How can you make a button a different color when hovered over?

The method for changing a button's color on hover effectively utilizes a pseudo-class. By implementing the CSS rule button:hover { background-color: blue; }, a developer instructs the browser to apply a specific style (in this case, a blue background color) to the button element whenever it is hovered over by the cursor. This approach is vital because pseudo-classes specifically target the state changes of elements, allowing for dynamic styling based on user interaction.

Utilizing pseudo-classes ensures that the style reverts back once the hover state ends, maintaining the button's original properties when not being interacted with. This method aligns with best practices in CSS, promoting clean and efficient styling without the need for JavaScript or additional classes for simple styles related to hover effects.