[csswg-drafts] Suggest a better name for the `:interest-target` pseudo class (#12515)

mfreed7 has just created a new issue for https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts:

== Suggest a better name for the `:interest-target` pseudo class ==
We [resolved](https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/12154#issuecomment-3109288299) to add two pseudo classes for the [interest invokers API](https://open-ui.org/components/interest-invokers.explainer):

- `:interest-invoker` - matches an element with the `interestfor` attribute that currently "has interest".
- `:interest-target` - matches an element that is the target of an element with `interestfor`, while that invoker element "has interest".

To help the discussion, here's an example code snippet:

```
<a href=# interestfor=target id=invoker>Invoker</a>
<div popover id=target>Popover</div>
```

It was raised (see [1](https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/12154#issuecomment-3028501403) and [2](https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/12154#issuecomment-3028591124) for example) that the `:interest-target` name is a bit confusing. When you "show interest" in something, the "target" of your **interest** is that element. But also, when you say `interestfor=foo`, you could say that `#foo` is the target of the invoker. So it's ambiguous to use "target". If there's a better set of words that make this clear, that would be very helpful.

I did the modern thing and plugged this into an LLM and here's what it suggested. Perhaps one of these works better? The first one (`:interest-invoked`) isn't bad...

| Suggested Name | Pros | Cons |
| -------- | ------- | ------- | 
| `:interest-invoked` | Strong symmetry with :interest-invoker. Unambiguous.  | Less declarative, more procedural.
| `:of-interest`  | Very high readability, uses natural language. Conceptually pure.  | Asymmetrical pairing with :interest-invoker.
| `:interest-triggered`  | Clearly communicates cause-and-effect. Uses familiar UI term.  | "Trigger" might imply a more discrete action.
| `:interest-indicated`  | Accurately describes the link made by the interestfor attribute. |  More technical, less immediately obvious.

**Are there better suggestions?**

Please view or discuss this issue at https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/12515 using your GitHub account


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Received on Wednesday, 23 July 2025 16:34:47 UTC