I need clarification on the following: content:''

I have a question regarding this particular code snippet

.store {
  display: block;
  position: relative;
}
.store:before, .store:after {
  display: block;
  position:absolute;
  content:'';
}
.store:before {
  background: url(store-before.png);
  height: 23px;
  width: 54px;
  top:-3px;
  left:-3px;

}
.store:after {
  background: url(store-after.png);
  height: 20px;
  width: 41px;
  bottom:-3px;
  right:-3px;
}

One thing that caught my attention is that when the "content" has any value other than two apostrophes, the before and after images fail to appear. Can someone shed light on the significance of using two apostrophes in this context? Thank you.

Answer №1

The concept of generated content, automatic numbering, and lists is thoroughly explained in the CSS2.1 specification, particularly in the section dedicated to these topics.

When authors want to style and position generated content, they can use the :before and :after pseudo-elements. These pseudo-elements play a key role in determining where content should appear relative to an element's document tree content. By utilizing the 'content' property in combination with these pseudo-elements, authors can dictate what will be inserted.

In essence, the content property dictates what gets added to the page. Without specifying any content, no additional elements are included on the page (ultimately resulting in no visible styling effects). Adding content: '' inserts an empty string as content onto the page.

Answer №2

Using two apostrophes signifies a string, while using double quotes also indicates a string - the choice of delimiter depends on personal preference and escaping necessities; refer to this link for comprehensive information.

If there is nothing between the two string delimiters - either '' or "" - it results in an empty string. Any content other than a string represents a different value that may or may not be valid. Visit this page for a list of potential values for content. Providing an invalid value will result in the browser disregarding it, leading content to default to normal (essentially equivalent to none) for the :before and :after pseudo-elements, thereby preventing the display of your pseudo-element.

Answer №3

In order to utilize the before and after elements effectively, there must be some sort of content present before it can display the element. To achieve this, you can use an empty string to act as if there is content there. If a space or nothing at all is used, then nothing will appear on the page except for the rest of your css styling.

If the content property is removed, the element will not show up at all.

This feature is intended for use with phrases like "..." or "read more," allowing you to add these without cluttering your html markup.

Answer №4

Your specific code snippet might be utilizing it for clearing purposes.

However, you can also use it to display repeated content next to elements like this:

span:before{
content:"Writer: "
}
<span>Emily Dickinson</span>

This will yield:

Writer: Emily Dickinson

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