Why Don't CSS `:before` and `:after` Pseudo-elements Work with `` Elements?

Pseudo Elements and Image Elements: A Compatibility Dilemma

In the realm of CSS, pseudo elements such as :before and :after are widely utilized to enhance the visual appearance of elements on a webpage. However, when it comes to image elements (), these pseudo elements seem to draw a blank, raising the question: why don't they work with img elements?

Technical Explanation

The reason lies within the CSS specification itself. The official documentation explicitly states that "This specification does not fully define the interaction of ::before and ::after with replaced elements (such as IMG in HTML)." In other words, the behavior of pseudo elements when applied to replaced elements, such as images, is not fully specified in the current standard. This ambiguity leaves room for browser inconsistencies and lack of support.

Current Browser Support

As a result of this unspecified behavior, major browsers like Chrome and Firefox have chosen not to support pseudo elements with img elements. This means that even if you meticulously craft your CSS to include :before or :after to an image, the effect will not be visible.

Possible Solutions

While there is currently no official way to force pseudo elements to work with img elements, there are a few workarounds you can explore:

• Wrap the image in a container element: Wrap the image in a
  or element and apply pseudo elements to the container instead of the image itself.
• Use CSS filters: Employ CSS filters such as box-shadow or brightness to achieve similar visual effects as pseudo elements.

Future Outlook

According to the CSS specification, the full definition of pseudo element interaction with replaced elements will be outlined in a future specification. This may potentially open the door for future support of :before and :after with img elements. However, until then, these workarounds remain the most practical approach when seeking similar functionality for images.