How Can I Modify CSS :after Pseudo-elements with jQuery?

Manipulating Pseudo-Elements with jQuery: Accessing the ":after" Selector

Modifying CSS pseudo-elements such as ":after" can present challenges in jQuery. While changing their properties directly is not possible, alternative approaches exist.

Understanding the Limitations

":after" elements are not part of the standard DOM, making them inaccessible by JavaScript. Therefore, attempting to modify their styles using selectors like:

$('.pageMenu .active:after').css(...)

will not work.

Workaround Using Dynamic Classes

One workaround is to dynamically add a new class with modified styles to the element. For instance:

CSS:

.pageMenu .active.changed:after { 
/* this selector is more specific, so it takes precedence over the other :after */
    border-top-width: 22px;
    border-left-width: 22px;
    border-right-width: 22px;
}

JS:

$('.pageMenu .active').toggleClass('changed');

This method adds the "changed" class, which overrides the original ":after" styles with the modified widths.

Alternative Techniques

In addition to the dynamic class workaround, various techniques exist to read or modify pseudo-element styles using JavaScript. Refer to:

"Manipulating CSS pseudo-elements using jQuery (e.g. :before and :after)" for a comprehensive guide.

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