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.
