In CSS, selectors are used to target specific HTML elements and apply styles to them. Understanding CSS selectors is crucial for building well-structured and maintainable stylesheets.

Class Selectors

One commonly used selector is the class selector. It allows you to target elements based on their class attribute. For example, to target all elements with the class highlight, you would use the selector .highlight. You can apply various styles to these elements by declaring rules in your CSS.

ID Selectors

Similar to class selectors, ID selectors target elements based on their ID attribute. However, there is an important difference: each ID should be unique within the HTML document. ID selectors are denoted by the # symbol. For example, to target an element with the ID header, you would use the selector #header.

Attribute Selectors

Attribute selectors allow you to target elements based on their attributes. For instance, if you want to select all input elements with the required attribute, you can use the selector input[required].

Specificity

Specificity refers to the order of importance in which styles are applied to elements. It determines which styles take precedence when multiple rules target the same element. Specificity is defined by the combination of selectors used in CSS rules. In general, a more specific selector will override a less specific one. Understanding specificity is crucial to avoid conflicts and apply styles correctly.

Remember, practice makes perfect! Keep experimenting with different selectors and styles to solidify your understanding of CSS specificity. Happy coding!