The :empty
CSS pseudo-class represents any element that has no children. Children can be either element nodes or text (including whitespace). Comments, processing instructions, and CSS content
do not affect whether an element is considered empty.
Note: In Selectors Level 4 the :empty
pseudo-class was changed to act like :-moz-only-whitespace
, but no browser currently supports this yet.
/* Selects any <div> that contains no content */ div:empty { background: lime; }
Syntax
:empty
Examples
HTML
<div class="box"><!-- I will be lime. --></div> <div class="box">I will be pink.</div> <div class="box"> <!-- I will be pink in older browsers because of the whitespace around this comment. --> </div> <div class="box"> <p><!-- I will be pink in all browsers because of the non-collapsible whitespace and elements around this comment. --></p> </div>
CSS
body { display: flex; justify-content: space-around; }
.box { background: pink; height: 80px; width: 80px; } .box:empty { background: lime; }
Result
Accessibility concerns
Assistive technology such as screen readers cannot parse interactive content that is empty. All interactive content must have an accessible name, which is created by providing a text value for the interactive control's parent element (anchors, buttons, etc.). Accessible names expose the interactive control to the accessibility tree, an API that communicates information useful for assistive technologies.
The text that provides the interactive control's accessible name can be hidden using a combination of properties that remove it visually from the screen but keep it parseable by assistive technology. This is commonly used for buttons that rely solely on an icon to convey purpose.
- What is an accessible name? | The Paciello Group
- Hidden content for better a11y | Go Make Things
- MDN Understanding WCAG, Guideline 2.4 explanations
- Understanding Success Criterion 2.4.4 | W3C Understanding WCAG 2.0
Specifications
Specification | Status | Comment |
---|---|---|
Selectors Level 4 The definition of 'the :empty pseudo-class' in that specification. |
Working Draft | Changed to act like :-moz-only-whitespace . |
Selectors Level 3 The definition of 'the :empty pseudo-class' in that specification. |
Recommendation | Initial definition |
Browser compatibility
Desktop | Mobile | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
:empty | Chrome Full support 1 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support 1 | IE Full support 9 | Opera Full support 9.5 | Safari Full support 3.1 | WebView Android Full support 2 | Chrome Android Full support 18 | Firefox Android Full support 4 | Opera Android Full support 10.1 | Safari iOS Full support 3.1 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 |
Matches elements with whitespace | Chrome No support No | Edge No support No | Firefox
No support
No
| IE No support No | Opera No support No | Safari No support No | WebView Android No support No | Chrome Android No support No | Firefox Android No support No | 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
- See implementation notes.
- See implementation notes.
See also
:-moz-only-whitespace
– The prefixed implementation of the changes in Selectors Level 4:blank