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@nathansmith
Created December 14, 2011 15:26
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Terse Font Icons
a[data-icon]:before,
span[data-icon]:before {
font-family: 'Icon Font Here';
content: attr(data-icon);
}
/*
This would also work, but other web developers might
yell at you about "performance" which may/not matter:
*/
*[data-icon]:before {
font-family: 'Icon Font Here';
content: attr(data-icon);
}
<!-- Assuming "+" is your font's Add icon -->
<a data-icon="+" href="...">
Add
</a>
<!-- Assuming "D" is your font's Delete icon -->
<span data-icon="D">
Delete
</span>
@ahmedelgabri
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Why not just use this without the "*"?

[data-icon]:before {
   font-family: 'Icon Font Here';
   content: attr(data-icon);
}

@nathansmith
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Author

If you want to save one byte by not having it in the stylesheet, go for it.

As far as browsers are concerned, it probably wouldn't matter either way.

I just had the star selector there for proper code highlighting.

Neither TextMate, nor Sublime Text 2, acknowledge attribute selectors without a preceding tag (or *).


TextMate screenshot:
http://cl.ly/1f333U2G3d2O3U0X2E2p

Sublime Text 2 screenshot:
http://cl.ly/1V3G1f3W132h0r3m0R0c

@ahmedelgabri
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Since browsers parse CSS selectors from right to left, I understand that it won't make a huge difference. Cause in both cases the browser will look for the attribute in all elements anyway.

I know about the highlight issue. I just thought you might have some other reason other than saving bytes or performance, that's why I asked.

@nathansmith
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Nope, no good reason, really. Just a cut-and-paste from my text editor. :)

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