content property - Script Tutorials

The content CSS property is used with the ::before and ::after pseudo-elements to generate content in an element. Objects inserted using the content property are anonymous replaced elements.

Initialnormal
Applies to::before and ::after pseudo-element
Inheritedno
Mediaall
Computed ValueOn elements, always computes to normal. On ::before and ::after, if normal is specified, computes to none. Otherwise, for URI values, the absolute URI; for attr() values, the resulting string; for other keywords, as specified.
Animatableno
Canonical orderthe unique non-ambiguous order defined by the formal grammar

Contents

Syntax
Values
Examples
Code sample – content with multiple values adding an icon before a link
HTML
CSS
Code sample – adding an icon after text in a custom list
HTML
CSS
Code Sample – class based example
HTML
CSS
Compatibility
Desktop browsers
Mobile browsers

Syntax

Formal syntax: normal | none | [ <string> | <uri> | <counter> | attr() | open-quote | close-quote | no-open-quote | no-close-quote ]+

content: normal                                /* Keywords that cannot be combined with other values */
content: none
content: 'prefix'                              /* <string> value, non-latin characters must be encoded e.g. \00A0 for &nbsp; */
content: url(http://www.example.com/test.html) /* <uri> value */
content: chapter_counter                       /* <counter> values */
content: attr(value string)                    /* attr() value linked to the HTML attribute value */
content: open-quote                            /* Language- and position-dependant keywords */
content: close-quote
content: no-open-quote
content: no-close-quote
content: open-quote chapter_counter            /* Except for normal and none, several values can be used simultaneously */
content: inherit

Values

none: The pseudo-element is not generated.
normal: Computes to none for the :before and :after pseudo-elements.
<string>: Text content.
<uri> url(): The value is a URI that designates an external resource (such as an image). If the resource or image can’t be displayed, it is either ignored or some placeholder shows up.
<counter>: Counters may be specified with two different functions: ‘counter()’ or ‘counters()’. The former has two forms: ‘counter(name)’ or ‘counter(name, style)’. The generated text is the value of the innermost counter of the given name in scope at this pseudo-element; it is formatted in the indicated style (‘decimal’ by default). The latter function also has two forms: ‘counters(name, string)’ or ‘counters(name, string, style)’. The generated text is the value of all counters with the given name in scope at this pseudo-element, from outermost to innermost separated by the specified string. The counters are rendered in the indicated style (‘decimal’ by default). See the section on automatic counters and numbering for more information. The name must not be ‘none’, ‘inherit’ or ‘initial’. Such a name causes the declaration to be ignored.
attr(X): Returns the value of the element’s attribute X as a string. If there is no attribute X, an empty string is returned. The case-sensitivity of attribute names depends on the document language.
open-quote | close-quote: These values are replaced by the appropriate string from the quotes property.
no-open-quote | no-close-quote: Introduces no content, but increments (decrements) the level of nesting for quotes.

Examples

q:lang(en) { quotes: '"' '"' "'" "'" } 
  
q:before   { content: open-quote } 
  
q:after    { content: close-quote }

`1`	`h1:before {` `content:` `"Chapter: "; }`

/* content accepts multiple values */ 
  
a:before   { content: url(http://www.example.com/favicon.ico) " EXAMPLE: "; 
  
             font:    x-small Arial,freeSans,sans-serif; 
  
             color:   gray; 
  
           }

Code sample – content with multiple values adding an icon before a link

HTML

`1`	`<a` `href="http://www.example.com/">Home Page</a>`

CSS

a:before{ 
  
    content: url(http://www.example.com/favicon.ico) " EXAMPLE: "; 
  
    font:    x-small Arial,freeSans,sans-serif; 
  
    color:   gray; 
  
}

Code sample – adding an icon after text in a custom list

HTML

<div> 
  
  <ul class="brightIdea"> 
  
    <li>This is my first idea</li> 
  
    <li>and another good idea</li> 
  
  </ul> 
  
</div>

CSS

/* first import the icon from a suitable site */ 
  
@import url(http://weloveiconfonts.com/api/?family=entypo); 
  
.brightIdea li:after{ 
  
    content: '\1f4a1'; 
  
    font-family: 'entypo', sans-serif; 
  
}

Code Sample – class based example

HTML

<h2>Paperback best sellers</h2> 
  
<ol> 
  
    <li>Political thriller</li> 
  
    <li class="newEntry">Halloween Stories</li> 
  
    <li>My Biography</li>     
  
    <li class="newEntry">Vampire Romance</li> 
  
</ol>

CSS

/* use a class rather that an element selector to give more flexibility. 
  
Simple string example, but don't forget add a leading space in the text string 
  
for spacing purposes  */ 
  
.newEntry:after { 
  
    content: " New!"; 
  
    color: red; 
  
}