Syntax of Pseudo-Elements in CSS
A pseudo-element in CSS is used to style a specific part of an element or insert content before or after it. The standard syntax uses double colons :: followed by the pseudo-element name.
Syntax format:
selector::pseudo-element { properties }Common pseudo-elements include
::before,::after,::first-letter, and::first-line.Single colon
:notation (e.g.,:before) is also supported for backward compatibility with older browsers.Pseudo-elements do not exist in the DOM; they are virtual elements used for styling purposes.
In this example, ::first-letter targets and styles the first letter of the paragraph, while ::before inserts a star before the paragraph text.
Use pseudo-elements to style or decorate content without modifying the HTML structure.
Combine with CSS properties like
content,color,font-size, andbackground.Prefer double colon
::notation for clarity and modern standards.Test pseudo-elements across browsers to ensure consistent rendering.