If you’re just starting with CSS, you’ve probably come across weird-looking selectors like :hover, :first-child, or :focus. These are called pseudo-classes, and they're incredibly useful for targeting elements based on their state or position—without needing to add extra classes in your HTML.
In this quick overview, I’ll break down:
✅ What pseudo-classes are
✅ Why they’re useful for styling dynamic UI elements
✅ A few common examples you’ll actually use
What Is a Pseudo-Class in CSS?
A pseudo-class is a keyword added to a selector that lets you style elements based on their state or relation to other elements. For example, when a user hovers over a button, or when a form input is focused.
Common Examples:
:hover — When the mouse is over an element
:focus — When an input field is active
:first-child — The first element inside a parent
:nth-child(n) — Target specific positions
These pseudo-classes help you write cleaner, more flexible CSS, especially when building interactive web pages.
👉 In my full article, I cover how pseudo-classes work, when to use them, and give you copy-paste-ready examples.
Read the complete tutorial here:
Learn CSS Basic: Pseudo-class Definition, Examples, and How to Use Them!
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