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w l
2,797 PointsWhat do you mean by virtual elements?
What do you mean when you say 'virtual elements' that are not defined in the markup and do not appear in the source code?
3 Answers
Katsumi Suno
4,194 PointsThe easiest way I explain it to myself:
"Virtual" basically means "not actually existing". So a virtual element doesn't really exist or isn't actually present which is true because:
::first-letter or ::first-line isn't a element like "p" or "div", you can't find a "first-letter"-tag in the html document. But you can select it just like as it would be an element hence a virtual element.
Or in short: first-letter is a selector that acts like it would target an element but the said element isn't defined in the html-code.
Juan de Elena O'Shea
4,757 PointsHello!
I believe that the best way to get your head around pseudo classes is to use them a bit (I am still struggling myself :)).
But you will see as you use them that you do not need to point to anything in the html.
Cheers!
w l
2,797 PointsThank you for the answer, yes, this CSS gets pretty confusing, so many terms and things to learn.
Dave Lawlor
2,732 PointsDave Lawlor
2,732 PointsHi wl
One way to look at the meaning of a "virtual element"........
One definition for the word virtual is: "temporarily simulated or extended by computer software".
The term virtual is widely used when describing the use of "virtual machines" in computer networks - software is used to create a desktop environment in a virtual way, the user is unaware that the environment they see and use on their screen is completely software generated.
Here the pseudo elements, first line and first letter, are being used to produce and allow the modification of new, "virtual" elements for which there are no "actual" tags that relate to those parts of the html code.
Hope that helps.