The :hover
CSS pseudo-class matches when the user interacts with an element with a pointing device, but does not necessarily activate it. It is generally triggered when the user hovers over an element with the cursor (mouse pointer).
Styles defined by the :hover
pseudo-class will be overridden by any subsequent link-related pseudo-class (:link
, :visited
, or :active
) that has at least equal specificity. To style links appropriately, put the :hover
rule after the :link
and :visited
rules but before the :active
one, as defined by the LVHA-order: :link
— :visited
— :hover
— :active
.
Note: The :hover
pseudo-class is problematic on touchscreens. Depending on the browser, the :hover
pseudo-class might never match, match only for a moment after touching an element, or continue to match even after the user has stopped touching and until the user touches another element. Web developers should make sure that content is accessible on devices with limited or non-existent hovering capabilities.
Syntax
:hover { /* ... */ }
Examples
Basic example
HTML
<a href="#">Try hovering over this link.</a>
CSS
a { background-color: powderblue; transition: background-color 0.5s; } a:hover { background-color: gold; }