CSS Selector Types
Selectors tell the browser which HTML elements to style. They’re the foundation of every CSS rule.
🎯 Common CSS Selector Types
Selector Type | Example | Selects… |
---|---|---|
Universal | * | All elements |
Type (Element) | p | All <p> tags |
Class | .box | Elements with class="box" |
ID | #header | Element with id="header" |
Group | h1, h2, p | All <h1> , <h2> , and <p> |
Descendant | div p | All <p> inside <div> |
🔧 Syntax and Examples
1. Universal Selector
* {
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}
Resets margin and padding for all elements.
2. Type (Element) Selector
h1 {
font-size: 2rem;
}
Targets all <h1>
elements.
3. Class Selector
.card {
background: #f9f9f9;
}
Targets all elements with class="card"
.
4. ID Selector
#main {
width: 100%;
}
Targets the element with id="main"
.
5. Grouping Selector
h1, h2, h3 {
font-family: 'Arial';
}
Applies the same style to multiple elements.
6. Descendant Selector
nav a {
color: blue;
}
Targets all <a>
elements inside <nav>
.
🧠 Quick Tips
- Use classes for reusable styles.
- Use IDs sparingly (they must be unique per page).
- Prefer grouping to reduce repetition.
- Combine selectors for precise targeting.