Like regular classes, you can chain together as many pseudo-classes as you want in a selector.

Alphabetical index​

Pseudo-classes defined by a set of CSS specifications include the following:

A

  • {{CSSxRef(":active")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":any-link")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":autofill")}}

B

  • {{CSSxRef(":blank")}} {{Experimental_Inline}}

C

  • {{CSSxRef(":checked")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":current")}}

D

  • {{CSSxRef(":default")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":defined")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":dir", ":dir()")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":disabled")}}

E

  • {{CSSxRef(":empty")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":enabled")}}

F

  • {{CSSxRef(":first")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":first-child")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":first-of-type")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":focus")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":focus-visible")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":focus-within")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":fullscreen")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":future")}} {{Experimental_Inline}}

H

  • {{CSSxRef(":has", ":has()")}} {{Experimental_Inline}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":host")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":host", ":host()")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":host-context", ":host-context()")}} {{Experimental_Inline}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":hover")}}

I

  • {{CSSxRef(":indeterminate")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":in-range")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":invalid")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":is", ":is()")}}

L

  • {{CSSxRef(":lang", ":lang()")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":last-of-type")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":left")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":link")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":local-link")}}

M

  • {{CSSxRef(":modal")}}

N

  • {{CSSxRef(":not", ":not()")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":nth-child", ":nth-child()")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":nth-last-child", ":nth-last-child()")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":nth-last-of-type", ":nth-last-of-type()")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":nth-of-type", ":nth-of-type()")}}

O

  • {{CSSxRef(":only-child")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":only-of-type")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":optional")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":out-of-range")}}

P

  • {{CSSxRef(":past")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":paused")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":picture-in-picture")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":placeholder-shown")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":playing")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":popover-open")}}

R

  • {{CSSxRef(":read-only")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":read-write")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":required")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":right")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":root")}}

S

  • {{CSSxRef(":scope")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":state", ":state()")}}

T

  • {{CSSxRef(":target")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":target-within")}} {{Experimental_Inline}}

U

  • {{CSSxRef(":user-invalid")}}

V

  • {{CSSxRef(":valid")}}
  • {{CSSxRef(":visited")}}

W

  • {{CSSxRef(":where", ":where()")}}

Specifications​

See also​