Why Use Pseudo-Elements in CSS
As a front-end developer, you should be familiar with CSS pseudo-elements, including their functionality and various presentational and structural applications. Basic CSS selectors and their numerous properties are enjoyable, but understanding pseudo-classes and pseudo-elements is the next step in becoming a CSS expert.
In addition to CSS pseudo-elements, there are also some HTML elements commonly referred to as pseudo-elements. These are sometimes used in CSS to facilitate processing and allow developers to create custom elements within your web pages. However, they are not standardized, so they cannot be used globally.
In this article, we will discuss why CSS can use pseudo-elements. At the beginning of the article, we will explain what pseudo-elements are, why we should use them, how they work, and many other basic aspects of pseudo-elements.
What are Pseudo-elements?
HTML elements that are not defined in an HTML document are called pseudo-elements. Creating fake elements is possible. You can give your elements any name, but it’s not recommended. HTML allows developers to define custom elements in web pages. These elements will work seamlessly on your page.
Example
See the example below to see how we can use pseudo-elements in an HTML document.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title> Fake Elements </title>
<style>
*{
background-color: grey;
margin: 5px;
letter-spacing: 1px;
}
.para{
font-family: cursive;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<section>
<heading> Programming Languages </heading>
<p class="para"> To communicate with computers, programmers (developers) use a programming language, which is a computer language. It is a set of instructions written in a specific language (such as C, C++, Java, or Python), built to do a certain task. </p>
<example> Some of the most popular programming languages are: </example> <br>
<p>
<ol>
<li> <h1> C/C++ </h1> </li>
<li> <h1> Java </h1> </li>
<li id="demo"> <h1> Python </h1> </li>
<li> <h1> JavaScript </h1> </li>
<li> <h1> PHP </h1> </li>
</ol>
</p>
</section>
</body>
</html>
As we can see in the example above, we used our own elements, such as and <example> . The code executed successfully, and the text was displayed. However, we must style them accordingly. For example, if we used an HTML-recognized element ( **h1</strong> ) instead of <code><heading></code> , the text would automatically have a larger font size. For a fake element, we must specify the font size using CSS. </p>
<h3>Example</h3>
<p>In this example, we declare some CSS properties for the pseudo-elements <code><heading></code> and <code><example></code>. </p>
<pre data-language="HTML"><code class="language-markup line-numbers"><!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title> Fake Elements </title>
<style>
*{
background-color: yellow;
margin: 5px;
letter-spacing: 1px;
}
heading{
color: black;
text-decoration: underline;
text-shadow: 4px 4px 4px gray;
font-size: 28px;
}
.para{
font-family: cursive;
}
example{
color: red;
font-weight: 900;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<section>
<heading> <h1 class="head"> Programming Languages </h1> </heading>
<p class="para"> Programmers (developers) utilize a programming language, which is a computer language, to communicate with computers. It is a set of guidelines created in any particular language (C, C++, Java, Python), developed to carry out a certain task. </p>
<example> Some of the most popular programming languages are: </example> <br>
<p>
<ol>
<li> <h1> C/C++ </h1> </li>
<li> <h1> Java </h1> </li>
<li id= "demo"> <h1> Python </h1> </li>
<li> <h1> JavaScript </h1> </li>
<li> <h1> PHP </h1> </li>
</ol>
</p>
</section>
</body>
</html>
</code></pre>
<p>We’ve added CSS styles to our pseudo-elements. The code runs smoothly, and there are no styling issues. The question is, how do these pseudo-elements work in HTML documents? </p>
<p>The answer is that, as HTML continues to advance, most modern browsers are compatible with many of the changes and additions to its functionality. Therefore, unrecognized elements are parsed directly into the DOM tree. However, they do not exhibit any functionality or special features. </p>
<h2>Why We Shouldn’t Use Pseudo-Elements</h2>
<p>Although pseudo-elements can work well in web pages, we strongly recommend against using them in HTML documents. Here are some reasons why you shouldn’t use pseudo-elements:</p>
<ul>
<li>These pseudo-elements are not supported or recognized by the HTML specification.
</li>
<li>
<p>These elements have no specified functionality. Just like the text in a <heading> has a predetermined font size, pseudo-elements don’t provide that functionality.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>They may hinder the functionality of future standard elements (if they are developed) because these elements have the same names as pseudo-elements.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>With the rapid pace of HTML changes, there may be a specific standard element in the DOM that is best suited for that specific functionality.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>These tags may cause compatibility issues across different browsers. At the same time, browsers are faster at rendering standard elements. As a result, your web pages will run smoothly. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Standard HTML elements offer various advantages, such as SEO (search engine optimization) and speed. They are preferred by popular browsers like Google. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Using fake elements shows a lack of professionalism (to some developers). Standard elements are easy to maintain. Moreover, they allow for further modifications if necessary. </p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Using standard HTML elements makes debugging easier. This is because standard elements are easily accessible to debugging tools. </p>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Summary</h2>
<p>It is possible to create your own elements in HTML documents. However, they do not have any additional semantics or functionality. Furthermore, these elements may not be fully understood or used by all developers. Therefore, it is better to use standard HTML elements, which offer various advantages over fake elements. </p>
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