CSS ::first-line Selector

Posted in CSS Tutorial

Updated on Oct 07, 2024

By Mari Selvan

👁️ 22 - Views

⏳ 4 mins

💬 1 Comment

Photo Credit to CodeToFun

🙋 Introduction

The ::first-line selector in CSS is a pseudo-element used to apply styles specifically to the first line of a block-level element.

It allows you to enhance the appearance of the initial line of text, making it stand out and improving readability or design aesthetics.

This selector is commonly used in paragraphs and other block-level content.

💡 Syntax

The signature of the ::first-line Selector is as follows:

Syntax

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selector::first-line {
    /* CSS properties */
}

You can use the ::first-line pseudo-element on any block-level container, such as <p>, <div>, <article>, etc., to style the first line of text.

📝 Example

Here is an example demonstrating the use of the ::first-line selector:

☠️ HTML

HTML

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<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>CSS ::first-line Selector Example</title>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="styles.css">
</head>
<body>
    <p>
        The CSS `::first-line` pseudo-element applies unique styling to the first line of a block-level element. This allows for special text effects that are limited to the first line, making it visually distinctive.
    </p>
</body>
</html>

🎨 CSS

CSS

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/* Style for the first line of a paragraph */
p::first-line {
    font-weight: bold;
    color: blue;
    font-size: 1.2em;
}

In this example, the first line of the paragraph is styled to be bold, blue, and slightly larger than the rest of the text. This draws attention to the opening sentence.

💬 Usage Tips

The ::first-line pseudo-element only affects the visual styling of the first line of text. Once the text wraps, subsequent lines are not impacted.
Only certain CSS properties can be applied to the ::first-line pseudo-element. These include:
- font properties (e.g., font-weight, font-style, font-size)
- color
- background-color
- text-decoration
- letter-spacing and word-spacing
- text-transform
You cannot use properties like padding, margin, border, or float on ::first-line.

⚠️ Common Pitfalls

Text Wrapping: Since the ::first-line pseudo-element affects the first line only, the length of the first line depends on the container's width. Be mindful that different screen sizes or font settings may result in different portions of text being styled.
Unsupported Properties: Trying to apply unsupported properties like margin or padding to ::first-line will have no effect, as this pseudo-element only supports a limited set of styling properties.
Browser Compatibility: Ensure you test across multiple devices and browsers. Although the ::first-line pseudo-element is widely supported, older browsers or certain mobile browsers may not handle it consistently.

🎉 Conclusion

The ::first-line pseudo-element is a useful tool for styling the first line of text in block-level elements, allowing you to emphasize the opening statement of your content.

By using this pseudo-element effectively, you can create engaging visual designs that guide users through your text more seamlessly. Keep in mind the limitations in the properties you can use and be aware of how varying screen sizes affect the length of the first line.