Web/API/CSSPseudoElement/element

This is an experimental technologyCheck the Browser compatibility table carefully before using this in production.

The element read-only property of the CSSPseudoElement interface returns a reference to the originating element of the pseudo-element, in other words its parent element.

Syntax

var originatingElement = cssPseudoElement.element;

Value

An Element representing the pseudo-element's originating element.

Examples

The example below demonstrates the relationship between CSSPseudoElement.element and Element.pseudo():

const myElement = document.querySelector('q');
const cssPseudoElement = myElement.pseudo('::after');
const originatingElement = cssPseudoElement.element;

console.log(myElement === originatingElement);                  // Outputs true
console.log(myElement.parentElement === originatingElement);    // Outputs false
console.log(myElement.lastElementChild === cssPseudoElement);   // Outputs false
console.log(myElement.lastChild === cssPseudoElement);          // Outputs false
console.log(myElement.nextElementSibling === cssPseudoElement); // Outputs false
console.log(myElement.nextSibling === cssPseudoElement);        // Outputs false

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Pseudo-Elements Level 4The definition of 'element' in that specification.	Working Draft	Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
`element` Experimental'	Chrome No support No	Edge No support No	Firefox Full support 75 Disabled' Full support 75 Disabled' Disabled' From version 75: this feature is behind the `dom.css_pseudo_element.enabled` preference. To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config. No support 67 — 75 Disabled' Disabled' From version 67 until version 75 (exclusive): this feature is behind the `dom.animations-api.getAnimations.enabled` preference. To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config. No support 63 — 67 Alternate Name' Disabled' Alternate Name' Uses the non-standard name: `parentElement` Disabled' From version 63 until version 67 (exclusive): this feature is behind the `dom.animations-api.getAnimations.enabled` preference. To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config. No support 47 — 63 Alternate Name' Disabled' Alternate Name' Uses the non-standard name: `parentElement` Disabled' From version 47 until version 63 (exclusive): this feature is behind the `dom.animations-api.core.enabled` preference. To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.	IE No support No	Opera No support No	Safari No support No	WebView Android No support No	Chrome Android No support No	Firefox Android Full support 67 Disabled' Full support 67 Disabled' Disabled' From version 67: this feature is behind the `dom.animations-api.getAnimations.enabled` preference. To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config. No support 63 — 67 Alternate Name' Disabled' Alternate Name' Uses the non-standard name: `parentElement` Disabled' From version 63 until version 67 (exclusive): this feature is behind the `dom.animations-api.getAnimations.enabled` preference. To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config. No support 47 — 63 Alternate Name' Disabled' Alternate Name' Uses the non-standard name: `parentElement` Disabled' From version 47 until version 63 (exclusive): this feature is behind the `dom.animations-api.core.enabled` preference. To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.	Opera Android No support No	Safari iOS No support No	Samsung Internet Android No support No

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.': Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.
User must explicitly enable this feature.': User must explicitly enable this feature.
Uses a non-standard name.': Uses a non-standard name.