How Can I Use Font Awesome Icons as CSS Content Correctly?

Using Font Awesome Icons as CSS Content

You express a desire to utilize Font Awesome icons as CSS content, as seen in the CSS code:

a:before {
    content: "<i class='fa...'...</i>";
}

However, you question if this is feasible due to the limitation of using HTML in content, suggesting images might be the only option. This article will address your concerns and provide practical solutions.

Understanding the Correct Method

In using Font Awesome icons as CSS content, the approach presented in the example is incorrect. To use them correctly, follow these steps:

1. Open the Font Awesome style sheet.
2. Locate the class of the icon you want to use.
3. Copy the content property under that class, including the Unicode entity.
4. Use it like this:

a:before {
    font-family: FontAwesome;
    content: "\f095";
}

For example, if you want to use the "phone" icon, you would copy the following content property:

content: "\f095";

And use it as shown above.

Demo:

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Additional Considerations:

• To prevent potential conflicts with other fonts, specify font-family as FontAwesome.
• If you want some space between the icon and text, set display: inline-block and use padding-right:

a:before {
    font-family: FontAwesome;
    content: "\f095";
    display: inline-block;
    padding-right: 3px;
    vertical-align: middle;
}

For FontAwesome 5 and above, use the updated syntax:

a:before {
   font-family: "Font Awesome 5 Free";
   content: "\f095";
   display: inline-block;
   padding-right: 3px;
   vertical-align: middle;
   font-weight: 900;
}

Hover Effects:

To change the icon on hover, use a separate selector and rules for the :hover action:

a:hover:before {
    content: "\f099";
}

Fixing Icon Nudging:

If the icon nudges due to varying sizes, set a fixed width on the base declaration:

a:before {
    /* Other properties here */
    width: 12px;
}

By following these updated guidelines, you can effectively use Font Awesome icons as CSS content to enhance the visual appeal of your web elements.

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