Pseudo-class
A CSS pseudo-class is a selector construct that matches elements according to a state, condition, or structural relationship.
Tiny CSS Projects
A pseudo-class is a CSS selector component that targets elements in a particular state or structural condition.
- How it is used
- Styles links by interaction state and selects SVG shapes or form inputs by structural conditions.
- How deep it goes
- Defines single-colon syntax and link states, then demonstrates positional and negation selectors without detailing selector-matching internals.
- Examples
- Shows state-colored article links, position-colored SVG loader bars, and form inputs selected by excluding radio buttons and checkboxes.
- What you can do after
- Apply it via CSS selectors to style interactive states and select elements by position or exclusion.
Web Design Playground, Second Edition
A CSS pseudo-class is a selector condition that identifies an element in a particular state or structural condition.
- How it is used
- Uses `:hover` to make social-media links visibly respond when a pointer moves over them.
- How deep it goes
- Defines `:hover` and explains its temporary browser behavior without covering other pseudo-classes.
- Examples
- Demonstrates social-media links changing color and gaining an underline on hover.
- What you can do after
- Apply it via CSS selectors to create a temporary hover style for links.
Read how Web Design Playground, Second Edition explains pseudo-class →
React in Depth
A CSS pseudo-class is a selector construct that targets an element according to a special state or condition rather than only its document identity.
- How it is used
- Styles element states directly in CSS while reserving component class names for explicit variants.
- How deep it goes
- Defines state-based selectors and demonstrates :disabled and :hover, but does not develop selector internals or broader browser behavior.
- Examples
- Demonstrates disabled buttons, hover-triggered icon animation, outline variants, and a React Button component.
- What you can do after
- Apply it via CSS to style browser-detectable states without adding dedicated state classes to components.
Related concepts
- :where()includes · The CSS :where() pseudo-class matches elements against a selector list while contributing zero specificity.
- :is()includes · The CSS :is() pseudo-class matches an element if it matches at least one selector in its argument list and takes the specificity of the most specific argument.
- CSS selectorkind of · A CSS selector is a pattern that identifies document elements by their names, attributes, relationships, states, or other conditions.
- checked pseudo-classincludes · The CSS :checked pseudo-class matches selectable form controls in a currently checked or selected state.
- focus pseudo-classincludes · The CSS :focus pseudo-class matches an element while it has input focus, regardless of how that focus was acquired.
These guides are generated from the text of Manning books by Manning's knowledge graph and link to the sections they draw on. The full books are available on liveBook and at manning.com.