Can Inline CSS Utilize ::before and ::after Pseudo-Elements?

Inquiring whether inline CSS permits the deployment of ::before and ::after pseudo-elements is a valid question. This article delves into the specifics of answering this query.

Inline CSS and Pseudo-Elements

Inline CSS, residing directly within HTML elements, provides an alternative to CSS defined in an external stylesheet. While inline CSS serves its purpose, a limitation emerges when considering pseudo-elements.

Pseudo-elements, :before and :after, are integral features of CSS, facilitating the insertion of content before or after a given element. However, these pseudo-elements necessitate stylesheet declarations, as inline CSS cannot target them directly.

Implementating Pseudo-Elements with Stylesheets

To illustrate the implementation of ::before and ::after with stylesheets, refer to the following example:

td { 
    text-align: justify;
}
td::after { 
    content: "";
    display: inline-block;
    width: 100%;
}

In this example, the inline CSS property text-align: justify ensures justified text within the td element. Simultaneously, the ::after pseudo-element, defined in the stylesheet, injects an empty string, utilizing an inline-block that stretches across the width of the td element.