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How to use the `:checked` pseudo-class for checkbox/radio button styling?
How to use the `:checked` pseudo-class for checkbox/radio button styling?
Jul 20, 2025 am 02:20 AM
Use the :checked pseudo-class to customize checkbox and radio button styles based on the selection state, but because native controls are difficult to beautify directly, they usually need to be implemented in combination with other selectors or custom visual elements. The basic usage is to directly apply:checked to input, such as: input[type="checkbox"]:checked { border-color: green; }, but the cross-browser effect is limited. A more reliable way is to hide the default input and build custom controls: 1. Hide the real input (input[type="checkbox"] { display: none; }); 2. Create custom visual elements (such as span.checkmark); 3. Use the :checked adjacent brother selector to change the style (input[type="checkbox"]:checked .checkmark { background-color: #4CAF50; }). The same applies to radio buttons. Only the HTML type is changed to radio, and ensure that the name attributes of the same group are consistent. Cross-browser tips include testing multiple platforms, avoiding relying on colors only, adding focus states, using transition effects with caution, and checking selector syntax, input state, and JavaScript interference.
When you want to style checkboxes or radio buttons based on their selection state, the :checked pseudo-class is your go-to tool. It applies styles when a checkbox or radio input is selected. But since those form elements are tricky to style directly, most of the time you'll end up using it in combination with other selectors or custom visuals.
Basic Usage of :checked
You can use :checked directly on the input element like this:
input[type="checkbox"]:checked {
border-color: green;
}However, styling native checkboxes and radios this way has limited effectiveness across browsers. A more reliable approach is to hide the default input and build a custom one using labels and sibling combiners.
Styling Custom Checkboxes and Radios
To create sylable checkboxes or radios, start by hiding the original input:
input[type="checkbox"] {
display: none;
}Then create a custom visual — often a span or label — that changes appear when the checkbox is checked. Here's how you might do it:
<label class="custom-checkbox"> <input type="checkbox" /> <span class="checkmark"></span> </label>
And the CSS:
.custom-checkbox .checkmark {
width: 20px;
height: 20px;
background-color: #eee;
display: inline-block;
vertical-align: middle;
}
input[type="checkbox"]:checked .checkmark {
background-color: #4CAF50;
} This uses the adjacent sibling selector ( ) to target the .checkmark whenever the checkbox is checked.
- Hide the real input
- Style a fake checkbox next to it
- Use
:checkedto change the fake box's look
It gives you full control over how the checkbox looks in both states.
Handling Radio Buttons the Same Way
Radio buttons work the same way. You structure HTML similarly and apply styles when they're checked. The main difference is the HTML type:
<label class="custom-radio"> <input type="radio" name="group" /> <span class="radiomark"></span> </label>
The CSS would follow a similar pattern:
input[type="radio"]:checked .radiomark {
background-color: #2196F3;
} Make sure all related radio buttons share the same name attribute so only one can be selected at a time — standard browser behavior still apply here.
Cross-Browser Tips and Gotchas
- Always test in multiple browsers — especially Safari vs Chrome/Firefox.
- Avoid relying solely on color to indicate state; add shapes or borders too.
- Don't forget focus states for accessibility.
- Use transitions sparingly — they can make toggling feel sluggish.
Also, if you're not seeing changes take effect:
- Double-check your selector syntax
- Make sure inputs aren't disabled or read-only
- Ensure there's no JavaScript interfering with the checked state
Basically that's it.
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