CSS generated content
The CSS generated content module defines how an element's content can be replaced and content can be added to a document with CSS.
Generated content can be used for content replacement, in which case the content of a DOM node is replaced with a CSS <image>. The CSS generated content also enables generating language-specific quotes, creating custom list item numbers and bullets, and visually adding content by generating content on select pseudo-elements as anonymous replaced elements.
Generated content in action
The HTML for this sample is a single, empty <div> inside an otherwise empty <body>. The snowman was created with CSS images and CSS backgrounds and borders. The carrot nose was added using generated content: an empty box with a wide orange left border added to the ::before pseudo-element. The text is also generated content: "only one <div>" was generated with the content property applied to the ::after pseudo-element.
Click "Play" in the example above to see or edit the code in the MDN Playground.
Reference
>Properties
The CSS generated content module also introduces four at-risk properties: string-set, bookmark-label, bookmark-level, and bookmark-state. Currently, no browsers support these features.
Functions
The CSS generated content module introduces six yet-to-be implemented CSS functions including content(), string(), and leader(), and the three <target> functions target-counter(), target-counters(), and target-text().
Data types
Guides
- "How to" guide for generated content
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Learn how to add text or image content to a document using the
contentproperty. - Create fancy boxes with generated content
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Example of styling generated content for visual effects.
Related concepts
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CSS pseudo-elements module
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CSS lists and counters module
counter()functioncounters()functioncounter-incrementpropertycounter-resetproperty
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CSS overflow module
::scroll-button()pseudo-element::scroll-markerpseudo-element:target-currentpseudo-class
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CSS values and units module
Specifications
| Specification |
|---|
| CSS Generated Content Module Level 3> |
See also
- CSS pseudo-elements module
- CSS lists and counters module
- Replaced elements