Why Don\'t Input Elements Support ::before and ::after Pseudo-Elements?

Unraveling the Puzzle: Why Input Elements Lack ::before and ::after Pseudo-Elements

In an endeavor to enhance default styling for HTML5 input elements, a common issue arises where ::after pseudo-elements fail to render content. Despite numerous attempts and testing across various browsers, the desired visual enhancements remain elusive.

This peculiar behavior has sparked curiosity: why do browsers unanimously dismiss ::after pseudo-elements on input elements? A thorough examination of the CSS specification reveals a crucial detail. According to the CSS21 specification, ::after only applies to elements that possess document tree content. Input elements, along with elements like images and line breaks, do not contain such content, rendering the use of ::after ineffective.

Therefore, the answer lies in the nature of input elements. Unlike elements such as paragraphs or spans that carry textual content, input elements primarily facilitate user interaction and lack content for display purposes. This inherent characteristic prevents the utilization of ::before and ::after pseudo-elements on input elements.

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