css pseudo class

`:hover` CSS pseudo-class

The :hover CSS pseudo-class matches an element when a user interacts with it using a pointing device. The pseudo-class is generally triggered when the user moves the cursor (mouse pointer) over an element without pressing the mouse button.

Interactive exampleOpen the canonical MDN source to run this embedded demo.

.joinBtn {
  width: 10em;
  height: 5ex;
  background-color: gold;
  border: 2px solid firebrick;
  border-radius: 10px;
  font-weight: bold;
  color: black;
  cursor: pointer;
}

.joinBtn:hover {
  background-color: bisque;
}

<p>Would you like to join our quest?</p>
<button class="joinBtn">Confirm</button>

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;
}

Result

Interactive exampleOpen the canonical MDN source to run this embedded demo.

Specifications

SpecificationsStandards references are available on the canonical MDN page.

Browser compatibility

Browser compatibilityCompatibility data is available on the canonical MDN page.