The content CSS property replaces an element with a generated value. Objects inserted using the content property are anonymous replaced elements.

/* Keywords that cannot be combined with other values */ content: normal; content: none;  /* <image> values */ content: url("http://www.example.com/test.png"); content: linear-gradient(#e66465, #9198e5); content: image-set("image1x.png" 1x, "image2x.png" 2x);  /* alt text for generated content, added in the Level 3 specification */ content: url("http://www.example.com/test.png") / "This is the alt text";  /* <string> value */ content: "prefix";  /* <counter> values, optionally with <list-style-type> */ content: counter(chapter_counter); content: counter(chapter_counter, upper-roman); content: counters(section_counter, "."); content: counters(section_counter, ".", decimal-leading-zero);  /* attr() value linked to the HTML attribute value */ content: attr(value string);  /* Language- and position-dependent keywords */ content: open-quote; content: close-quote; content: no-open-quote; content: no-close-quote;  /* Except for normal and none, several values can be used simultaneously */ content: open-quote counter(chapter_counter);  /* Global values */ content: inherit; content: initial; content: revert; content: unset; 

content

The content CSS property replaces an element with a generated value. Objects inserted using the content property are anonymous replaced elements.

/* Keywords that cannot be combined with other values */ content: normal; content: none;  /* <image> values */ content: url("http://www.example.com/test.png"); content: linear-gradient(#e66465, #9198e5); content: image-set("image1x.png" 1x, "image2x.png" 2x);  /* alt text for generated content, added in the Level 3 specification */ content: url("http://www.example.com/test.png") / "This is the alt text";  /* <string> value */ content: "prefix";  /* <counter> values, optionally with <list-style-type> */ content: counter(chapter_counter); content: counter(chapter_counter, upper-roman); content: counters(section_counter, "."); content: counters(section_counter, ".", decimal-leading-zero);  /* attr() value linked to the HTML attribute value */ content: attr(value string);  /* Language- and position-dependent keywords */ content: open-quote; content: close-quote; content: no-open-quote; content: no-close-quote;  /* Except for normal and none, several values can be used simultaneously */ content: open-quote counter(chapter_counter);  /* Global values */ content: inherit; content: initial; content: revert; content: unset; 

Syntax

Values

none

When applied to a pseudo-element, the pseudo-element is not generated. If applied to an element, the value has no effect.

normal

Computes to none for the ::before and ::after pseudo-elements.

<string>

Specifies the "alt text" for the element. This value can be any number of text characters. Non-Latin characters must be encoded using their Unicode escape sequences: for example, \000A9 represents the copyright symbol.

<image>

An <image>, denoted by the url() or <gradient> data type, or part of the webpage, defined by the element() function, denoting the content to display.

counter()

The value of a CSS counter, generally a number produced by computations defined by <counter-reset> and <counter-increment> properties. It can be displayed using either the counter() or counters() function.

The counter() function 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 the given pseudo-element. It is formatted in the specified <list-style-type> (decimal by default).

The counters() 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 the given pseudo-element, from outermost to innermost, separated by the specified string. The counters are rendered in the indicated <list-style-type> (decimal by default).

attr(x)

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.

Accessibility concerns

CSS-generated content is not included in the DOM. Because of this, it will not be represented in the accessibility tree and certain assistive technology/browser combinations will not announce it. If the content conveys information that is critical to understanding the page's purpose, it is better to include it in the main document.

Accessibility support for CSS generated content – Tink Explanation of WCAG, Guideline 1.3 – MDN Understanding Success Criterion 1.3.1 | W3C Understanding WCAG 2.0

Formal definition

Initial value	normal
Applies to	All elements, tree-abiding pseudo-elements, and page margin boxes
Inherited	no
Computed value	On 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.
Animation type	discrete

Formal syntax

normal | none | [ <content-replacement> | <content-list> ] [/ [ <string> | <counter> ]+ ]?
where <content-replacement> = <image><content-list> = [ <string> | contents | <image> | <counter> | <quote> | <target> | <leader()> ]+<counter> = <counter()> | <counters()>
where <image> = <url> | <image()> | <image-set()> | <element()> | <paint()> | <cross-fade()> | <gradient><quote> = open-quote | close-quote | no-open-quote | no-close-quote<target> = <target-counter()> | <target-counters()> | <target-text()><leader()> = leader( <leader-type> )<counter()> = counter( <counter-name>, <counter-style>? )<counters()> = counters( <counter-name>, <string>, <counter-style>? )
where <image()> = image( <image-tags>? [ <image-src>? , <color>? ]! )<image-set()> = image-set( <image-set-option># )<element()> = element( <id-selector> )<paint()> = paint( <ident>, <declaration-value>? )<cross-fade()> = cross-fade( <cf-mixing-image> , <cf-final-image>? )<gradient> = <linear-gradient()> | <repeating-linear-gradient()> | <radial-gradient()> | <repeating-radial-gradient()> | <conic-gradient()><target-counter()> = target-counter( [ <string> | <url> ] , <custom-ident> , <counter-style>? )<target-counters()> = target-counters( [ <string> | <url> ] , <custom-ident> , <string> , <counter-style>? )<target-text()> = target-text( [ <string> | <url> ] , [ content | before | after | first-letter ]? )<leader-type> = dotted | solid | space | <string><counter-name> = <custom-ident><counter-style> = <counter-style-name> | symbols()
where <image-tags> = ltr | rtl<image-src> = <url> | <string><color> = <rgb()> | <rgba()> | <hsl()> | <hsla()> | <hwb()> | <hex-color> | <named-color> | currentcolor | <deprecated-system-color><image-set-option> = [ <image> | <string> ] [ <resolution> || type(<string>) ]<id-selector> = <hash-token><cf-mixing-image> = <percentage>? && <image><cf-final-image> = <image> | <color><linear-gradient()> = linear-gradient( [ <angle> | to <side-or-corner> ]? , <color-stop-list> )<repeating-linear-gradient()> = repeating-linear-gradient( [ <angle> | to <side-or-corner> ]? , <color-stop-list> )<radial-gradient()> = radial-gradient( [ <ending-shape> || <size> ]? [ at <position> ]? , <color-stop-list> )<repeating-radial-gradient()> = repeating-radial-gradient( [ <ending-shape> || <size> ]? [ at <position> ]? , <color-stop-list> )<conic-gradient()> = conic-gradient( [ from <angle> ]? [ at <position> ]?, <angular-color-stop-list> )<counter-style-name> = <custom-ident>
where <rgb()> = rgb( <percentage>{3} [ / <alpha-value> ]? ) | rgb( <number>{3} [ / <alpha-value> ]? ) | rgb( <percentage>#{3} , <alpha-value>? ) | rgb( <number>#{3} , <alpha-value>? )<rgba()> = rgba( <percentage>{3} [ / <alpha-value> ]? ) | rgba( <number>{3} [ / <alpha-value> ]? ) | rgba( <percentage>#{3} , <alpha-value>? ) | rgba( <number>#{3} , <alpha-value>? )<hsl()> = hsl( <hue> <percentage> <percentage> [ / <alpha-value> ]? ) | hsl( <hue>, <percentage>, <percentage>, <alpha-value>? )<hsla()> = hsla( <hue> <percentage> <percentage> [ / <alpha-value> ]? ) | hsla( <hue>, <percentage>, <percentage>, <alpha-value>? )<hwb()> = hwb( [<hue> | none] [<percentage> | none] [<percentage> | none] [ / [<alpha-value> | none] ]? )<side-or-corner> = [ left | right ] || [ top | bottom ]<color-stop-list> = [ <linear-color-stop> [, <linear-color-hint>]? ]# , <linear-color-stop><ending-shape> = circle | ellipse<size> = closest-side | farthest-side | closest-corner | farthest-corner | <length> | <length-percentage>{2}<position> = [ [ left | center | right ] || [ top | center | bottom ] | [ left | center | right | <length-percentage> ] [ top | center | bottom | <length-percentage> ]? | [ [ left | right ] <length-percentage> ] && [ [ top | bottom ] <length-percentage> ] ]<angular-color-stop-list> = [ <angular-color-stop> [, <angular-color-hint>]? ]# , <angular-color-stop>
where <alpha-value> = <number> | <percentage><hue> = <number> | <angle><linear-color-stop> = <color> <color-stop-length>?<linear-color-hint> = <length-percentage><length-percentage> = <length> | <percentage><angular-color-stop> = <color> && <color-stop-angle>?<angular-color-hint> = <angle-percentage>
where <color-stop-length> = <length-percentage>{1,2}<color-stop-angle> = <angle-percentage>{1,2}<angle-percentage> = <angle> | <percentage>

Examples

Headings and quotes

This example inserts quotation marks around quotes, and adds the word "Chapter" before headings.

HTML

<h1>5</h1> <p>According to Sir Tim Berners-Lee,   <q cite="http://www.w3.org/People/Berners-Lee/FAQ.html#Internet">I was     lucky enough to invent the Web at the time when the Internet     already existed - and had for a decade and a half.</q>   We must understand that there is nothing fundamentally wrong   with building on the contributions of others. </p>  <h1>6</h1> <p>According to the Mozilla Manifesto,   <q cite="http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/manifesto/">Individuals     must have the ability to shape the Internet and     their own experiences on the Internet.</q>   Therefore, we can infer that contributing to the open web   can protect our own individual experiences on it. </p> 

CSS

q {   color: blue; }  q::before {   content: open-quote; }  q::after {   content: close-quote; }  h1::before  {   content: "Chapter ";  /* The trailing space creates separation                            between the added content and the                            rest of the content */ } 

Result

Image combined with text

This example inserts an image before the link. If the image is not found, it inserts text instead.

HTML

<a href="https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/">Mozilla Home Page</a> 

CSS

a::before {   content: url("https://mozorg.cdn.mozilla.net/media/img/favicon.ico") / " MOZILLA: ";   font: x-small Arial, sans-serif;   color: gray; } 

Result

Targeting classes

This example inserts additional text after special items in a list.

HTML

<h2>Paperback Best Sellers</h2> <ol>   <li>Political Thriller</li>   <li class="new-entry">Halloween Stories</li>   <li>My Biography</li>   <li class="new-entry">Vampire Romance</li> </ol> 

CSS

.new-entry::after {   content: " New!";  /* The leading space creates separation                         between the added content and the                         rest of the content */   color: red; } 

Result

Images and element attributes

This example inserts an image before each link, and adds its id attribute after.

HTML

<ul>   <li><a id="moz" href="https://www.mozilla.org/">     Mozilla Home Page</a></li>   <li><a id="mdn" href="https://developer.mozilla.org/">     Mozilla Developer Network</a></li> </ul> 

CSS

a {   text-decoration: none;   border-bottom: 3px dotted navy; }  a::after {   content: " (" attr(id) ")"; }  #moz::before {   content: url("https://mozorg.cdn.mozilla.net/media/img/favicon.ico"); }  #mdn::before {   content: url("mdn-favicon16.png"); }  li {   margin: 1em; } 

Result

Element replacement

This example replaces an element's content with an image. You can replace the contents of an element with either a url() or an <image> value. Content added with ::before or ::after will not be generated as the contents of the element have been replaced.

HTML

<div id="replaced">Mozilla</div> 

CSS

#replaced {   content: url("mdn.svg"); }  #replaced::after { /* will not show if element replacement is supported */   content: " (" attr(id) ")"; } 

Result

Specifications

Specification
CSS Generated Content Module Level 3 # content-property

See also

Replaced elements ::after ::before ::marker quotes url() function

Last modified: Nov 7, 2021, by MDN contributors

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