CSS: Adjust Image Height in :before/:after Pseudo-Elements?

Adjusting Image Height in :before/:after Pseudo-Elements with CSS

When using the :before or :after pseudo-elements in CSS, it is possible to insert an image onto the page. However, adjusting the height of the image can be a bit tricky.

One option is to use the background-image property instead of the content property. This allows for more control over the image size and position.

<style>
  .example::before {
    content: "";
    background-image: url('example.jpg');
    background-size: contain;
    background-repeat: no-repeat;
    height: 50px;
    width: 50px;
    display: inline-block;
  }
</style>

<p>Here is an example:</p>
<p><span class="example"></span>Some text</p>

In the example code above, the background-size property is set to contain, which scales the image to fit inside the element without stretching it. The height and width properties are also set to specific values to control the size of the image. Finally, the display property is set to inline-block to allow the element to be positioned correctly with the text.

Another option is to wrap the image in a container element and adjust the height of the container. This can be useful if you need to adjust the height of multiple images without affecting their aspect ratios.

<style>
  .example {
    position: relative;
  }
  .example img {
    position: absolute;
    top: 0;
    bottom: 0;
    left: 0;
    right: 0;
    margin: auto;
    max-height: 50px;
  }
</style>

<p>Here is another example:</p>
<div class="example">
  <img src="example.jpg" alt="Example">
</div>

In this example code, the max-height property is set on the img element to limit its height. The position: absolute; and margin: auto; properties are used to center the image within the container. This technique can be used to adjust the height of multiple images by adjusting the height of the container element.

In conclusion, adjusting the height of an image in the :before or :after pseudo-elements can be accomplished in a couple of ways with CSS. The background-image property can be used to insert the image and control its size, or the image can be wrapped in a container element and its height adjusted with CSS.