CSS Selector Multiple Attributes: A Comprehensive Guide

Author

Reads 192

Close-up view of colorful CSS and HTML code displayed on a dark computer screen.
Credit: pexels.com, Close-up view of colorful CSS and HTML code displayed on a dark computer screen.

Using multiple attributes in CSS selectors can help you target specific elements on a web page with more precision. This is especially useful when you need to style elements that have multiple classes or IDs.

For example, let's say you have a button with a class of "btn" and an ID of "submit-btn". You can use the CSS selector `#submit-btn.btn` to target this specific button.

The order of the attributes in the selector doesn't matter, so you can also use `.btn#submit-btn` to achieve the same result.

Combining Selectors

Combinators allow you to combine two elements based on the relationship between the elements and their location in the document. There are four types of combinators: the descendant combinator, the direct child combinator, the general sibling combinator, and the adjacent sibling combinator.

To select the p elements that are siblings of the div element, you would use the general sibling combinator. You can also group any valid selector in a group, and all elements in the document that match all the grouped elements will have the same style based on that style property.

On a similar theme: Css Selector for First Sibling

Credit: youtube.com, Combining and Chaining CSS Selectors

Any selector can be grouped, and you can place them in a group using commas to separate them. For example, you can combine styles separated by commas into one style property in one line of code, or you can list the styles on individual lines for clarity.

Here are the four types of combinators:

  • The descendant combinator.
  • The direct child combinator.
  • The general sibling combinator.
  • The adjacent sibling combinator

By using these combinators, you can create more specific and complex selectors that target specific elements on your webpage.

Combinators

Combinators are a powerful tool in CSS that allow you to combine two elements based on their relationship in the document.

You can think of them as a way to explain the relationship between two simple selectors. There are four types of combinators that you can use to achieve this.

The descendant combinator is one of the four types of combinators. It's used to select elements that are descendants of another element.

The direct child combinator is another type of combinator. It's used to select elements that are direct children of another element.

A fresh viewpoint: Tailwind Css Select

Credit: youtube.com, Learn CSS combinators in 4 minutes! ➕

The general sibling combinator is used to select elements that are siblings of another element, but not necessarily next to each other.

The adjacent sibling combinator is used to select elements that are next to each other, and are siblings of another element.

Here are the four types of combinators in a list:

  • Descendant combinator
  • Direct child combinator
  • General sibling combinator
  • Adjacent sibling combinator

To select the p elements that are siblings of the div element, you would use the general sibling combinator.

Groups of

Groups of CSS Selectors can be combined using a comma-separated list. This allows you to apply the same style to multiple selectors.

You can group any number of CSS selectors, including single words and compound selectors. For example, you can combine a class selector with an ID selector.

This style applies to any paragraph with the class attribute of red and any element with an ID attribute of sub. You can also group selectors that are single words.

The appearance of the website and the load speed remain the same, whether you list the grouped elements on separate lines for legibility or combine them into one line of code.

Here are some examples of grouped selectors:

  • p, div
  • .red, #sub
  • p, .red, #sub, a:hover

Attribute Selectors

Credit: youtube.com, Attribute Selectors in detail - CSS Tutorial

Attribute selectors are a powerful way to select HTML elements based on the presence of an attribute or a specific attribute value.

You can use attribute selectors to match results similar to regex by leveraging CSS attribute selectors, which is exceptionally useful for modifying BEM styled systems or other frameworks that use related class names but perhaps not a single common class name.

Attribute selectors can also help enforce accessibility if they are used as the only selector, making the absence of the attribute prevent the associated styling, which is a great way to implement accessibility features.

The :focus selector is used for inputs as well as links, and it can be used to style elements when they receive focus.

For another approach, see: Css Selector the Last 2 Child Elements

Class and ID

Class and ID selectors are fundamental to CSS, and understanding how they work will help you write more efficient and effective code.

A class selector is denoted with a period . followed by the class name, and it can be reused to apply the same styles to multiple elements.

Credit: youtube.com, CSS Selectors - id, class, attributes, combinators, pseudo class, pseudo element and more

Class selectors are great for styling multiple elements at once without copying and pasting the same styles for each one separately. This is especially useful for practicing DRY development, which aims to avoid writing repetitive code.

ID selectors, on the other hand, are denoted with a hash sign # followed by the id name, and they should be unique to only one element.

The most specific selector type is the ID selector, followed by class selectors, followed by type selectors. This means that if there are multiple conflicting property values that point to the same element, the ID selector will win out.

Here's a quick rundown of the hierarchy of specificity:

  • ID selector (#id)
  • Class selector (.class)
  • Type selector (element name)

By understanding how class and ID selectors work, you'll be able to write more targeted and efficient CSS code that will make your website look great.

Attribute Selector

The Attribute Selector is a powerful tool in CSS that allows you to select HTML elements based on the presence of an attribute or a specific attribute value.

Credit: youtube.com, Attribute Selectors in detail - CSS Tutorial

You can use the syntax [attribute^="value"] to select elements where the attribute value starts with a specific character, like selecting a elements with an attr attribute value that starts with www.

For example, if you wanted to select a elements with an attr attribute value that starts with www, you would do the following: a[attr^="www"].

You can also use the syntax [attribute*="value"] to select elements where the attribute value contains a specific substring, like selecting a elements with an attr attribute value that contains the string free.

This selector will select a elements with an attr attribute value that contains the string free, even if it's just a substring, such as freeCodeCamp or freediving.

The Attribute Selector is not limited to just attribute values, you can also check if an attribute is present, like selecting all elements that have a class value.

You can use the syntax [attribute] to check if an attribute is present, like selecting all a elements that have any class value: a[class].

To make the match case insensitive, you can include i prior to closing the attribute selector, like selecting all elements with a class that contains the string of "component_", regardless of case.

If this caught your attention, see: Css Selector Select Child of Parent

Attach to Aria for Accessibility

Credit: youtube.com, How to make accessible logo, part 2 of 4. aria-current attribute

Attribute selectors can also be used to enforce accessibility by attaching to required aria attributes. This is a great way to ensure that certain styles are applied only when specific conditions are met.

Using attribute selectors as the only selector can prevent the associated styling from being applied if the attribute is missing. For example, attaching to aria attributes can make the absence of the attribute prevent the associated styling.

One way to do this is by attaching to aria attributes like aria-expanded. This attribute is often used in accordion interactions to indicate whether the content is open or closed.

Broaden your view: Css Svg Styling

Pseudo-Class for Inputs

Inputs can be selected using the :focus selector, just like links.

The :required selector is used to select inputs that have the required attribute.

Inputs that are disabled have the disabled attribute and are selected by the :disabled selector.

Many browsers style disabled inputs with a faded-out gray color by default.

The :checked selector selects checkboxes or radio buttons that have been checked.

See what others are reading: Css Disabled Selector

Rule Sets

Credit: youtube.com, CSS Attribute Selectors

A CSS rule set is the main building block of a CSS sheet. It's made up of one or more selectors and one or more declarations.

The selector(s) in a rule set points to an HTML element, such as h1 in our example. This is how CSS knows which element to apply the styles to.

A declaration in a rule set styles the element with a property and value, like color: blue and text-align: center. This is where the magic happens, and your web page starts to look the way you want it to.

The combination of selectors and declarations in a rule set is what makes CSS so powerful and flexible. By using different selectors and declarations, you can create complex and nuanced styles for your web page.

Pseudo-Class and Specificity

Pseudo-class selectors have a specificity of 0, just like type selectors. They don't add to the overall specificity of a selector.

Credit: youtube.com, The new CSS pseudo-classes explained - :is() :where() :has()

In the example of CSS specificity and the cascade, it's mentioned that directly targeted elements will always take precedence over rules which an element inherits from its ancestor. This is important to keep in mind when using pseudo-class selectors.

The specificity of a selector is determined by the number of each selector type in the matching selector. Pseudo-class selectors don't change this, so you can still use them to target specific elements without increasing the specificity too much.

Increasing specificity can override inheritance from the cascade, which is something to be aware of when using pseudo-class selectors.

Grouping and Styling

You can match multiple CSS selectors to the same rule using a comma-separated list, like in the example where both h1 and h2 elements have their text set to red.

The comma in CSS selectors means "and", so it's essential to include it when grouping selectors, as seen in the example where p and div elements are targeted.

Credit: youtube.com, #7 Grouping Multiple Selectors

Any form of selector can be grouped with any other selector, making it easy to combine different types of selectors, such as class and ID selectors, as shown in the example where a paragraph with the class attribute of red and an element with an ID attribute of sub are targeted.

You can group any number of CSS selectors, including single words and compound selectors, which can be seen in the example where four different selectors are combined.

Here's a breakdown of the types of selectors that can be grouped:

  • Class selectors (e.g., .red)
  • ID selectors (e.g., #sub)
  • Single word selectors (e.g., p)
  • Compound selectors (e.g., ul li)

Grouped selectors can be listed on separate lines for legibility or combined into one line, as shown in the example where the styles are separated by commas or listed individually.

Ann Predovic

Lead Writer

Ann Predovic is a seasoned writer with a passion for crafting informative and engaging content. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for research, she has established herself as a go-to expert in various fields, including technology and software. Her writing career has taken her down a path of exploring complex topics, making them accessible to a broad audience.

Love What You Read? Stay Updated!

Join our community for insights, tips, and more.