Summary  
This chapter explains how to use the CSS :hover pseudo-class to apply dynamic style changes to elements when the mouse pointer hovers over them.  

General domain of usage  
Web user interfaces

Web elements can respond to user interaction. One of the most common interactions is hovering the mouse over an element.

In CSS, this is handled using the `:hover` pseudo-class.

## What Is `:hover`?

The `:hover` pseudo-class applies styles when the user places the mouse pointer over an element.

Basic syntax:
```css
selector:hover {
  property: value;
}
```
Example:

PCFET0NUWVBFIGh0bWw+CjxodG1sIGxhbmc9ImVuIj4KICA8aGVhZD4KICAgIDxsaW5rIHJlbD0ic3R5bGVzaGVldCIgaHJlZj0ic3R5bGVzLmNzcyIgLz4KICA8L2hlYWQ+CiAgPGJvZHk+CiAgICA8YnV0dG9uIGNsYXNzPSJwcmltYXJ5LWJ1dHRvbiI+Q2xpY2sgTWU8L2J1dHRvbj4KICAgIDxhIGhyZWY9IiMiIGNsYXNzPSJzdHlsZWQtbGluayI+TGVhcm4gTW9yZTwvYT4KICA8L2JvZHk+CjwvaHRtbD4=

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

When the user hovers over the button, the background color changes. When the cursor is over the link, the link becomes underlined.

`:hover` works on most HTML elements. It only activates when the pointer is over the element.

Note

## Why Hover Effects Matter

Hover effects improve the user experience, provide visual feedback, and make interfaces feel more interactive.

They are commonly used for links (`<a>`) and buttons, as well as navigation menus.

Master the essentials of CSS, the styling language that transforms the look and feel of web pages. Explore core concepts such as text styles, colors, spacing, the box model, Flexbox, and decorative effects. Build the skills to create visually engaging and well-structured web pages.

Understand how CSS connects to HTML and how styles are applied through selectors. Apply colors, text styling, and hover effects to control visual presentation.

Improve typography using line height, spacing, font properties, and custom fonts. Control font families, weight, style, and size for better readability.

Control layout structure using margin, padding, borders, and width properties. Understand box sizing behavior and element display types such as block, inline, and inline-block.

Control horizontal and vertical layouts using Flexbox properties. Adjust direction, alignment, and spacing to structure UI components.

Enhance layouts using background colors, images, pseudo-elements, and shadows. Style visual components for depth and contrast.

Adding Hover Effects

What Is :hover?

Why Hover Effects Matter

What Is `:hover`?