CSS Selectors Reference
A complete guide to CSS selectors with interactive examples
CSS Selectors
CSS selectors are used to choose which HTML elements you want to style.
There are five main types:
- Simple selectors – select elements by their name (like
<p>),id, or class. - Combinator selectors – select elements based on how they are related (like a child inside a parent).
- Pseudo-class selectors – select elements in a special state (like when a link is hovered).
- Pseudo-element selectors – select a part of an element (like the first letter of a paragraph).
- Attribute selectors – select elements based on their attributes (like an input with
type="text").
CSS Selectors Quick Reference
| Selector | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|
| element | p | Selects all <p> elements |
| .class | .intro | Selects all elements with class="intro" |
| #id | #firstname | Selects the element with id="firstname" |
| * | * | Selects all elements |
| element,element | div, p | Selects all <div> and <p> elements |
| element element | div p | Selects all <p> elements inside <div> elements |
| element>element | div > p | Selects all <p> where parent is <div> |
| element+element | div + p | Selects <p> immediately after <div> |
| element1~element2 | p ~ ul | Selects every <ul> preceded by <p> |
| [attribute] | [target] | Selects elements with target attribute |
| [attribute=value] | [target=_blank] | Selects elements with target="_blank" |
| [attribute~=value] | [title~=flower] | Selects elements with title containing "flower" |
| [attribute|=value] | [lang|=en] | Selects elements with lang attribute equal to "en" or starting with "en-" |
| [attribute^=value] | a[href^="https"] | Selects elements whose href attribute value begins with "https" |
| [attribute$=value] | a[href$=".pdf"] | Selects elements whose href attribute value ends with ".pdf" |
| [attribute*=value] | a[href*="chillucoder"] | Selects elements whose href attribute value contains "chillucoder" |
| :active | a:active | Selects the active link |
| :checked | input:checked | Selects checked input elements |
| :disabled | input:disabled | Selects disabled input elements |
| :empty | p:empty | Selects every <p> with no children |
| :enabled | input:enabled | Selects enabled input elements |
| :first-child | p:first-child | Selects every <p> that is first child |
| :first-of-type | p:first-of-type | Selects every <p> that is first of its type |
| :focus | input:focus | Selects input element with focus |
| :hover | a:hover | Selects links on mouse over |
| :last-child | p:last-child | Selects every <p> that is last child |
| :last-of-type | p:last-of-type | Selects every <p> that is last of its type |
| :not(selector) | :not(p) | Selects every element that is not <p> |
| :nth-child(n) | p:nth-child(2) | Selects every <p> that is second child |
| :nth-last-child(n) | p:nth-last-child(2) | Selects every <p> that is second child from last |
| :nth-last-of-type(n) | p:nth-last-of-type(2) | Selects every <p> that is second of its type from last |
| :nth-of-type(n) | p:nth-of-type(2) | Selects every <p> that is second of its type |
| :only-of-type | p:only-of-type | Selects every <p> that is only of its type |
| :only-child | p:only-child | Selects every <p> that is only child |
| :optional | input:optional | Selects input elements with no "required" attribute |
| :required | input:required | Selects input elements with "required" attribute |
| :root | :root | Selects the document's root element |
| ::selection | ::selection | Selects portion of element selected by user |
| :target | #news:target | Selects current active #news element |
| :valid | input:valid | Selects input elements with valid value |
| :invalid | input:invalid | Selects input elements with invalid value |
CSS Selectors Quick Reference
| Selector | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|
| element | p | Selects all <p> elements |
| .class | .intro | Selects all elements with class="intro" |
| #id | #firstname | Selects the element with id="firstname" |
| * | * | Selects all elements |
| element,element | div, p | Selects all <div> and <p> elements |
| element element | div p | Selects all <p> elements inside <div> elements |
| element>element | div > p | Selects all <p> where parent is <div> |
| element+element | div + p | Selects <p> immediately after <div> |
| element1~element2 | p ~ ul | Selects every <ul> preceded by <p> |
| [attribute] | [target] | Selects elements with target attribute |
| [attribute=value] | [target=_blank] | Selects elements with target="_blank" |
| [attribute~=value] | [title~=flower] | Selects elements with title containing "flower" |
| [attribute|=value] | [lang|=en] | Selects elements with lang attribute equal to "en" or starting with "en-" |
| [attribute^=value] | a[href^="https"] | Selects elements whose href attribute value begins with "https" |
| [attribute$=value] | a[href$=".pdf"] | Selects elements whose href attribute value ends with ".pdf" |
| [attribute*=value] | a[href*="chillucoder"] | Selects elements whose href attribute value contains "chillucoder" |
| :active | a:active | Selects the active link |
| :checked | input:checked | Selects checked input elements |
| :disabled | input:disabled | Selects disabled input elements |
| :empty | p:empty | Selects every <p> with no children |
| :enabled | input:enabled | Selects enabled input elements |
| :first-child | p:first-child | Selects every <p> that is first child |
| :first-of-type | p:first-of-type | Selects every <p> that is first of its type |
| :focus | input:focus | Selects input element with focus |
| :hover | a:hover | Selects links on mouse over |
| :last-child | p:last-child | Selects every <p> that is last child |
| :last-of-type | p:last-of-type | Selects every <p> that is last of its type |
| :not(selector) | :not(p) | Selects every element that is not <p> |
| :nth-child(n) | p:nth-child(2) | Selects every <p> that is second child |
| :nth-last-child(n) | p:nth-last-child(2) | Selects every <p> that is second child from last |
| :nth-last-of-type(n) | p:nth-last-of-type(2) | Selects every <p> that is second of its type from last |
| :nth-of-type(n) | p:nth-of-type(2) | Selects every <p> that is second of its type |
| :only-of-type | p:only-of-type | Selects every <p> that is only of its type |
| :only-child | p:only-child | Selects every <p> that is only child |
| :optional | input:optional | Selects input elements with no "required" attribute |
| :required | input:required | Selects input elements with "required" attribute |
| :root | :root | Selects the document's root element |
| ::selection | ::selection | Selects portion of element selected by user |
| :target | #news:target | Selects current active #news element |
| :valid | input:valid | Selects input elements with valid value |
| :invalid | input:invalid | Selects input elements with invalid value |
CSS Selectors Quick Reference
| Selector | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|
| element | p | Selects all <p> elements |
| .class | .intro | Selects all elements with class="intro" |
| #id | #firstname | Selects the element with id="firstname" |
| * | * | Selects all elements |
| element,element | div, p | Selects all <div> and <p> elements |
| element element | div p | Selects all <p> elements inside <div> elements |
| element>element | div > p | Selects all <p> where parent is <div> |
| element+element | div + p | Selects <p> immediately after <div> |
| element1~element2 | p ~ ul | Selects every <ul> preceded by <p> |
| [attribute] | [target] | Selects elements with target attribute |
| [attribute=value] | [target=_blank] | Selects elements with target="_blank" |
| [attribute~=value] | [title~=flower] | Selects elements with title containing "flower" |
| [attribute|=value] | [lang|=en] | Selects elements with lang attribute equal to "en" or starting with "en-" |
| [attribute^=value] | a[href^="https"] | Selects elements whose href attribute value begins with "https" |
| [attribute$=value] | a[href$=".pdf"] | Selects elements whose href attribute value ends with ".pdf" |
| [attribute*=value] | a[href*="chillucoder"] | Selects elements whose href attribute value contains "chillucoder" |
| :active | a:active | Selects the active link |
| :checked | input:checked | Selects checked input elements |
| :disabled | input:disabled | Selects disabled input elements |
| :empty | p:empty | Selects every <p> with no children |
| :enabled | input:enabled | Selects enabled input elements |
| :first-child | p:first-child | Selects every <p> that is first child |
| :first-of-type | p:first-of-type | Selects every <p> that is first of its type |
| :focus | input:focus | Selects input element with focus |
| :hover | a:hover | Selects links on mouse over |
| :last-child | p:last-child | Selects every <p> that is last child |
| :last-of-type | p:last-of-type | Selects every <p> that is last of its type |
| :not(selector) | :not(p) | Selects every element that is not <p> |
| :nth-child(n) | p:nth-child(2) | Selects every <p> that is second child |
| :nth-last-child(n) | p:nth-last-child(2) | Selects every <p> that is second child from last |
| :nth-last-of-type(n) | p:nth-last-of-type(2) | Selects every <p> that is second of its type from last |
| :nth-of-type(n) | p:nth-of-type(2) | Selects every <p> that is second of its type |
| :only-of-type | p:only-of-type | Selects every <p> that is only of its type |
| :only-child | p:only-child | Selects every <p> that is only child |
| :optional | input:optional | Selects input elements with no "required" attribute |
| :required | input:required | Selects input elements with "required" attribute |
| :root | :root | Selects the document"s root element |
| ::selection | ::selection | Selects portion of element selected by user |
| :target | #news:target | Selects current active #news element |
| :valid | input:valid | Selects input elements with valid value |
| :invalid | input:invalid | Selects input elements with invalid value |
CSS Selectors Quick Reference
| Selector | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|
| element | p | Selects all <p> elements |
| .class | .intro | Selects all elements with class="intro" |
| #id | #firstname | Selects the element with id="firstname" |
| * | * | Selects all elements |
| element,element | div, p | Selects all <div> and <p> elements |
| element element | div p | Selects all <p> elements inside <div> elements |
| element>element | div > p | Selects all <p> where parent is <div> |
| element+element | div + p | Selects <p> immediately after <div> |
| element1~element2 | p ~ ul | Selects every <ul> preceded by <p> |
| [attribute] | [target] | Selects elements with target attribute |
| [attribute=value] | [target=_blank] | Selects elements with target="_blank" |
| [attribute~=value] | [title~=flower] | Selects elements with title containing "flower" |
| [attribute|=value] | [lang|=en] | Selects elements with lang attribute equal to "en" or starting with "en-" |
| [attribute^=value] | a[href^="https"] | Selects elements whose href attribute value begins with "https" |
| [attribute$=value] | a[href$='.pdf'] | Selects elements whose href attribute value ends with ".pdf" |
| [attribute*=value] | a[href*="chillucoder"] | Selects elements whose href attribute value contains "chillucoder" |
| :active | a:active | Selects the active link |
| :checked | input:checked | Selects checked input elements |
| :disabled | input:disabled | Selects disabled input elements |
| :empty | p:empty | Selects every <p> with no children |
| :enabled | input:enabled | Selects enabled input elements |
| :first-child | p:first-child | Selects every <p> that is first child |
| :first-of-type | p:first-of-type | Selects every <p> that is first of its type |
| :focus | input:focus | Selects input element with focus |
| :hover | a:hover | Selects links on mouse over |
| :last-child | p:last-child | Selects every <p> that is last child |
| :last-of-type | p:last-of-type | Selects every <p> that is last of its type |
| :not(selector) | :not(p) | Selects every element that is not <p> |
| :nth-child(n) | p:nth-child(2) | Selects every <p> that is second child |
| :nth-last-child(n) | p:nth-last-child(2) | Selects every <p> that is second child from last |
| :nth-last-of-type(n) | p:nth-last-of-type(2) | Selects every <p> that is second of its type from last |
| :nth-of-type(n) | p:nth-of-type(2) | Selects every <p> that is second of its type |
| :only-of-type | p:only-of-type | Selects every <p> that is only of its type |
| :only-child | p:only-child | Selects every <p> that is only child |
| :optional | input:optional | Selects input elements with no "required" attribute |
| :required | input:required | Selects input elements with "required" attribute |
| :root | :root | Selects the document's root element |
| ::selection | ::selection | Selects portion of element selected by user |
| :target | #news:target | Selects current active #news element |
| :valid | input:valid | Selects input elements with valid value |
| :invalid | input:invalid | Selects input elements with invalid value |
Basic Selectors
Element Selector
p { color: blue; }
This paragraph is styled with element selector
This paragraph is not targeted
Class Selector
.highlight { background: yellow; }
This text has highlight classRegular text
ID Selector
#main-title { font-size: 2em; color: purple; }
Main Title with ID
Regular subtitle
Universal Selector
* { margin: 0; padding: 0; box-sizing: border-box; }
Often used for CSS resets to remove default margins and padding
Combinators
Descendant Selector
div p { color: green; }
This paragraph is inside a div (styled)
This paragraph is not inside a div (not styled)
Child Selector
ul > li { border: 1px solid red; }
- Direct child (styled)
- Direct child (styled)
- Nested child (not styled)
Adjacent Sibling Selector
h4 + p { font-weight: bold; }
Section Title
This paragraph is immediately after h4 (styled)
This paragraph is not immediately after h4 (not styled)
General Sibling Selector
h4 ~ p { color: orange; }
Section Title
This paragraph is after h4 (styled)
A div in between
This paragraph is also after h4 (styled)
Pseudo-classes
:hover
button:hover { background: #007bff; color: white; }
:focus
input:focus { border-color: blue; box-shadow: 0 0 5px blue; }
:nth-child()
tr:nth-child(odd) { background: #f0f0f0; }
| Item 1 (odd) |
| Item 2 (even) |
| Item 3 (odd) |
| Item 4 (even) |
:first-child & :last-child
li:first-child { color: red; }
li:last-child { color: blue; }
li:last-child { color: blue; }
- First item (red)
- Middle item
- Last item (blue)
Attribute Selectors
[attribute=value]
input[type="text"] { border: 2px solid blue; }
Additional Selectors
Pseudo-elements
p::first-line { font-weight: bold; }
p::first-letter { font-size: 2em; }
p::first-letter { font-size: 2em; }
This is a paragraph that demonstrates pseudo-elements. The first line is bold and the first letter is larger.
:not() Selector
p:not(.special) { opacity: 0.7; }
This is a regular paragraph
This is a special paragraph
This is another regular paragraph
Multiple Selectors
h1, h2, h3 { font-family: sans-serif; }
Heading 1
Heading 2
Heading 3
This paragraph is not selected
:only-child Selector
div:only-child { background: lightblue; }
This div is an only child (styled)
This div has siblings (not styled)
This div has siblings (not styled)
CSS Selectors Quick Reference
| Selector | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|
| element | p | Selects all <p> elements |
| .class | .intro | Selects all elements with class="intro" |
| #id | #firstname | Selects the element with id="firstname" |
| * | * | Selects all elements |
| element,element | div, p | Selects all <div> and <p> elements |
| element element | div p | Selects all <p> elements inside <div> elements |
| element>element | div > p | Selects all <p> where parent is <div> |
| element+element | div + p | Selects <p> immediately after <div> |
| element1~element2 | p ~ ul | Selects every <ul> preceded by <p> |
| [attribute] | [target] | Selects elements with target attribute |
| [attribute=value] | [target=_blank] | Selects elements with target="_blank" |
| [attribute~=value] | [title~=flower] | Selects elements with title containing "flower" |
| [attribute|=value] | [lang|=en] | Selects elements with lang attribute equal to "en" or starting with "en-" |
| [attribute^=value] | a[href^="https"] | Selects elements whose href attribute value begins with 'https' |
| [attribute$=value] | a[href$=".pdf"] | Selects elements whose href attribute value ends with ".pdf" |
| [attribute*=value] | a[href*="chillucoder"] | Selects elements whose href attribute value contains 'chillucoder' |
| :active | a:active | Selects the active link |
| :checked | input:checked | Selects checked input elements |
| :disabled | input:disabled | Selects disabled input elements |
| :empty | p:empty | Selects every <p> with no children |
| :enabled | input:enabled | Selects enabled input elements |
| :first-child | p:first-child | Selects every <p> that is first child |
| :first-of-type | p:first-of-type | Selects every <p> that is first of its type |
| :focus | input:focus | Selects input element with focus |
| :hover | a:hover | Selects links on mouse over |
| :last-child | p:last-child | Selects every <p> that is last child |
| :last-of-type | p:last-of-type | Selects every <p> that is last of its type |
| :not(selector) | :not(p) | Selects every element that is not <p> |
| :nth-child(n) | p:nth-child(2) | Selects every <p> that is second child |
| :nth-last-child(n) | p:nth-last-child(2) | Selects every <p> that is second child from last |
| :nth-last-of-type(n) | p:nth-last-of-type(2) | Selects every <p> that is second of its type from last |
| :nth-of-type(n) | p:nth-of-type(2) | Selects every <p> that is second of its type |
| :only-of-type | p:only-of-type | Selects every <p> that is only of its type |
| :only-child | p:only-child | Selects every <p> that is only child |
| :optional | input:optional | Selects input elements with no "required" attribute |
| :required | input:required | Selects input elements with "required" attribute |
| :root | :root | Selects the document's root element |
| ::selection | ::selection | Selects portion of element selected by user |
| :target | #news:target | Selects current active #news element |
| :valid | input:valid | Selects input elements with valid value |
| :invalid | input:invalid | Selects input elements with invalid value |