Is it possible to use multiple :before pseudo-elements on a single element?

Is it feasible to have several :before pseudos for one element simultaneously?

.circle:before {
    content: "\25CF";
    font-size: 19px;
}
.now:before{
    content: "Now";
    font-size: 19px;
    color: black;
}

In my attempt to implement the aforementioned styles on a single element using jQuery, I've noticed that only the latest one gets applied, never both of them.

Answer №1

Within CSS2.1 guidelines, an element is limited to only one of each type of pseudo-element at any given time. This restriction means that while an element can have both a :before and an :after pseudo-element, it cannot have multiple instances of the same kind.

When multiple :before rules are applied to the same element, they will all merge together and impact a single :before pseudo-element, similar to how styles are handled for regular elements. In practical terms, this results in only the declaration with the highest precedence taking effect, as illustrated in the following example:

.circle.now:before {
    content: "Now";
    font-size: 19px;
    color: black;
}

In this case, only the content property with the greatest specificity remains active, while the others are disregarded — consistent with standard CSS property behavior.

The specifics of this behavior are explained within the Selectors section of CSS2.1:

Pseudo-elements behave akin to actual elements within CSS, subject to some exceptions described in various sources.

This implies that selectors involving pseudo-elements follow the same patterns as those for normal elements, including cascading mechanisms. Notably, CSS2.1 appears to be the primary authority on this matter, as references in newer specifications like css3-selectors and css3-cascade do not address this issue, leaving room for potential reevaluation in future updates.

In situations where an element can satisfy multiple selectors featuring the same pseudo-element, additional CSS rules with combined selectors may be required to clarify browser behavior. While offering a complex example here would be challenging without context, crafting a rule that combines selectors such as .circle.now:before or .now.circle:before could aid in specifying desired outcomes, particularly regarding the content property.

For further guidance or examples, referring to related queries such as the one mentioned here might provide additional insight.

An outdated specification from 2003 known as legacy css3-content outlines the use of multiple ::before and ::after pseudo-elements in alignment with CSS2.1 principles. However, the lack of recent updates and implementation progress renders it obsolete. Noteworthy efforts are being made through initiatives like css-content-3 and css-pseudo-4 to revisit these concepts, albeit without explicit inclusion of the multiple pseudo-elements feature, likely due to limited industry interest.

Answer №2

Utilize the child elements or text within your main element for enhanced design.

Set the position of your main element as relative (or absolute/fixed) and include both :before and :after positioned absolutely (in my case, it had to be absolute but may vary depending on your needs).

If you require an additional pseudo-element, add an absolute :before to one of the child elements of the main element (if there's only text, enclose it in a span to create an element), which is not specified as relative/absolute/fixed.

This newly created element will mimic being part of the main element.

Example HTML:

<div class="circle">
    <span>Some content</span>
</div>

CSS Styling:

.circle {
    position: relative; /* or absolute/fixed */
}

.circle:before {
    position: absolute;
    content: "";
    /* additional styles: width, height, etc */
}

.circle:after {
    position: absolute;
    content: "";
    /* additional styles: width, height, etc */
}

.circle span {
    /* not set as relative/absolute/fixed */
}

.circle span:before {
    position: absolute;
    content: "";
    /* additional styles: width, height, etc */
}

Answer №3

I've successfully implemented this solution:

.element:before {
    font-family: "Font Awesome 5 Free" , "CircularStd";
    content: "\f017" " Date";
}

By utilizing the "font awesome 5 free" font family for the icon, and subsequently specifying the font again to ensure proper rendering, we were able to achieve the desired outcome.

Answer №4

An alternative option is to incorporate an image or icon along with text within the content area

For example:

p.gallery-title::after {
  content: url('https://...photo-icon-green.png') ' View >';
  display: block;
  ...;
}

Answer №5

In CSS, you can use ::after to set content:'any text' and include a background image with SVG text either from an external file using url(anySvgText.svg), or inline SVG code like

url('data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="30" width="200"><text x="0" y="15" fill="black" style="font-family: tahoma;">any second text</text></svg>')

You can also use only SVG instead of the content value. However, in this case you need to set an empty string (content: '') to display a ::after style.

.circle:before {
    content: "\25CF";
    font-size: 19px;
    color: red;
    width: 200px;
    display: block;
    background-image: url('data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="30" width="200"><text x="0" y="15" fill="black" style="font-family: tahoma;">Now</text></svg>');
    background-position-x: 15px;
}
<div class="circle"></div>

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