How can I set CSS only for specific IE browsers?

Question

I have a CSS/jQuery Checkbox style script: http://jsfiddle.net/BwaCD/

The problem is, in current browsers in order for the span to float over the input, the input's position must be absolute. But in IE8 & below, the script will not work and therefore I'm left with and absolutely positioned input that is just floating over other elements. I am not asking for the script to work in IE8 & below.

I want to know how I can use CSS to set a specific style if it is IE8 and below. I guess jQuery would be acceptable if it's necessary, but I don't think it is. I know this can be done with just CSS & HTML I just don't know how.

Answer 1

Conditional comments would work (<!--[if lte IE 8]><stylesheet><![endif]-->), but if you want to do it all in the stylesheet, there is a way:

body {  
    color: red; /* all browsers, of course */  
    color: green\9; /* IE only */  
}

The important thing here is the "\9", which has to be exactly "\9". I'm not clear on exactly why this is.

EDIT: The \9 hack isn't enough by itself. To exclude IE9, you also need the :root hack:

:root body {
    color: red\9; /* IE9 only */  
}

Other browsers besides IE might support :root, so combine it with the \9 hack if you're using it to target IE9.