The :focus selector in CSS is one of those unique features that often goes unnoticed, but its power and importance cannot be overstated. This selector is used when an element, like an input field in a form, is selected by the user. Imagine you’re completing a form and after clicking or using the keyboard on a field, a colored border appears around that field. This is precisely what the :focus state does, which is usually utilized to enhance user experience and improve UI design.
Now, you might wonder why this feature is important; the answer is quite simple. When a user is navigating your site, these visual cues help them to identify where they can click and subsequently select things. So, if we want to put it simply, this selector serves as a kind of user guidance to enable faster and easier navigation through your website.
Another important usage of :focus, but this time regarding accessibility. Individuals who may have visual impairments or slight blindness can find it easier to navigate the web using a keyboard with this selector, rather than just using a mouse. This attention to accessibility can offer a greater user satisfaction and attract new users.
For example, consider a simple instance where we can use :focus to create a distinct and appealing design. Suppose we want to enhance a text input field, when focused, the border color changes and a small animation is added.
input[type="text"] {
border: 2px solid #ccc;
padding: 10px;
transition: border-color 0.3s ease-in-out;
}
input[type="text"]:focus {
border-color: #3399ff;
}
In the code above, we create a simple style that showcases how a border can be added around input fields when focused. The transition property enhances the visual effect as the color changes smoothly.
input[type="text"]: This selector targets all text input fields.
border: 2px solid #ccc;: A gray border is applied to all text input fields.
padding: 10px;: Internal padding is given to the input fields so the text does not touch the edges.
transition: border-color 0.3s ease-in-out;: This feature allows for a smooth color change of the border during focus.
:focus: This part refers to the state when the element is selected and the focus is applied to it.
border-color: #3399ff;: The border color changes to blue when focused.