Can CSS :before and :after Pseudo-Elements Style Inline SVG?

Styling Inline SVG using CSS :before and :after Pseudo-Elements

Introduction

CSS :before and :after pseudo-elements are commonly used to enhance HTML elements with decorative or functional content. However, when it comes to inline SVG elements, applying these pseudo-elements can encounter challenges. This article explores why it's challenging and provides a potential solution.

SVG as Replaced Content

Inline SVG elements are considered replaced content, meaning they replace the original content of the element they refer to. This behavior is inherent to all image-like elements, including SVG. Consequently, generated content, such as that created by :before and :after, is not allowed within replaced elements.

Why :before and :after Fail with SVG

The MDN documentation states that elements created using :before and :after are "anonymous replaced elements." Since replaced content cannot contain generated content, this explains why applying :before and :after to inline SVG is ineffective.

Potential Solution - :outside Pseudo-Element

An interesting solution is suggested in a CSS draft document titled "CSS3 Generated and Replaced Content Module." This document introduces a new pseudo-element, :outside, which places generated content outside the replaced element. By utilizing :outside, it may be possible to overcome the limitations of :before and :after when used with inline SVG.

Conclusion

While the use of CSS :before and :after pseudo-elements on inline SVG is generally not supported, the :outside pseudo-element offers a potential solution for placing generated content adjacent to SVG elements. Developers should be aware of the differences between inline and replaced elements when designing their CSS styles.

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